Senate President, Bukola Saraki salutes Nigerians at Christmas

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has felicitated with Christian faithful and all Nigerians as they celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, congratulated Nigerians for their resilience in the face of the challenges facing the nation and urged them to pray for improvement in the social, political and economic condition of the country, in the New Year.

He urged Nigerians to make it part of their New Year resolution that they will play their constitutional roles to ensure that the country has a peaceful, credible, free and transparent elections in February and March 2019 and that the results of the elections will lead to rapid socio-political and economic development of Nigeria.
“I wish all Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I want to call on Christians, in particular, and Nigerians, in general, to emulate the virtues of Christ, who through self-sacrifice brought salvation to humanity.

“This is a time for us to be our brother’s keeper, extend our generosity to one another and ensure that the less-privileged among us are not left out of the ensuing merriments”, he stated.
He added that the upcoming election is another opportunity to lay a new foundation for the growth and prosperity of the nation and to banish poverty from the land.

While praying for journey mercies for as many Nigerians that would have to travel during the period, he urged the police and other security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and ensure that the lives and property of Nigerians are fully secured at all times.
“The security agencies must of necessity redouble their efforts to ensure that the Christmas and New Year celebrations are observed peacefully across the country,” Saraki stated

Via Vanguardngr

Exclusive: Bukola Saraki - Atiku possesses qualities that will determine choice of Nigerians

The President of the Senate and Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Sen. Bukola Saraki, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, possesses the qualities that Nigerians will use to determine who they will elect in the 2019 Presidential election.
The President of the Senate and Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Sen. Bukola Saraki, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Saraki said that Nigerians need a President who understands the economy, can drive investment and also secure lives and property.

He said that PDP had a candidate who had understanding of what it takes to move Nigeria forward, drive investments, unite Nigerians and run inclusive government.
“We believe that Atiku Abubakar has the background, has the understanding and knows what it takes to address those issues,” he said.

Saraki re-emphasised that the party campaign would be issue based, saying “we are more focused.”
He said what the party believed in was how the average Nigerian’s life and the economy were going to be better.
“Largely, the most important issue in this country today is, are we better off? As the average Nigerian, are we better off?
“The answer comes back to the economy, and for it to come to the economy, you must be a President that understands what will create employment for our youths.

“To do that, it’s not just by government spending money, it is to create environment where people will be ready to come and invest ,” he said.
Saraki said he believed that Abubakar, with his background and the time he had spent as vice president, was in a good position to move the country forward

via Pulse.ng

Sen. Shehu Sani revealed the reasons APC senators refused to remove Saraki

The senator representing Kaduna Central who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shehu Sani, has revealed why his colleagues in the ruling APC backed out of a plot to remove the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Mr Sani, who is now a stalwart of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) after he lost out in getting the senatorial ticket of the APC, said the senators were unable to remove Mr Saraki because it was “constitutionally impossible”.

The vocal lawmaker who spoke with reporters in Abuja on Sunday also said the ruling party did not have the number of lawmakers required (two-third majority) to carry out its plan.
Following the defection of the senate president from the ruling party to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the APC leadership and some of its senators called for his resignation or forceful removal.
Mr Saraki’s defection to the opposition was to seek the presidential ticket of the party which he eventually lost.

The APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was particularly vociferous in his threat to ensure Mr Saraki was removed if he did not resign. Mr Saraki, however, vowed to remain in office saying he enjoys the support of majority of the senators.
The senators of the APC eventually dropped plans to remove Mr Saraki when the house finally resumed from a 10-week recess as nothing was said or done about it.
Mr Sani explained why the plan failed. “It is technically impossible to remove Saraki because the APC does not have two thirds majority in the National Assembly. Secondly, Saraki has been able to carry everybody along and provide a leadership to the extent that he is able to accommodate those who are critical of him.”

“I can tell that APC backed out from plot to remove Saraki because they don’t have the number to do that and it is impossible to do that through constitutional means,” he said. Mr Sani, who is now seeking re-election on the platform of PRP, said the opposition party, PDP, “where Mr Saraki now belongs to is more united than the ruling APC senators in the National Assembly.”
“The opposition are more united and more formidable in their resolve to keep the senate president than the ruling party in their plot to remove the senate president.

“So, I can tell you that removing Saraki through constitutional means is very much impossible because the APC is not united to do that. The APC is not having the number to do that and the APC does not have the kind of support it needed to be able to carry out the plot.”

#Osunrerun: Sen. Iyiola Omisore gives APC, PDP conditions

The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Osun State, Sen Iyiola Omisore, has said that he will only pledge his support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, in the Thursday’s rerun of the poll if the party satisfies his conditions.

After the collation of all the results from the 30 council areas of the state, Adeleke of the PDP had 254,698 while the candidate of APC,Gboyega Oyetola, polled 254,345. INEC declared the election inconclusive even as the difference between the two leading parties, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, was lower than the number of the votes cancelled.

Speaking during the visit of the PDP presidential candidate, Sen Bukola Saraki, to his home in Ile-Ife on Monday, Omisore,said he has given both APC and PDP his conditions to join any party. He said that as a stakeholder in the state, he was always after a people-centered government. Omisore said, “I have given my programmes to both the APC and the PDP. My programme is like this; payment of salaries and pensions. Good governance is what is important to me.“Anyone among the two that will do that will get my support. I am passionate about Osun State and my interest is the welfare of the people of this state.

“I have told those sent to me. At the appropriate time, we will tell you where we are going.”Meanwhile, Saraki after his meeting with Omisore hinted that he (Omisore) had agreed in principle to support the PDP in the rerun of the election on Thursday. Re-run Election would take place in seven polling units located in Orolu, Osogbo, Ife North and Ife South council areas on Thursday.

Dailypost

Senate President Bukola Sakari insists, President Buhari does not understand governance

Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari does not understand governance and was not prepared to govern the country when he was elected in 2015.

Saraki stated this while addressing Oyo State delegates and members of the party ahead of the national convention of the PDP at the state Secretariat of the party located at Molete, Ibadan.

The former governor of Kwara State, who said that Nigerians made a mistake by voting Buhari in 2015, added that Nigeria needed a “digital President”. Saraki, who was accompanied to Ibadan by Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, Senator Abiodun Olujinmi, Captain Idris Wada, Dr. Doyin Okupe and Hon. Muhammed Wakil, declared that incumbent President Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) “does not understand governance”.He noted that the mistake Nigerians have made over the years was electing people into positions of authority based on sentiment. He specifically maintained that Nigeria needed a digital President who can relate well with Presidents of other counties.

