Politics
Saraki’s travails: The presidency connection
In from Olumide Olaoluwa …
One week, one trouble. This aptly describes the lot of Senate President Bukola Saraki since his election to lead the Eight Assembly on June 9.
Just recently, a 13-count corruption charge was slammed on the former governor of Kwara State by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), accusing him of false declarations of his assets as well as operating foreign accounts as a public official contrary to constitutional requirements.
Among other offences, the CCB accused the Senate President of making anticipatory declaration of some assets as well as partial disclosure of some of his business interests.
The 13-count charge is the highest filed by the CCB against anybody in the history of the nation, an indication that the bureau was ready to go for a broke.
Even before the dust from these allegations could settle, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared wanted one Kennedy Izuagbe, a former director of Societe Generale Bank Nigeria PLC and Managing Director of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited.
Both companies are owned by Saraki.
A statement yesterday by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said Izuagbe, 45, who was being investigated in a case of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over N3.6 billion, has gone into hiding and all efforts to reach him have proved abortive.
Read also: Alleged graft: Saraki dares Code of Conduct Bureau
Investigations revealed that his current ordeals are not unconnected with the power tussle over the Senate Presidency, which Saraki won against the directives of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was gathered that forces against his rise to the number three seat are behind the latest onslaught. They were said to have vowed to stop at nothing until the Senate President is disgraced out of office.
Ever since he won the seat uncontested, several plots have been unleashed on him.
First, it was alleged the Senate Standing Rules that guided his election was forged to manipulate the process.
The Police have taken over the case with sources saying the Senate President and his deputy, Ike Ekeremadu, may be consumed by the final reports.
Saraki was also accused of dual citizenship with a purported bio- data page of his British Passport released by an online media.
His wife, Toyin, was also invited by the EFCC for interrogations on alleged corruption cases.
The CCB’s 13-count charge, according to an aide to Saraki, is just one of the several “machinations targeted against the Senate President.”
He said: “You know the man emerged against the runs of play to the consternation of even those claiming to be political juggernauts.
“They have not forgiven him and will do anything to bring him down. So, one shouldn’t be surprised by the constant bombardment.”
The aide assured that Saraki was up to the task and already envisaged the current backlashes.
“He is coming to the battles sufficiently armed and prepared. He knows they won’t let him be but trust me, he will fight to the finish,” the source confided.
It was learnt that forces loyal to the presidency are tactically coordinating the onslaughts against the Senate President.
“The President is angry with him. He emerged against the party’s directives and carried on as if he is a law unto himself.
‘Believe me, if he had appointed Principal Officials as the party directed, we won’t be here.
“But since he says he is above all, we will see how far he can go with all these battles,” a key party to the onslaught said.
Read also: CCB: Go and clear your name, TMG tells Saraki
Will Saraki survive these onslaughts?
For sure, he is a tactician and dogged fighter, going by how stoutly he saw to the actualisation of his Senate Presidency project. To underrate him will be a gross mistake, considering how much he has succeeded in winning over Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to his side.
The Presidency is also careful not to be seen to be fighting the National Assembly leadership, which is why Buhari has not openly moved against him. But the arsenals deployed against the Senate President are very formidable.
The direct accusation of corruption is a ploy that will win over many Nigerians in view of the anti-graft mood of the nation. That Buhari is also not disposed to working with him, though only with his body language, is a great handicap to Saraki.
Can he hang on to the Senate leadership without the Presidency? Can he fight the hawks seeking his downfall within the APC? How much more can he bear before Nigerians begin to call for his head?
Saraki may be a fighter but will he live to fight another battle another day? Will he survive this onslaught?
