SENATE FORGERY SCANDAL: TENSION In Aso Rock; Oyegun, Saraki In Secret Meeting

Report according to SignalNG suggests that serious tension has gripped the Aso Rock presidential seat of power over a threat by senators of Nigeria’s leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw support from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Our source revealed that frantic efforts were being made by President Muhammadu Buhari through proxies to assess the extent to which the threat by the PDP senators may affect his government and to consider the possibility of lobbying the leadership of the Senate to broker a truce.

“I can authoritatively tell you that there is palpable tension in Aso Rock right now over the threat by PDP senators to withdraw support from President Buhari’s government. Because, what this means is that if the PDP senators make good their threat and withdraw their support, it practically becomes impossible for President Buhari to get any confirmation of key appointments like that of the new IGP, the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu and of course, there will be no screening of ambassadors. I think the Presidency just realized the reality they have to grapple with and now they are running helter skelter. It’s a dicey situation for the Presidency”, one of the sources who did not want to be named, told SIGNAL.

Meanwhile, according to an informed source, President Buhari has already reached out to the leadership of his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to assist with a solution out of the festering crisis with the PDP senators. Lending credence to this development, APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun was sighted at the Abuja residence of Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday. Oyegun has come under fire within the APC for reportedly endorsing the CCT trial of Saraki, further fueling concerns that the Senate President’s trial is politically motivated through the connivance of the APC leadership and President Buhari’s government.

A cold war between the Nigerian Senate and Presidency has been brewing for months, with the Saraki trial, marking a watershed in a battle royale that has seen the Executive and Legislative arms of government at loggerheads over several issues of national interest including the 2016 budget and some key political appointments.

Recently, the testy relationship between the Senate and Presidency has deepened with President Buhari’s focus on members of the opposition PDP, many of who are allegedly being hounded by anti-graft agencies for criticizing the government of President Buhari. The opposition PDP has accused the Buhari government of masking its persecution of the PDP with the war against corruption.

Senators of the PDP on Tuesday formally resolved to totally withdraw their support for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

The Senators said it was time to end their one-year romance with the government, noting that the APC led government actions toward their party members so far, since taking over the central government were enough agonies to withdraw their support.

The resolution was taken following the court summons on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, along with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.

At the time of filing this report, the details of a possible truce between Buhari and the Senate were still sketchy. But inside sources familiar with the details told SIGNAL on Friday, there would be no going back in what may well become a messy showdown between the Executive and Legislature should the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN proceed to arraign Saraki and Ekweremadu next week.

SignalNG

Saraki's Camp In Disarray As Ekweremadu In Secret 'Coup' To Oust The Senate President, You'll Be Shocked At This Revelations

Report according to Ripples Nigeria has it that what began as an innocuous award to Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday has created serious unease in the camp of Dr. Bukola Saraki, incumbent leader of the Senate, who is currently facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for false declaration of assets.

The award, ‘Anti-corruption Ambassador,’ which is now mired in controversy was reportedly cooked for Mr. Ekweremadu by the Liaison Officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the National Assembly, Mr. Sulaiman Bakari. The agency has since denied the said staff, leaving the Deputy Senate President thoroughly embarrassed and feeling that he may have been scammed.

Sources close to Senator Saraki say that the anti-corruption crusader award bestowed on his deputy took his camp by surprise, coming at a time the Senate President’s integrity was being questioned both at the tribunal and in the Panama Paper leaks. Saraki’s loyalists are now querying the original intentions behind the Ekweremadu misadventure, a source confided in Ripples Nigeria.

What has emerged is that the Saraki and Ekweremadu camps are heading for an apparent showdown as mutual distrust sets in. The Saraki camp is alleging underground moves to unmake their principal via a ‘timed coup’.

The unease among the Saraki elements heightened on Wednesday when the Deputy Senate President emerged from a closed-door session of the Senate to announce that the upper legislative chamber was reversing some of its earlier decisions which had drawn the ire of Nigerians and made Saraki even more unpopular.