Saraki, while speaking further, declared that he is the most capable for the job among the PDP Presidential aspirants, urging the Oyo State delegates to support his aspiration. He said, “The major mistake we are making is that we vote people who cannot do it. All other countries, they look for the best candidates. If you look at other aspirants, you will see that I can do it better than all of them.“The mistake we made is that the person who is there does not know anything. The person that is there does not understand governance.“If you have observed, you will discover that Presidents of other counties who have visited Nigeria in recent time did not sleep in the country. They will just come for two or few hours and go back”.The Senate President maintained further that what the country needs in 2019 is a capable President, as Buhari has shown that he is not capable for the task.

Saraki insisted that having worked with the President for over three years; he hasdiscovered that the Buhari does not understand governance. Among Oyo PDP leaders that received the Senate President were, State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; Elder Wole Oyelese; Alhaji Hazeem Gbalarumi; Mr. Wasiu Adeleke; Dr. Saka Balogun and Chief Jacob Adetoro.

via dailypost

Senate President Bukola Saraki says, This government implementing my blueprint on commercial farming

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the current administration is trying to implement his blueprint on commercial farming.

A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Saraki said this when he appeared before the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum at the Abuja residence of Edwin Clark, Ijaw leader. The man, who presided over the affairs of Kwara state for eight years, said when he spoke on the idea as a governor, he was criticise.

Saraki said government has to create the environment for the private sector to flourish because it cannot do it alone.
“Seventy percent of our population are young people. Government alone cannot take us there,” he said.
“Unless we have a private sector that is q0 times bigger than what it is today, forget it young people will still be roaming around carrying their CV looking for jobs in government that will never come. It will never come because those jobs will never be there.
“The only way they will get jobs is when we have private sector that have ability to create jobs, and to create the investments that will make it happen. Two million barrels a day, with population growing at three percent, is not enough. What you need to do is ensure other sectors, minerals, agriculture, are growing.

“As a governor, I came up and said you must have commercial farming. What I said over seven years ago is what is the blueprint today that the government is trying to adopt. When I said it then, I was attacked. Today, the country is still spending N2 to N3 billion and it will continue to do so.”
Anchor Borrowers programme, Presidential Fertiliser Initiative and Food Security Council are some of the agricultural programmes of the current administration.
The presidential aspirant assured the elders that he has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of the country.

He said leading the country is not a part-time job, insisting the occupant of the highest office must be youthful, energetic, and vibrant.
Saraki said developed democracies are now rushing for capable youthful leaders in order to compete favourably with other countries.
“Where we are as a country today is too serious for us to take lightly. The Nigeria that we have today have never been so disunited,” he said.
“When you go to many parts of the country, people will tell you ‘Do I truly belong? Are we part of this country called Nigeria? On top of that, over a number of years, we have seen series of impunity. People are not held accountable. There is no inclusiveness in government. There is insensitivity and lack of empathy.

“So the first thing that is key to us is how do we unite this country. What kind of president can unite this country? Lack of insensitivity, these are the issues that are driving suspicion, pulling us apart. Anything else we talk, development e.t.c can’t happen unless we bring everybody back.
“As such, he must somebody that can represent, somebody in any part of the country can say ‘I think he represents Nigeria’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a Christian or Muslim’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a northerner or southerner’. That gives us an opportunity of a platform to move forward.
“Secondly, more importantly, I think what has been one of our major problem is capacity. I think over the years we have voted on sentiments. We have left capacity and ability, and used sentiments to decide who leads us. That is why we are where we are today. “But we need Mr. President that has the capacity, that has the vision that can drive and perform. Without capacity on the part of the leadership, Nigeria cannot progress even though God has continued to blessed the nation. There is no country that can provide for its people, take them out of poverty the way we are going about it.

“If it is about the work, my leaders, I know I am very competent and I know what needs to be done to put this country on the right path.
“I have shown my experience, apart from my eight years and Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum, I have shown what makes people work together. I have also shown that in the senate in the last three years, which has 18 former governors, despite all the efforts of the government.
“I believe I have been able to show leadership and capacity. It’s okay for us to say we want to get rid of Mr. President. By getting rid of Mr. President, we might not fix Nigeria. I don’t think we want to get rid of Mr. President without fixing Nigeria.
“So, we must find a candidate that must fix this country. I have the capacity that is required to turn this country around. This time around I believe we must go for capacity.”

David Mark, Senate President Bukola Saraki split N-Central, NASS

The emergence of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his predecessor, Senator David Mark, in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential primaries contest has reshaped the permutations on the ticket as their separate bids cause divisions in their strongholds in the National Assembly and North-Central geopolitical zone.

The campaign of the third aspirant from the North-Central, Senator Jonah Jang, who is also a serving senator, has, however, failed to pick momentum. Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso from Kano State is the fourth member of the National Assembly involved in the PDP presidential contest, but he is from the North West geopolitical zone.

The presidential aspirants in the race include former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Senate President, Bukola Saraki; his predecessor, Senator David Mark; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; the immediate past chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki. The emergence of senators Saraki and Mark in the race has revolution sized the contest in the sense that it has split both the North Central and the National Assembly which both men consider as their strong holds.Besides the two is Senator Jang, the immediate past governor of Plateau State, who is also in the contest, but his bid is yet to get measurable support from stakeholders or even from his fellow Berom on the Plateau.

Some of the aspirants from outside the zone, who before now partly put their hopes on harvesting votes from the North-Central, are now re-strategising their plans. Some of them are nevertheless still determined to reap from perceived fault lines in the home states of Saraki and Mark in Kwara and Benue states. Having helped in the arrangement that allowed Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to come back to the PDP, there is expectation that the governor, being the only PDP governor in the North-Central Zone, would helpto mobilise support for Mark, his fellow Benue State citizen in the forthcoming election. However, Ortom’s newness in the party and his domestic challenges may have limited his leverage in the North-Central.

