Saraki defends his dual citizenship

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has stated that holding dual citizenship does not disqualify him from occupying a public office in the country as he was bestowed by both citizenships by reason of his birth.
Saraki in statement by his Special Assistant on New Media, Bamikole Omishore explained, that “the requirement to forfeit Nigerian citizenship upon acquisition of the citizenship of another country, does not apply to persons who are Nigerians by birth within the definition of Section 25 of the Constitution. This section also acknowledges and protects the right to hold citizenship by birth of another country – as citizenship by birth is an inalienable right under the Constitution”.
According to him, “Holding the citizenship of another country does not preclude, disqualify or nullify a person from having, acquiring or retaining Nigerian citizenship by birth. This is even more prevalent where such citizenship has been acquired by birth. Furthermore, there is no requirement for a dual citizen of Nigeria (by birth) and another country to renounce either citizenship”.
He described a recent report by an online news portal (not Ripples) which stated that he is not a Nigerian citizen as “dubious and utterly false”.
He lamented that the medium failed to carry out diligent investigation on the authenticity of its report before publication, adding, that
The statement noted that “Senator Saraki’s UK passport as posted on the website is a forged document that deserves thorough investigation by the UK Home and passport Office. Senator Saraki on the 19th of July 2015, has instructed his Solicitors in UK to write the UK Home Office to commence immediate investigation into this act of criminality.
According to him, “Holding the citizenship of another country does not preclude, disqualify or nullify a person from having, acquiring or retaining Nigerian citizenship by birth. This is even more prevalent where such citizenship has been acquired by birth. Furthermore, there is no requirement for a dual citizen of Nigeria (by birth) and another country to renounce either citizenship.

Read also: Exclusive…. Inside the plot to remove Saraki

“In view of the above, holding dual citizenship does not mean that a public office holder, like the Senate President had earlier changed his nationality in the past; it simply means he has held both citizenships simultaneously without the need to acquire one after the other. As both were acquired by birth, the Senate President automatically had both citizenships ‘bestowed’ on him from the moment of his birth.
“To this end, citizens of a country by birth do not need to swear to an oath of allegiance to that country; it is only citizenship acquired through naturalization and registration that have the requirement to take an oath of allegiance. Above all, there is no evidence that Dr. Saraki took an oath of allegiance or intentionally attempted to conceal his UK citizenship – especially as he has never denied holding the citizenship in question.
Saraki stated that it is uncomprensible, as it beats ordinary sense of imagination of how the online portal went to extent of producing and pasting fake UK passport claiming it to be his. “What on earth would Sahara Reporters benefit from such “pull him down at all cost” syndrome? This is an indication that the online media outfit is out to tarnish the image of the President of the Senate. It is a confirmation of the fact that it is doing the bidding of its pay masters which is well known to all and sundry as the man behind the scene will soon be exposed and brought to the public domain”.

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