Among others, Ekweremadu said the Senate was suspending further debate on amendments proposed for the Code of Conduct Act which many believe was instigated by Saraki to extricate himself from the CCT trial.

He also announced that the Senate was standing down the suspension clamped on Senator Kabir Marafa, a known Saraki critic who wanted the Senate President sacked soon after he was elected.

He added that the Senate had also resolved that all members who had cases instituted in the courts against their colleagues should have same withdrawn, emphasizing that the Senate was now more united than before.

Finally, he said that Senators will stand by their embattled President all through the course of the trial at the CCT. While many at the Senate closed-door session cheered, reports say that die-hard Saraki loyalists were not amused and have since drawn a battle line.

Our source said, “We are surprised at the Deputy Senate President. We believe that the award was an orchestrated move to rubbish Dr. Saraki and position himself as a saint. We see through this charade, and are not impressed.

“We smell a dirty plot, a timed coup to stampede Oga out of office.

“We think Ekweremadu is in a hurry to be Senate President. They should allow the law to run its course. Dr. Saraki has said he would not resign and is ready to face trial. This set back is only temporary. We are confident he will prevail in the end”, he said.

Last week, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Odigie John Oyegun, sent the clearest signal till date of the party’s resolve to sack the troubled Senate President. He had given indications that the APC would spare nothing to oust Saraki.

Analysts believe that Ekweremadu’s succession plots may have been bolstered by Oyegun’s pronouncements.

One commentator told Ripples Nigeria, “The man has a right to aspire. There is a gap to be filled, and this has been made manifest by APC chieftains who have come out to say that they do not want Saraki anymore.

“Politicians are the same everywhere. They are all opportunists and would seize the moment if an opportunity presents itself. Ekweremadu cannot be an exception. He has been lying in wait for long.

“I think he is being edged on by permutations that the opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have a comfortable standing in the Red Chamber and only require a few disgruntled APC Senators to climb the throne”, he noted.

The apprehensions in Saraki camp, reports say, are the reason behind the latest plot by his legal team to cause further delays in his trial.

On Wednesday, the Agabi-led legal defence force got their principal to formally request that the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, quit the trial on grounds of alleged bias against Saraki. There are speculations that Saraki’s camp won’t take matters lying low and are preparing to unleash a media war against all perceived enemies, with Ekweremadu no exception.

Though no official words have come from either camp, the Deputy Senate President, it is gathered, has reached out to Saraki to reassure him that he means well. An inside source said, “Yes, he called to let him into all the goings-on in the Senate and all is well between the Senate President and his Deputy. He is privy to all that transpired.

“It is very clear that there is no love lost between the two. We will stand by our leader, no matter what,” he said.

Source: Ripples Nigeria

Its No BIG Deal To Lose Senate Presidency To PDP, But A Mere Sacrifice For CHANGE - Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that it's probably a sacrifice needed to be paid for the party's change agenda should the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC forfeits the Senate Presidency to the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  if the current trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki consume his office.

Odigie-Oyegun said the party is “also planning” to checkmate plans by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,.

Speaking in an interview with Premium Times, Oyegun said: “We don’t take anything for granted. As they (PDP) are planning, we are also planning. The situation is under control. The whole situation is unfortunate but it is real.”

“Well, I don’t think we will loPremium position. But sometimes, for change to take place, there is price you have to pay. So losing the position may be sacrifice for change.”

While ruling out the use of loPremium solution to address Saraki’s prosecution over false assets declaration charges, he asked, “What political situation in a legal matter? Are the judges politicians?” adding that “The President is certainly not the type who will interfere in a judicial matter. I think we know him well. Everybody must know him. Things must be done normally. And that is part of the change mantra that we must play by the rule so that we don’t truncate processes.”

The APC boss continued: “People don’t seem to internalize what change is. If the President says “court, free that man”, the same president can say ‘court, imprison that man.’

Is that the Nigeria you want? No! Change means allowing the law to take the proper course. I can tell you the President won’t interfere. The President is straight definite, straight and firm in all facets.”