The prospects of Saraki and Mark garnering the  votes of the National Assembly which forms the single highest bloc of votes is also limited given the lack of unanimity between the two men.“Saraki and Mark cannot count on senators or the National Assembly because those legislators also have their domestic considerations and are part of alliances that they cannot always project their convictions,” a state party chairman told Vanguard yesterday. Even at that, both men are also challenged by the years-long political positioning of Governor Tambuwal who according to multiple sources had for long cultivated alliances with former and serving members of the National Assembly. Tambuwal, it was gathered, also may have the quiet support of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, his successor who he significantly guided to become his successor.

“Yes, we cannot dispute the fact that Dogara may be supporting Tambuwal despite his closeness to our principal,” a Saraki operative said last weekend.Tambuwal is said to be basking in the support of Governor Nyesom Wike and theprobable support of some of his fellow governors. The possibility of Wike using the home advantage of being the host governor to push through the Tambuwal project has caused some unease among some of the aspirants. However, among the PDP hierarchy, the determination to push through a credible exercise continues to be the watchword.

Even though Tambuwal may have some ascendancy amongsome of the PDP governors, he is, however, not having it easy even in his state where Bafarawa continues to be an irritation.Bafarawa’s bid which is challenged by cash and patronage outside the state, however, resonates among some in Sokoto State. Just before Tambuwal formally defected from the All Progressives Congress, Bafarawa tried to mobilize the local government chairmen from the old Northwest State after he invited them for a consultation meeting that turned out to be an endorsement party for him.

via vanguard news

Bukola Saraki Says, Nigeria needs a youthful President

Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on Nigerians to stand united and elect a youthful President with an energetic mind to take the country to its desired height.

Saraki made the call on Wednesday evening when he met members of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benin, as part of his nationwide consultation on his presidential ambition .
He stated that the country had never been so divided as many of the citizens no longer enjoy a sense of belonging owing to the prevalence of a type of governance that was based on sentiments .

He said, “The country has never been so divided as it is today; we need to unite this country and in uniting the country, we must have a President that speaks for Nigerians .
“We must have a President with whom everybody will have a sense of belonging. We must have a President that you all feel is representing you. We must have a President and a government where Edo State has its key role on the table, where things are done with equity.

“It is time for us to unite and to do that , we must move away from electing a President based on sentiments . We have done it many times . It has not worked. ”
The Senate President said that the time had come for Nigerians to elect a President who understood what was required to grow a country, rather than depend on trial and error.
He, however , said that he had the capacity to lead the country and had shown the courage and commitment to do so .

He said, “Countries that have grown did not grow by chance . Countries that have grown did not grow by trial and error . They had a leader that understood what the issues were . ”

FEATURED NEWS: Resign or you will be force out, Miyetti Allah tells Bukola Saraki

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association on Tuesday warned the President of Senate, Bukola Saraki , to resign his position immediately or be forced to do so .

The national coordinator of the association in Benue State , Alhaji Garus Gololo, gave the warning in an interview with our correspondent in Makurdi.

via punchng
Gololo said Saraki had created numerous problems for the administration of President Muhammad Buhari , which he said had affected the economic and social growth of the nation .
“It is on this note that we are saying that Saraki ought not to be in office again as Senate President , more so, Saraki has failed to coordinate and organise the National Assembly to offer quality legislation that Nigerians need.

“Nigerians are in dire need of people that have the interest of the masses . Miyetti Allah is looking for a leader that would preside over the affairs of the Senate with ultimate respect for the executive and the judiciary, not someone like Senator Saraki that would always scheme to outdo the Presidency.

“We are now tired of Saraki’ s style of leadership at the National Assembly . Therefore , we are now warning him to honourably resign his position as president of the Senate or we will force him out ”, Gololo said, refusing , however , to explain how the association would remove the Senate president .
Reacting to the comment by Governor Ortom accusing a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police , Abubakar Tsav, of being an agent of the Miyetti Allah , Gololo said Tsav was not a member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association or a Fulani man by tribe and couldn’ t have been an agent of the Miyetti Allah.

He urged governor Ortom to face his problem with the EFCC and leave Miyetti Allah alone .
“ Ortom should forget about anything called Miyetti Allah and grazing law and fight for his re-election because Benue people and his new party (PDP ) have rejected him,” adding that the PDP would not give him the ticket to run in the 2019 governorship election in the state .

EXCLUSIVE: Bola Tinubu and Bukola Saraki: Talk about 2023 presidency premature, says APC

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki’ s statement on the 2023 presidential ambition of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress attracted diverse reactions on Tuesday.

Saraki had on Monday said Tinubu was supporting President Muhammadu Buhari ’s re- election with the hope of succeeding the President in 2023 .

The Senate president also said Tinubu told him he would support Buhari even if he was on a stretcher.
Saraki spoke in reaction to a statement on Sunday by Tinubu, alleging that the Senate president dumped the APC because of his presidential ambition and selfish quest for power .

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress , Mr Yekini Nabena , in an interview with one of our correspondents , indicated that it was premature to talk about 2023 presidency , adding that Tinubu’s presidential ambition had not been communicated to the party.

When asked to comment on Saraki ’s statement, Nabena said, “This (Tinubu’s ambition ) has not been communicated to the party , so I cannot comment on it. Besides , why should anybody be talking about 2023 when we are in 2018 ? Is anybody God ?”
Tinubu, Saraki ’ s conflict about personal interests – Afenifere
Commenting on the exchange of words between Saraki and Tinubu, the Yoruba socio- cultural association, Afenifere, expressed dismay over what it identified as the elevation of personal interests and ambitions over national good and development by politicians in the country.

It noted that the verbal exchanges between the APC leader , Bola Tinubu, and Senate President Bukola Saraki were all about their personal interests .
Afenifere spokesman , Yinka Odumakin , expressed disappointment that the two men were more interested in personal ambitions than in national good and progress.

via punchng
“You cannot see anything in these exchanges that talk about national good or higher values . The only thing that was substantial was when Saraki said he was against Muslim -Muslim ticket in 2014 . If that was true , it would have been unthinkable in a Nigeria so badly divided as it is today. Clearly , the arguments were about personal interests and ambitions, ” Afenifere noted.
It’ s not a crime to be ambitious – Junaid Mohammed
But a Kano State delegate to the 2014 National Conference , Dr Junaid Mohammed, said there was nothing wrong with Tinubu or anybody for that matter being ambitious.