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Oise Oikelomen
September 19, 2015 at 11:11 am
I refuse to be impressed. Saraki is as corrupt as those calling for his head. This administration is fast losing it. Anti graft war my foot. This is selective justice at its worst form. When the powers that be choose to use the judiciary, which is supposed to be the last hope of the common man, as their choice instrument of vindictiveness, the people should weep, not rejoice. I consider this ongoing drama a national disgrace.
david makinde
September 20, 2015 at 4:25 pm
No1 has been vetted. No2 has been vetted why the jitters about No3
Oise Oikelomen
September 21, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Saraki is an outcast as far as the APC hierachy is concerned. We all know how he offended the party. We the Nigerian people are fed up with, and outraged against corruption. We need a couple of scapegoats; but in our rage, we wouldn’t bother who the scapegoat is, any member of the political class will do.
What, in my opinion, is happening is that the ruling party has chosen their outcast, stubborn, Saraki as their scapegoat, their convenient sacrifice. That way they would appease the Nigerian people and at the same time get rid of their in house irritant/threat. His party should not use the Nigerian judiciary to punish him for “party indiscipline”; he offended APC, not Nigeria. To order the arrest of the Senate President, despite the High Court Order asking for a stay of action, is embarassing to both the person and the OFFICE of the Senate President. Why do we take delight in degrading our institutions?
I consider the series of battles Saraki has had to fight since entering this office, I consider the particular circumstances surrounding this order for his arrest, I consider the fact that the false asset decleration allegations date as far back as 2003, and I refuse to be impressed. This looks to fishy to me. But if this current anti corruption whirlwind sweeps through the entire political class, getting all the guilty (most of which we know), I will change my position on this matter and publicly admit that I was wrong. I still dey observe. God bless Nigeria
david makinde
September 23, 2015 at 5:31 am
‘There’s no sympathy for the devil in this case Saraki is his own worst enemy. The way he has conducted himself from the beglnning shows no moral feelings either for himself his party or for Nigeria His modus operandii is anything goes,just anything will do. I disagree with Oise no one or party can use the judiciary to witchhunt any body cos witchhunt or hunting witches is not in the statute books. I wonder why people will close their eyes go simple truth. Saraki has been a complete manifestation of shameless desperation and greed on the moral question period. Listen to him” whar some people cannot get through democratic process they want to get from back door
Well in this case we wonder who’d comi
Oise Oikelomen
September 23, 2015 at 6:49 am
Once whatever is happening in goats house now starts happening in fowl’s house also, I will be rest assured. Until then, I see this as selective justice. APC wanted to be the ones to select the Senate President. Saraki outsmarted them and got himself elected by the house. While I understand how that must have offended the party, we must realize that what Saraki did is far more constitutional than what the APC bigwigs were going to do. Did Saraki violate the constitution or any law of the land? No. He only stood against the wishes of APC godfathers. How is that a crime? He had enough courage and wits to outsmart these same wise old men who are largely responsible for our current state. Saraki is no saint (I do no think it possible to have been in elected office for that long, and have an absolutely clean slate). My fear is that if he is disgraced out of power by people who aren’t cleaner than him, then a clear message would have been sent to the political class: never you oppose the godfathers. In that case nothing would have changed: we would still have selections where there should be elections, and these tired old men who have led us into this near impasse, would continue to hold godlike sway. You accuse Saraki of desperation; I ask you to show me a Nigerian politician who isn’t desperate. PMB contested presidential elections four times before he eventually won. The three times he lost he reacted poorly, always contesting the results and at some points issuing veiled threats against the nation. Now, if that is not desperation, then I don’t know what is. Today, we have him as our president. When did desperation become a political sin in Nigeria?
david makinde
September 23, 2015 at 11:00 am
Still looking at this case from an obtuse angle. This has nothing to do with your idea of constitutional breaches but being sensible enough to know what party ethics stands for. Saraki has’nt outsmarted anybody but himself. He’s got a case infront of him and you are still talking of being smart.all what you are adressing are all semantics and no issues. Today,Saraki is nobody’s President,cos in other climes he would have resigned and step aside until he scales through those charges. When you are no3 you should expect people to check you out. With the frame of mind that he is now i doubt if he can conduct any proceeding in that house