Following last week reassignment of some senate committees leadership considered as juicy to some antagonist of the embattled President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, investigation according to New Telegraph has revealed that the beneficiaries of the reassignment lobbied seriously for them
The beneficiaries of Saraki overture among whom are Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of former Lagos State Governor and the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senators Kabir Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, and others reportedly lobbied for the juicy committees given to them last week Thursday, by the President of the Senate, New Telegraph says
The President of the Senate had announced a minor reshuffle in the headship of some Senate standing committees, shortly before the chamber adjourned on Thursday for its seven weeks annual recess. It was learnt that the move was one of the reconciliatory efforts of Saraki, in his bid to pacify all aggrieved members of the Upper chamber, who have been troubling his administration, so as to pave the way for a peaceful tenure. Investigations by our correspondent however revealed that Marafa, Hunkuyi and other members of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), who benefited from the committee sharing lobbied for it.
An insider within the Senate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the beneficiaries embarked on high level scheming to get Saraki and other decision-makers in the Senate to grant their requests to be given the choice committees.
The source further said that SUF senators did not come directly to Saraki to lobby for the positions but used other influential persons, who are close allies of the President of the Senate to pass their message. He also told New Telegraph that, before Saraki consented to giving out the “lucrative” committees to his antagonists, he had to seriously consult with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus for their approval because they had been his stronghold from the inception of his turbulent leadership.
According to the source, it was for that purpose that Saraki attended the meeting of the PDP senators at the residence of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, last week Wednesday. Confirming that the committee reshuffle was intended to settle the lingering crisis in the Red Chamber, the Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi, told our correspondent that the aim was to help stabilize the Chamber.
He said: “Yes, as part of that conflict resolution, the leadership of the Senate has looked at the sharing of responsibilities and announced some amendments, which as far as I am concerned, is aimed at stabilizing and enhancing how we conduct business. This is without prejudice to whatever has happened in the past.
It is part of what we should be doing and it is a routine practice. “So, don’t be surprised if in the coming months or years, you hear of another change. It is routine and normal for us to have changes in those who head committees and even membership of the committees”.
The source said that Saraki went as a mark of honour and reverence for the opposition lawmakers, for their unalloyed support and encouragement in his toughest moments, to explain to them about the committee reshuffle and get their advice on how to smoothly execute the proposal to bear the desire fruit. New Telegraph learnt that it was in Ekweremadu’s house that they finally agreed on the mode of the committee reshuffle, and summarily resolved on who got what, as later announced by Saraki.
“What I know is that all those opposing, who claim to be members of the Senate Unity Forum, who got what you people in the media call juicy committees in last week’s appointments, as announced by the President of the Senate, lobbied seriously for it.
“Even if they deny and say that they didn’t lobby for it, they know that they are lying because they did seriously lobby for it. There is actually nothing wrong about lobbying for something but when you want to pull down a whole system because of your selfish interest, is really what is worrisome and condemnable.
“I want to sincerely say that this kind of attitude calls for question as to whether we are here to represent the people or to represent ourselves.” Nigerians are not daft; they have rational sense of judgement and I believe that they are watching, and at the appropriate time, they will judge and remind us of what we are doing.