He stated he would not quarrel with politically - ambitious people so long as the process of actualising their ambition would not lead to collateral damage that could ruin the country .
Mohammed made his view known in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday.
The medical doctor - turned politician said, “Unlike Bukola Saraki , I do not blame anybody for being ambitious as long as the process of achieving the ambition doesn ’t create so must collateral damage that will be harmful to the country . I don ’t have any problem with it.
Speaking about Tinubu’ s statement which led to Saraki ’s response , Mohammed said, “I don ’t know if the information he has as regards either Buhari himself, Tambuwal or Bukola Saraki for that matter is necessarily 100 per cent reliable.
“Let me state for the records , Tinubu is my friend and I would not take issue with people I consider my friends publicly .
“Having said so , I must admit that some of his criticisms in defence of Buhari , the APC and even Adams Oshiomhole , who was until recently a persona non grata to him, is something I find rather amusing and somewhat a little surprising .
“And I don ’ t know whatever calculations he might have had in his defence right or wrong of Buhari contrary to what he tells people in private; no matter how he goes about his defence of Buhari and people like Oshiomhole and others, I don’ t think that will pay him off eventually in his own political ambition. ”
Tinubu shouldn’ t think North will support him in 2023 – Adebanjo
But a chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo , says the APC leader must be naive to think that the North will allow him to succeed Buhari in 2023.
The 90 - year - old statesman also urged the people of the South- West not to allow themselves to be fooled by Tinubu a second time .

Speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone on Tuesday, Adebanjo said, “Tinubu is daydreaming if he thinks the North will ever support his presidential ambition. We have our principles.
“We are not supporting Buhari under any circumstance and Tinubu cannot lead Yoruba land because all he has done is to lead us astray. All he has done for us is to give some of our people who are close to him appointments .
“Nothing tangible has been done for Yoruba land . He gave his stooges appointments , nothing more , nothing less . If he has done more than that , let him say it. ”
Adebanjo said the only demand the Yoruba had made was restructuring which the APC had been dishonest about .

The Afenifere chieftain said one of the reasons Afenifere supported Buhari in 2007 was because of his promise to restructure the country to allow for true federalism .
He said instead of keeping its promise , the APC resorted to setting up a committee on restructuring to deceive gullible Nigerians and the likes of Tinubu participated in the grand scheme of deception.

Adebanjo added, “How can they be telling us about restructuring committee , when from the outset , they were supposed to have started restructuring . Who do they think they are fooling? If Tinubu is daydreaming, he shouldn ’t think others are daydreaming like him. ”
“Buhari is a stranger to us in Yoruba land. The only Yoruba supporting him are those benefitting from this corrupt regime . ”

source - punchng

EXCLUSIVE: Polls Budget, Bukola Saraki hits executive, says it lacks foresight

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Sunday berated the executive , alleging that its late submission of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s budget for the 2019 elections showed its lack of foresight.

Saraki , in a statement by his Special Adviser on New Media , Olu Onemola, berated the President Muhammadu Buhari Media Organisation for accusing him of slowing down the approval of the budget .

The group had accused Saraki of postponing the resumption of the Senate in spite of Buhari ’s submission of INEC’ s budget .
But Onemola in the statement said the National Assembly was committed to the approval of INEC ’s budget for the 2019 polls.
Saraki’ s aide said in spite of the failure of the executive to submit the budget on time, the committees of the National Assembly had been working to ensure that due process was followed in approving the request.

He stated , “By now , the Nigerian people are aware that the executive branch could have submitted INEC ’s 2019 elections budget at the time it submitted the 2018 appropriation proposals last year .
“The executive had from January till June this year to submit the budget request. However , due to a perceived lack of foresight , display of usual tardiness or an attempt to ensure that due process would not be followed , this request was submitted only a few days before the statutory National Assembly annual recess .

The aide said groups like the Buhari Media Organisation that had worked assiduously “ with conscientious ignorance as their guide to attempt to scapegoat the Senate President for the failure of the executive to submit INEC’ s 2019 election budget on time .
“ More importantly, the Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly to help legalise the various innovations that needed for free and fair elections is still absent because President Muhammadu Buhari chose to withhold his assent the first time it was transmitted .

“The question the Buhari Media Organisation should ask their principal is: “ What is he afraid of in the very progressive proposals contained in the Electoral Bill ? Why does he want to frustrate the 2019 elections by denying the nation the much- needed enabling law ?”
He recalled that INEC had stated that it was confident and comfortable with the thorough and transparent response by the National Assembly .

The executive is not to blame – Minister’ s aide
But in his reaction on Sunday , the Media Adviser to the Minister of Budget and National Planning , Mr Akpandem James, said it was not true that the INEC budget was received and kept by the executive.

via punch news

President Buhari, Bukola Saraki supporters in shouting match at Ilorin airport

Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari engaged loyalists of the Senate President , Dr Bukola Saraki , on Sunday in a shouting match at the Ilorin International Airport .

Buhari supporters had gone to welcome a Kwara State governorship aspirant, Mr Moddibo Kawu, and a Labour Party governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Issa Aremu while the Peoples Democratic Party supporters were also there to welcome Saraki.

via punch news
The environment was calm until female supporters of Saraki started singing the praises of the Senate President. While they sang and danced, Buhari supporters who were mainly youths , with their brooms suddenly erupted into a shout of Sai Baba. They sang loudly, raising their brooms as they eulogised Buhari while the Saraki supporters , especially women, tried to out - do them.

The atmosphere became charged prompting security officials to maintain orderliness. Also some elders from both camps tried to pacify the apparently overzealous supporters and praise singers .
Kawu and Aremu , whose aircraft had landed waited for some time at the arrival hall for the atmosphere to normalise. After some time , Kawu made his way as the crowd of supporters surged towards him until he was led by security operatives into his vehicle .

Aremu later addressed his supporters. Aremu and a former Kwara State governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party , Alhaji Hakeem Lawal , who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress called on the National Assembly to reconvene.
Lawal , who is a son of a late former Kwara State governor, Mohammed , hopes to actualise his political ambition under the APC.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on the sidelines of a rousing welcome accorded to him by a crowd, he expressed his support for Buhari .

He also called on the National Assembly to reconvene to address urgent national matters, including the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “If truly the members of the National Assembly really think about our nation first , then, they need to reconvene and take care of urgent national matters. This is what the people elected them to do . Let us look at the people and the nation first and stop looking at individual and self aggrandising issues . Not reconvening is not in the interest of the nation . We know that elections are coming and things need to be done; the nation needs to move forward .

