Saraki Aborts International Engagement To Fight For Survival

Had Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, travelled to honour an international engagement in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday, as was planned, he would have returned to Nigeria an ordinary member of the Senate and begging for a Committee to serve on

This is because a plot to remove him from office and also have his deputy arrested and detained, would have been successfully executed.

Saraki, who was billed to travel out of Nigeria Sunday, aborted the trip after he got wind of the plot said to have been hatched by some governors and ministers, loyal to President Muhammmadu Buhari.

According to our source, the plot also involved the arrest and detention of Saraki’s deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, over allegations of corrupt practices.

‪Ripples Nigeria gathered that the details of the plot included removal of leadership of the Senate and immediate election of a new Senate President who has already been pre-anointed by the plotters.‬

“If he had travelled, he will be there and hear over the news that he has been removed and replaced. But I think someone leaked the information to him and he aborted the trip to take charge of the situation.

“As I was told, they are using some governors and ministers to effect the change and Ekweremadu would have been arrested and detained so that he does not thwart the plot”? our source said.

Read also: HERDSMEN-FARMERS CLASHES: Northern governors, Miyetti Allah meet

Efforts to reach Saraki’s office over the development was abortive. But our source indicated that the leadership of the Senate may have gone into their own situation room to plan their counter move.

‪Ripples Nigeria understands that some governors and ministers said to be involved in the plot are unhappy with the decision of the National Assembly leadership chaired by Saraki to go ahead with its planned veto to pass amendments to the Electoral Act following President Buhari’s refusal to assent to it.‬

Meanwhile ‪it was‬ further learnt that those plotting Saraki’s removal had allegedly lined up huge rewards for Senators and House of Representative members who sign on to the plot and ensure that the planned veto does not succeed.

It was alleged that a reward of $50,000 and $30,000 awaits each Senator and Represenative respectively that signs for the deal.

Some of those listed as brains behind the plot include governors and ministers who defected from the PDP in the run up to the 2015 general elections and are now seen as arrowheads of the Buhari re-election move.

By Femi Qudus

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now