6 Senators back Saraki as others plot against him

Some Senators, yesterday, said they affirmed support for Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, following rumours that some lawmakers within the All Progressives Congress (APC) were plotting to replace him.
The six senators, who openly declared their support for Saraki, represent less than 10 per cent of the total popula­tion of lawmakers in the Red Chamber.

The six lawmakers are: Rafiu Ibrahim; Pe­ter Nwaoboshi; Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Isa Hamma Misau Samuel Anyanwu and Lanre Tejuoso.

The senators, in a state­ment, said there was no truth about claims in some quarters that some lawmakers were discussing or thinking about Saraki’s successor because there was no basis for that.

Saraki is the only Senate President who, in less than one year, had votes of confi­dence passed on him by 85 of 109 Senators.

“If we have a motion for confidence vote today, we are sure that 90 Senators will en­dorse the Senate President.

“Let us make it clear, our position remains the same. The case against Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, is not a case of corruption. It is a case of political persecu­tion. Again, he remains in­nocent until the case has gone through the final floor of the judicial architecture. We have no doubt that the mischief will fail and so we are solidly be­hind him.”

“We want to alert the public that this is the typical method that those detractors of the Senate President have em­ployed since the beginning of the case last September.
We continue to stand by Senator Abubakar Bu­kola Saraki and nothing will change that,” the sena­tors stated.

Meanwhile, Saraki has said the National Assembly will prioritize bills aimed at pro­tecting and safeguarding the rights of persons living with disabilities in the country.
Saraki, according to a state­ment by his Chief Press Sec­retary, Sanni Onogu, gave the pledge when the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities led by its Executive Director, Mr. David Anyaele visited him in Abuja.

According to Saraki, it does not speak well of any country where people living with disabilities are neglect­ed or denied access to basic amenities including access to justice.
Saraki said: “I want to assure you that the Eighth Senate is truly committed to rejig and re-define the issues. I think what has happened in the past is the issue of not making the rights of people with special needs a prior­ity.”