A nation should not stand still. They should sacrifice for the nation and reconvene. ” Aremu called for the renewal of Kwara State . Aremu said, “Let us be hard on our problems and not on ourselves . Do not allow for any provocation over any issue .

BUDGET - Bukola Saraki and Dogara plan joint session to avert impeachment

Senators loyal to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki , have perfected a strategy to stop his impeachment and that of his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu , according to
SUNDAY PUNCH investigations.

Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that apart from keeping vigil at the National Assembly to prevent the All Progressives Congress senators from sitting , the Peoples Democratic Party members in the Senate have mapped out an arrangement to keep the red chamber save for Saraki until September 25 and beyond.

How Saraki , Dogara planned ‘ coup ’ to abort reconvening
Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that Saraki reached out to the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Yakubu Dogara, last Sunday night to suspend any form of reconvening last Tuesday, as earlier agreed by both presiding officers .

The sudden change of mind , according to some senators who spoke on condition of anonymity , was to save Saraki from impeachment because it was discovered that many of his loyalists had travelled to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage .
A senator from the North - Central geopolitical zone said, “Our calculation was that the APC senators can never get two- thirds of the majority of the entire membership of the Senate to carry out any impeachment , but we had to be careful when they started arguing that the two- thirds could also be based on the numbers of senators at plenary.

“We were aware that many members of the House of Representatives got notice of resumption last Saturday , so both presiding officers met and agreed that the resumption should be postponed indefinitely . ”
Strategies adopted to extend reconvening
SUNDAY PUNCH investigations further revealed that Saraki and Dogara agreed that only members of the Committee on Electoral Matters in both chambers should be recalled to hold joint meetings with officials of the Independent National Electoral Committee between Wednesday and Friday last week .
The committees of both chambers would thereafter hold a joint meeting with INEC officials to consider Buhari ’s request.
The joint Senate/ Reps committees on Appropriation , Loans and Debts were also involved in the timetable as the members were also recalled to deliberate on the Eurobond request. The two presiding officers agreed not to reconvene until the reports are ready.

The Joint plenary idea
The latest strategy which is expected to keep the seats of Saraki and Ekweremadu safe till the end of September is the idea of a joint sitting .

The two presiding officers have agreed to reconvene a joint plenary for the presentation and consideration of the committees ’ reports.
A senator from the South- West geopolitical zone, who also spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Since the reports of the presidential requests were jointly treated by committees of the two chambers , it would be proper for the passage to be done at a joint sitting .

“Besides , everybody would be at the joint session to discuss the INEC budget and the Eurobond request , so no motion for impeachment would be moved because it is not permitted in such arrangement. ”
Further investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that Saraki and Dogara agreed to reconvene a joint sitting of both chambers sometime after the Sallah celebrations and adjourn afterwards .

The calculation , according to sources , was that many of the senators on the APC side would have seen the handwriting clearly on the walls, that the automatic tickets being dangled before them was nothing but a mere deceit
A senator, who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party said, “By the time the Senate would eventually reconvene, it would be clear that many of the APC senators would have lost their tickets to either their state governors or another preferred candidate . ”
He cited the case of Oyo, Ogun , Kaduna , and Ondo states , among others, where the governors are currently at loggerheads with some of their senators .

He said, “There is no way that the APC senators in Oyo, Ondo, Ogun , and Kaduna states would make their ways back to the Senate because their governors are eyeing some of their seats especially in Oyo and Ogun states . “No APC senator would still take the Chairman of the APC (Adams Oshiomhole ), seriously by September 25 if he is still promising return tickets if they could impeach Saraki. ”

Source | Read More -

PUNCH

Sen. Bukola Saraki Appoints Osaro Onaiwu As The Liaison Officer on State Matters

Senate President, Dr . Abubakar Bukola Saraki , has appointed 59 - year old Earl Osaro Onaiwu as Liaison Officer to the Senate President on State Matters.

A press release signed by the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity ) to Senate President , Yusuph Olaniyonu, states, “Onaiwu , an experienced politician and public administrator, will help to co - ordinate relationship between the Office of the Senate President and the various state governments across the country. ”

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Senator Rafiu and Isa Misau sue AGF, DSS, police for alleged plot to remove Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Two lawmakers, Senator Rafiu Adebayo and Senator Isa Misau , have sued the Attorney- General of the Federation , the police , the Department of State Services, the Senate and seven others in order to stop the attempts to remove Senate President Bukola Saraki .

READ ALSO: NASS crisis: Obasanjo with Senate President, Saraki in a closed-door meeting

Senators Adebayo and Misau , who are supporters of Saraki, instituted the fresh court action marked FHC/ABJ / CS/ 872 / 2018 before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday .

Other defendants in the suit are: the majority and deputy majority leaders of the Senate , the Clerk of the Senate, the Deputy Clerk of the Senate, the Senate President , the Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Minority Leader .

In the originating summons filed on their behalf by Mahmud Magaji (SAN ), the plaintiffs want the Federal High Court to determine whether in view of the provisions of Section 50 (1 ) (a) and (2 ) of the 1999 Constitution, Saraki , who defected to another political party as a result of the division in his former party, can be made to vacate his office other than in accordance with Section 50 of the constitution.
Adebayo and Misau , who represent Kwara - South and Bauchi- Central senatorial districts respectively , also want the court to determine whether Saraki can be compelled to vacate his office on the grounds that he is not a member of the political party with a majority of senators in the Senate in view of the combined reading of Section 50 of the constitution and Order 3 Rule 8 of the Senate Standing Orders .

The court was also urged to determine whether the Senate President could be said to have vacated his office by virtue of Section 50 (2 ) of the constitution when he had not ceased to be a member of the Senate or the Senate dissolved.
In a motion on notice filed along with the originating summons, the plaintiffs prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining all the defendants (except the Senate, Senate President and Deputy Senate President ) jointly and severally either by themselves, their agents , servants and privies from unlawfully removing the Senate President pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit .
They also prayed the court for another order of interlocutory injunction restraining the AGF and the Inspector - General of Police from unlawfully interfering with the lawful legislative duties of the Senate President pending the hearing and determination of their originating summons.
Besides , the plaintiffs asked for an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the IG and the DSS from harassing, intimidating , arresting or detaining the President of the Senate in respect of the lawful exercise of his duties pursuant to Section 50 (1 ) of the constitution and another order directing parties in the case to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive matter .
The motion was predicated on seven grounds amongst which were that the agents of the IG and DSS had taken steps to flagrantly breach the provisions of Section 50 by employing their agents to disrupt the plenary of the Senate without recourse to the said provisions .
Another grounds were that the constitutional provision of removal of the Senate President does not empower the AGF, police and DSS to unlawfully interfere with the legislative duties of the Senate by causing a blockade at the premises of the National Assembly complex or using their agents to disrupt the lawful duties of the Senate.

