How Saraki, Ekweremadu can escape trial –Marafa

Senator Marafa Kabiru has given conditions under which the Senate leadership can avoid continuation of the case of forgery proffered against them

Basking in his new status as Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, the All Progressive Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Zamfara Central, said for Senate President, Bukola Saraki to disentangle himself for the forgery case, all he had to do was succumb to the will of the party.

Marafa spoke to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the Senate is divided, and APC members against Saraki because they feel they are not getting their due as the ruling party, and having the majority in the red chamber, adding, that the crisis would be over once APC senators get the juicy committees.

He lamented that the high offices were occupied by members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even though they are in opposition and minority, which is unacceptable to the party’s leadership.

Read also: Saraki moves to pacify opponents, reshuffles Senate committees

He said, “During the 7th assembly, we accorded the ruling party at that time the utmost cooperation and we knew the committees that we were given that time. But now, we are in power, it is our own time and we should be accorded all the necessary cooperation. We should be seen to respect the party. If the party says withdraw the case, we will go on to withdraw the case.”

It would be recalled, that Senator Saraki had a few days ago, appointed two members of the Unity Forum; Marafa and Sen Oluremi Tinubu, into exciting posts in a move seen by many as aimed at ensuring peace reigns in the Senate.

“I think reschuffling of committees is not new in any parliament. What made that of yesterday a little new is the circumstances of the emergence of this leadership and what followed. What happened yesterday is a result of the efforts the party has been putting in for reconciliation in the last few days”, he said.

Marafa also stated that the rumoured move to impeach President Buhari was nothing but a joke, and that no such thing was ever contemplated by the Senators.

“In legislature we crack a lot of joke. I will only describe that as heavy joke. Nobody is contemplating that. It is not a possibility and God willing it will not happen in this assembly”, he said.

 

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