As Senate resumes, lawmakers pass vote of confidence on Saraki

In spite of his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has received a warm welcome as the Senate resumed on Tuesday after a four-week recession with a vote of confidence passed on him.

Many political watchers had been expecting a rowdy session that might even culminate in attempts to impeach the Senate president following his arraignment on a 13 count charges involving false assets declaration.

The vote of confidence excited some of his supporters who converge at the Senate entrance to chant solidarity songs for Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu.

Saraki denies wrongdoing in the charges brought against him and that the trial was politically motivated.

At the Senate’s resumption Tuesday, 83 senators co-sponsored a motion to give him a “vote of confidence”.

David Umar, Niger East, who read the motion, initially said it was sponsored by 84 Senators; nevertheless, the Chairman Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Babajide Omowarare, Osun East, asked that his name be removed from the list.

Earlier, Bukola had in his welcome address to the Senate reflected on his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and also gave a word of advice to his colleagues to be fully prepared for the legislative works ahead and be resolute not to allow themselves to be distracted by external forces.

The Senate president, who said screening of the ministers should be the uppermost thing in their minds also advised that the exercise should be done without ‘politicking’.

“The externalized distractions we have had recently have been unhelpful but I am more than ever focused and resolute to the course of our people to provide them leadership that will ease their pain and realize their dreams. It is in view of this that we set for ourselves the legislative agenda committee to help us identify priorities that will have substantial impact on the lives of our people.

“As we resume today, we must demonstrate clearly to Nigerians that we are prepared to fulfill our mandates and put Nigeria first in all that we do, no matter how we feel about anything else. To behave contrary will amount to a betrayal of the confidence repose on us by our constituencies and our country as a whole.

“As we await the list of ministerial nominees this week, I believe the presence of ministers will create the space for greater policy engagement with the Executive Arm of government and enable us to begin to respond in a more systematic manner to the various economic and social challenges before us, especially through our various Committees that will also be constituted soon. On this note, I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us. Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch and thoroughness. We must not be held down by unnecessary politicking. The enormity of our national challenges at this time does not give room for pettiness or politics of vendetta”, he said.

Speaking on his trial he said: “Distinguished Senators, I believe you have all followed with keen interest, my trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. I shall avoid discussing the details of that case here for obvious reasons.

Read also: Plot to remove Saraki as Senate president thickens

“Meanwhile, I wish to reiterate my remarks before the Tribunal, that I have no iota of doubt that I am on trial today because I am the president of the Nigerian Senate, against the wishes of some powerful individuals outside this Chambers. But what is clear to me also, is that the laws of Nigeria, and the rules of the National Assembly give consideration only to the wishes and desires of those of you who are here today as members of the Senate, to elect as you wish, one of your peers as President of the Senate.

“This, in your wisdom, is what you have done by electing me to be the first among all of you who are my equals. The laws of Nigeria do not give any consideration to any other forces outside the Senate in the election of its President. And to yield the ground on this note, is to be complicit in the subversion of democracy and its core principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our constitution.

 

He also spoke about the state of the economy calling for the review of the 2015 budget.

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