In a 13 - paragraph affidavit in support of the motion on notice and deposed to by Senator Isah Misau , he averred that the Senate was a body recognised and established by the 1999 Constitution vested with powers of making laws for the good governance and well- being of the Federal Republic of Nigeria .

The deponent averred that the Senate held a plenary sitting between July 24 and 27 and that it was presided over by its President and that at the end of the sitting members adjourned till September 25 .

Read more - Punchng

NASS crisis: Obasanjo with Senate President, Saraki in a closed-door meeting

The Senate President , Dr Bukola Saraki, held a closed- door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his penthouse within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta on Monday .

Saraki, who came in a black Toyota Landcruiser jeep in company with some security aides , arrived the OOPL around 5 . 30 pm and emerged from the meeting at 7 . 12 pm .

Our correspondent gathered that the meeting was earlier scheduled to hold at 4 pm but did not start until 5 . 30 pm when Saraki arrived at the venue. Emerging from the meeting , Saraki told journalists that he was with Obasanjo to make up for his absence at the formal inauguration of the Presidential library held last year .

He said, “You know I missed the official opening of the library and that is why I have decided to come and see the place and, honestly, it is beautiful; we are very proud of what he has done here . ”The embattled Senate President hurriedly entered his vehicle and it zoomed off when journalists threw questions at him about the crisis rocking the National Assembly .

Informed sources , however , said that the meeting was not unconnected with the crisis rocking the National Assembly over the plot to impeach him by the All Progressives Congress senators .

via Punchng

Bukola Saraki to Adams Oshiomhole - One million of you can not remove me from office

Senate president Bukola Saraki has replied Adams Oshiomhole who called for his resignation yesterday.

In his response which was released by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said Oshiomole is behaving like a rain-beaten chicken.
Read his statement below

Response to Adams Oshiomhole

1. It is rather surprising that Mr. Adams Oshiomhole is behaving like a rain-beaten chicken, crying all over the place about Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as if the Senate President is the apparition haunting his life and the sinking ship that he captains.

2. Having decided not to join the pigs in rolling in the dirt; we would not like to be involved in any meaningless exchange with the demagogue now in charge of APC. However, because he claimed that he was reacting to the issues raised by the Senate President during his World Press Conference, we thought it necessary to give the APC chairman some attention.
Alas, we found that instead of addressing any issue raised by the Senate President, his press conference merely showcased his obsession and those of his sponsors with Saraki’s removal, which he did without any decorum befitting of his age or his awarded office. He brimmed with hate, hurled abuses, threw tantrums, told lies, huffed, puffed. In the end, he said nothing.

3. It is indeed amazing that the same Oshiomhole, who is now describing Saraki as a politician of no consequence was the same one who only a few months ago was crawling all over the place pleading for Saraki’s support to become chairman. We are sure that those who took him to Saraki several times to plead his case must now be thoroughly embarrassed by his reckless and uncouth manner.

4. By his conduct and utterances, Oshiomhole, who accused Saraki of not acting in national interest needs to do more to convince Nigerians that his desperate desire to become party chairman is not simply to feed his over-

5. The position of Oshiomhole and his cohorts in the APC that the Senate President must resign is a mere wishful thinking. They will continue to dream about their planned removal of the Senate President. They will need 73 Senators to lawfully remove Dr. Saraki and they will never get that in the present eight Senate.

6. The argument of APC that the Senate President must come from a majority party; that the Senate Presidency is their crown  and National Assembly is their palace is only supported by ignorance and dangerous delusion. First, the issue of which party is in the majority will only be resolved when the Senate resume. Two, Section 50 (1) (a) of the constitution is clear that any Senator can be elected as Senate President. If the only thing left of the APC change agenda is to change the Senate President we can only wish them goodluck.

7. Perhaps, Mr. Oshiomhole needs to be better educated about our parliamentary history when he Stated that “For the first time in parliamentary history in Nigeria, we had a situation where the APC had majority of Senators and went on to elect a PDP as Deputy Senate President”. Where is Mr. Oshiomhole when Senator John Wash Pam of the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) became Deputy Senate President in the Second Republic even when the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) had the majority. The same thing happened in the House of Representatives when NPP’s Rt. Hon. Edwin Umeh Ezeoke was elected Speaker in an NPN majority House. But then, it would require a level of education to understand these things.

8. What hypocrisy! To think that this same APC were jubilating when Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal retained his position after he defected from the PDP and still retained his seat, even when his new party was in the minority. These are people whose standards of morality are infinitely elastic.

9. We are sure the remaining APC Senators need to do a lot of work to bring Oshiomhole up to speed about parliamentary practice. His ignorance are too clear in his comments about how the Senate was adjourned on July 24, 2018, the distribution of committee chairmanship in the Senate and the difference between the post of Senate President and Minority Leader.

10. He has made so much song and dance about Mr. Godswill Akpabio resigning as Senate Minority Leader when he left the PDP to join APC. For this, Akpabio has become his hero and a symbol of honour. He obviously does not understand that the post of Minority Leader is a strictly party affair. And the PDP simply decided who to give it as it is not even a position that was mentioned in the constitution. Whereas, the Senate President position is a constitutional creation, which required majority votes of all the members. Again, we don’t expect people whose only experience in politics is at the provincial levels to understand this. No wonder they are talking of crowns and inheritance.

11. The fair distribution of the Committee chairmanship is one of the stabilizing factors in the 8th Senate and has helped it in achieving more than all its predecessors.

12. We need to inform this divisive element who now leads APC that if he wants to know why the 2018 budget was delayed, he should ask the heads of the MDAs. We reckon that should be easy for him since he is now their ‘headmaster’, moving around with canes to whip ministers into line.

13. Oshiomhole once again demonstrated his lack of sense of history by talking of Buhari winning more votes in Kwara than Saraki. We are sure President Buhari himself will disagree with the APC chairman. We invite the APC chairman to look at the figures of votes secured by the President in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 to know that the difference is clear, like a commercial advert stated.

14. We hereby assure this garrulous, tactless and reckless APC chairman that a million of Adams Oshiomhole cannot remove Saraki as Senate President. His illegal plots, can only feed his insatiable ego and keep him awake at nights. But it will remain an exercise in futility.
Signed
Yusuph Olaniyonu

UPDATE Bukola Saraki meets chairmen of 45 political parties

Senate President Bukola Saraki is meeting with chairmen of 45 political parties in his office at the Senate.

This was contained in a message on his verified Twitter handle , Bukola Saraki @bukolasaraki .
He had tweeted : “I am now meeting with the National Chairmen of 45 political parties at my office in the Senate. ”

See the tweet :
Bukola Saraki
LIVE VIDEO: I am now meeting with t National Chairmen of 45 political par at my office in the Senate. 

UPDATE Bukola Saraki addresses World Press Conference, saying Nigerians won’t accept gangsterism

Senate President Bukola Saraki is currently addressing a World Press Conference .
Saraki had led Principal Officers of the National Assembly to the conference .
He condemned the siege laid by the security operatives of the Department of State Services on the National Assembly on Wednesday , saying it’ s “an assault on democracy. ”

He said, “ It is a matter of record that yesterday, lawmakers and staff of the National Assembly were prevented from entering the National Assembly Complex by heavily armed security agents of the Department of State Services (DSS ). All entries to the Complex were blocked . ”
“The National Assembly , the seat of democracy in Nigeria , was under lockdown. Senators and Members of the House of Representatives were prevented from gaining access . ”
“The ensuing standoff was a show of shame that played itself out over several hours in full view of the country.

“In no circumstances should this have happened. And we as a nation reaped the bitter fruits instantaneously, as evident in media images relayed around the world , images that shame us as a democratic nation .
“The siege was also an act of cowardice by those seeking to carry out an illegal impeachment of the leadership of the Senate in flagrant disregard of the law . ”
He commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for rising up to the occasion.

via punchng

“People who seek control at all costs, by whatever means , never minding the injury to democratic norms . I have to say that this is not about me – Abubakar Bukola Saraki — as an individual . It is not about Ike Ekweremadu , nor is it about Yakubu Dogara.

“I am speaking for my colleagues when I say that this is about the soul of Nigeria , what we represent as a country, and our standing in the comity of nations . This is a country where so much is expected of us .
“ So many rungs of the ladder that we are supposed to have ascended as a nation . Instead we are wallowing in impunity and illegal show of force, all of which retard our progress. This is most disheartening . I don ’ t get any joy in saying ‘ I said so . ’ I don ’ t. ”

“However, some of you may recall that about two years ago, I stated that there was a government within this government, to a purpose that was not in the interest of what the people voted for .
“I said it then, and now we are beginning to see the manifestations of that government within a government.
“It beats one ’ s imagination how the head of an agency could have authorised the brazen assault on the legislature that we saw yesterday . ”

“Despite the threat to our lives , we shall continue to fight impunity and injustice in this country . Happily , by the actions that Nigerians took yesterday, they demonstrated our strong resolve as a nation not to give ground to oppression .
“The legislature, more than any other institution in this country, more than any other arm of govt . represents the will of the people . We are elected by the people , & an assault on the legislature is an assault on the people of Nigeria . ”

“The forcible shutdown of the legislature was an unconscionable assault on a national institution , and thanks to all your efforts, the aggressors have been put to shame.
“The resistance mounted by staff of the National Assembly , my colleagues in both chambers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who refused to leave the entrance of this Complex until the siege was broken , strengthens my faith in the people of this country .
“The rain fell , the sun rose , but Nigerians stood their ground in defence of democracy. With the strength of will demonstrated by everyone against unwarranted and unconstitutional militaristic might, the siege could not stand .

“By this , we have shown that Nigerians can resist government within government in whatever guise, and this is humbling for me.
“Those who sought to attack the National Assembly under my leadership for their selfish ends have only affirmed my belief in this country.

“They attempted to execute an illegal impeachment of the leadership of the Senate without the backing of the law , but they faltered .
“I am confident that , together , we shall always defeat acts of unconstitutionality.
“The rule of law shall always prevail . ”

Bukola Saraki and other National Assembly leaders hold emergency meeting today

The leadership of the National Assembly has summoned an emergency meeting for Tuesday (today).

The Special Assistant to the Senate President on International Relations , Bankole Omisore , called the meeting via his Twitter handle on Monday .

The tweet reads, “NASS leadership will tomorrow meet at noon to consider some national issues . The National Assembly leadership comprises both @NGRSenate and @HouseNGR.
“It will be followed by another meeting with the leadership of @inecnigeria led by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu. ”
It was gathered that the meeting , which will be attended by the President of the Senate , Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker , House of Representatives , Yakubu Dogara; and the principal officers of both chambers would be briefed by INEC on the 2019 general elections .
It was further gathered that the leadership would also discuss the recent defections, which had generated controversies in both chambers .

There had been rumours earlier on Monday that the National Assembly might reconvene on Tuesday, suspending its ongoing two- month annual recess . But a source at the Senate dismissed the resumption reports, stating that it was a leadership meeting and not plenary .
The source said, “ Yes , a joint leadership meeting has been called for 12 noon tomorrow . The meeting is on the current issues in the National Assembly , all the issues .
“By 1 pm , chairman of INEC and other leaders of the commission will join the meeting to brief the National Assembly on the preparations for the 2019 general elections . ”
Meanwhile , members of the Parliamentary Democrats Group have said that the Senate and the House will reconvene only after getting assurances that there will be no attempts to remove the leadership of the National Assembly .

The spokesman for the PDG, Mr Timothy Golu , in a statement on Monday , said lawmakers would be briefed on the outcome of the meeting of the leadership on whether to reconvene or not .
The statement read , “Our leaders are meeting to brief us on the appeal by the Presidency for us to reconvene. There must be assurances that no illegality will be attempted against any of our leaders .

“We are worried by the statements from some anti - Saraki senators like Adamu Abdullahi and Ali Ndume to the fact that the Senate President must be changed.

“Talks are ongoing and as long as there is no threat to our democratic peace, we can reconvene to attend to issues .
“We want peace and stability for our democracy to grow and produce more good fruits. If among ourselves we are found guilty of any form of sabotage for personal reasons, then we are not fair to the people . ”
The group noted that only lawmakers could decide among themselves to change their leadership and not through interference by the executive arm.
“The legislature is an independent arm of government and as legislators , nobody can dictate to us . So , we advise the Presidency and the ruling APC to allow us to decide our fate.
“Our presiding officers are doing well and we have no cause to complain. Those stoking embers of discord in the parliament should kindly stay off,” the PDG said.

via punchng

Senate leader urges immediate resumption as Enang fears govt shutdown
But even as the National Assembly leadership planned its emergency meeting , the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan , on Monday stressed the need for the National Assembly to reconvene immediately in order to address some requests made by President Muhammadu Buhari .
He told State House correspondents that the need for the federal lawmakers to reconvene from their ongoing vacation formed part of the discussion he had with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja .

He said, “ I have come to brief him (Osinbajo) on the situation in the Senate and the discussion also considered the need for the National Assembly to reconvene immediately for us to pass the virement on the supplementary budget presented by Mr President .
“You know that the budget for 2018 , the capital aspect will be largely funded by foreign facilities , loans . Now we need to approve that .
“We also need to approve other important and essential requests, especially that of INEC and other security agencies for our security to be improved.

“It is therefore very essential that we reconvene immediately to look into those issues because our government is almost stalled and I believe that if we are able to pass the supplementary budget and virement request from Mr President , this will enable our administration to provide the various infrastructure that we have planned to provide for Nigerians and also all the other aspects of national development. ”
Lawan said to do otherwise would lead to sabotage of the administration and democracy.
He wondered how the lawmakers would describe themselves if they cannot provide essential things for Nigerians and provide funds for INEC to plan for the 2019 elections .
When asked what will happen if the presiding officers fail to reconvene the Senate, Lawan said, “The presiding officers are people like you and I ; they are Nigerians , they should listen .

“So , I don ’t even want to contemplate that the presiding officers will say they will not reconvene the chambers of the National Assembly based on the fundamental and primary request of Mr President of passing the budget .
“I believe that the presiding officers should do the needful to reconvene the two chambers of the National Assembly to give us the opportunity to pass the supplementary budget and virement request of Mr President as quickly as possible. ”
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, restated his appeal to the National Assembly to suspend its ongoing vacation in national interest .
He said if the federal lawmakers failed to approve the request soon, it might lead to complete government shutdown .
Enang said, “We are still appealing to the National Assembly to reconvene. You remember that we passed the budget with the understanding that the greater amount of it would be sourced from foreign loans .
“Although it was approved that there would be loans , amount to be sourced was not approved . The Fiscal Responsibility Act requires that the President should specifically state the amount the government wants to get from foreign loans and present it before the National Assembly .
“That letter has been presented to the National Assembly and the National Assembly has to pass that amount before the money could be obtained from foreign financing institutions. ”
He added, “This is what we are asking and if it did not happen in the next few months, we may have a complete government shutdown . What we are receiving from the federation account as the Federal Government share of the capital component is not enough to sustain even the 15 or 20 per cent of the budget . ”
Again , PDP Reps allege plot to invade, force Senate open
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives again on Monday raised the alarm of a plot to invade the Senate and reconvene it by force.
The PDP caucus warned that the plot , allegedly to be executed by “a small group of senators ” aided by security agencies, could lead to a total breakdown of law and order at the National Assembly if the planners did not abandon the idea .
The caucus gave the warning after the members ’ emergency meeting at the National Assembly .
It stated that the plotters would pretend that they wanted the Senate to discuss urgent national issues ; the real intention was to remove the Senate President , Bukola Saraki , and the Deputy Senate President , Ike Ekweremadu .
Recall that last week , the caucus raised a similar alarm and went a step further to name senators Ali Ndume, Abdullahi Adamu and Ovie Omo - Agege , as the brains behind the plot.
But , on Monday , it did not mention names, preferring to call the alleged plotters “a small group of senators . ”
The Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Mr Chukwuka Onyema , who signed a statement on the position of the caucus , said any illegal reconvening of the Senate would not stand .

The lawmakers advised the All Progressives Congress Federal Government to uphold the rule of law in all its actions if the country must not lose its democracy.
The caucus stated , “It has come to our attention that there is an impending plot by a small group of senators aided by security agencies to again invade the Senate chamber with a view to illegally reconvening the Senate plenary .
“Ostensibly, their purpose is to address what they term as urgent national issues . However, it is clear that their real purpose is an attempt to unlawfully oust the leadership of the Senate and effect a change of the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President .

“This trend of events must be strenuously resisted by all true democrats and well- meaning Nigerians . We have, over time , witnessed a descent of our country ’s once stable democracy, into an abyss of dictatorship. ”
On the reconvening of the National Assembly , the PDP caucus said, “The procedure for reconvening the National Assembly is unambiguously stated in the rules of both Houses of the National Assembly . These rules draw their constitutionality from Section 60 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria .

“When the National Assembly stands adjourned to a fixed date , it may only be reconvened at an earlier or later date when the leaders of the political parties in the National Assembly make a written representation to the presiding officers , stating that there is a need to convene plenary to attend to matters of urgent national importance .

“In such an event , the presiding officer may give notice to members of a date that the National Assembly is to reconvene. In the present instance, there has been no such notification to either the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives . ”

But when contacted for his reaction to the allegations , Omo - Agege dismissed the claims by the PDP members in the House of Representatives .
He said, “The allegation is totally unfounded, it is a figment of their imagination and I don ’t know where this is coming from. They had better focus on protecting Saraki if they must.

“However, they must understand one thing: nobody elected Saraki a monarch. He was put there (as Senate President ) by senators and the senators can remove him when they believe it is time . My position on this is very clear and I have never hidden it, the moment he stopped being a member of the APC, he had lost not just the moral right but also the legal right to remain as Senate President. I expect him to do the right thing, to step down from that office and allow the majority party to appoint or elect a replacement. ”

The Nigeria Police Force in its reaction to the allegations denied backing any faction of the National Assembly .
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood , said, “It is not true that the police are supporting any group of senators. The police are not involved in politics . We are not partisan.
“The police are not concerned with the leadership of the Senate or the House of Representatives . The general public should disregard those allegations . The police are not involved in party affairs . ”