TheNewsGuru

Tag: saraki

  • KEN HARRIES: Saraki on Akpabio’s touch of institutional integrity

    KEN HARRIES: Saraki on Akpabio’s touch of institutional integrity

    By Ken Harries

    It is often said, “There is no morality in politics”. In other words, in politics, anything goes. Unfortunately, many people who have found themselves in positions of authority have adopted this line of thought, thereby desecrating the sacredness of leadership, because it is ordained by God. But to the President of the tenth Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, “Leadership cannot just go along to get along. Leadership must meet the moral challenge of the day.” These are the words of the revered gospeller, refined politician and leader, Jesse Jackson.

    At the celebration of Democracy Day on June 12, 2025, the 8th Assembly President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, made a rare commendation to the leadership of the 10th Senate led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, GCON. Saraki, in a paper titled “The National Assembly and Nigeria’s Democracy in the Last 26 Years”, thanked Akpabio for restoring his portrait in the Senate Gallery after four years of its absence.

    We are all aware of the no love lost that existed between Saraki and his successor, Senator Ahmad Lawan, whom he outsmarted in 2015 to emerge as the Senate President against the wishes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time. Consequently, the Saraki-led National Assembly maintained a cat and dog relationship throughout its tenure with the Executive led by then President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Hence, when Senator Lawan eventually became the Senate President during the 9th Assembly, the no love lost between him and Senator Lawan was reignited. Senator Saraki had then been swept off the National Assembly courtesy of the “Otoge Revolution” in the Kwara politics, which was hitherto controlled by the Saraki dynasty. At this time, the APC had put its house in order and had a smooth sail on electing its principal officers, while the likes of Saraki, who had defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost their return bid to the Senate.

    One of the actions taken by the Lawan’s leadership was to take down Saraki’s official portrait, where other Senate Presidents’ portraits are mounted at the Gallery of the Senate at the National Assembly, possibly to revenge the ‘injustice’ Saraki and his group meted out to him. Throughout the four years of Lawan’s Senate Presidency, Saraki’s portrait was missing in the gallery.

    But one man known for institutional integrity and playing “politics without bitterness” changed the narrative, which got Senator Saraki celebrating and, for once, acknowledging the eclectic and transformational leadership of the uncommon Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Apart from commending his ‘good friend’ Senator Akpabio for having his portrait remounted among his colleagues, he appreciated the 10th National Assembly, led by Akpabio, for its courage in inviting him to present a paper at the joint session of the National Assembly.

    According to Saraki, “If it were in another time, they would have been looking at the body language of the President, and my invite would have gotten missing. Just like my portrait”

    The former Senate President noted that “Just as my portrait was missing for four years in the Senate Gallery created for all former presiding officers, it was brought in just recently,” Saraki said. “I thank my good friend, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for that.”

    But certainly, that is not the character of Senator Akpabio’s leadership. He is an inspirational, inclusive, rational, humane, and compassionate leader. And like a former US President, John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, so more and become more, you are a leader”. Senator Godswill Akpabio is truly a leader because he exudes all these qualities.

    By restoring Senator Saraki’s portrait and even going ahead to invite him as part of those to make presentations at the Democracy Day celebration is indicative of the fact that Senate President Akpabio is receptive to criticism and tolerant of opposition, no matter how vitriolic it may be. He does not believe in taking a pound of flesh when the opportunity presents itself, nor does he use his exalted position to pay opponents in their coin.

    In the wake of the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate, Senator Saraki, despite being a former Senate President, never spared Senate President Akpabio any benefit of the doubt but joined in the fray, convicting and condemning Akpabio without trial. But Akpabio, a man imbued with institutional integrity and respect for individual right of opinion, never allowed this to becloud his sense of judgement in relating with those who stood the law on its head in casting aspersions on him.

    Senate President Akpabio is like Mahatma Gandhi, who said, ” I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles, but today it means getting along with people”. He is the most gregarious leader we have around today. He knows how to enliven any environment or opportunity he finds himself in. He relates excellently with whoever comes his way. A detribalised and non-sectional leader, Akpabio’s doors are open to human beings of all shades; he does not discriminate, just like he shares with all and sundry.

    Today, he has redefined leadership in the parliament, engaging the executive objectively and purposefully without bickering or fighting; representing the people through implementable laws that are development-promoting and smacked of human kindness and compassion. This is the spirit of a leader whose primary concern is to bring smiles to the faces of the common and not pains or sadness.

    Mr Ken Harries is a US based development communication strategist

  • PDP ‘wahala’: Saraki, Dickson, Dankwambo storm Enugu, meet with Mbah

    PDP ‘wahala’: Saraki, Dickson, Dankwambo storm Enugu, meet with Mbah

    …southeast is vital to PDP – Ex-Senate president

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Special Reconciliation Committee, headed by ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Friday met with Enugu State Governor and Southeast party leader, Dr. Peter Mbah, as part of efforts to resolve internal crises threatening the party’s unity in the region.

    The closed-door session, held at the Enugu Government House, had in attendance key committee members including former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, and former Gombe State Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo.

    The visit comes amid growing tensions within the PDP in the Southeast, following a recent communiqué from the Zonal Executive Council (ZEC), which re-nominated former National Youth Leader, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, to complete the tenure of the National Secretary.

    The leaders warned that failure to honor their decision could force them to reconsider their continued loyalty to the party.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting, Saraki said the committee’s mandate was to ensure a peaceful and united front ahead of the party’s forthcoming National Executive Council meeting and potential convention.

    “We are here as members of the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, set up by the PDP Governors’ Forum, to ensure that the coming NEC and convention are smooth and free of rancor,” Saraki stated.

    “In line with that, we are here in Enugu State to consult with one of our leaders, Governor Peter Mbah, who is the leader of Southeast PDP.

    “This is the first state we are coming to because we appreciate the importance of the Southeast in our PDP family. As you all know, the Southeast has played a key role as the bedrock of the popularity and the strength of our party.

    “In recognition of that, we are here to consult with him and first to commend him on the leadership role he has been playing in the party. More importantly also, to commend what he is doing in Enugu State, which is a reflection for Nigerians to see what happens when you have a PDP government.

    “In doing that, we discussed how we will ensure that we carry out the assignment given to us and go ahead to have our NEC and our convention. We will have one that is rancor-free and smooth, peaceful and lays the foundation for the PDP that we all are wishing for.

    “We have had a very good discussion. Frankly, we have had a very, very useful discussion. We are going away with some of the suggestions that we have here and hopefully work on that.

    “With this, we can say here in Enugu we laid the foundation for a greater new PDP that is coming.

    “What we have also seen today is that there is nothing insurmountable in the challenge ahead and the spirit, the commitment of all of us, especially our leaders, is very very inspiring,” he stated.

  • Don’t politicise, trivialise call for due process in Senate – Saraki tells Akpabio

    Don’t politicise, trivialise call for due process in Senate – Saraki tells Akpabio

    Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described as “cheap politics and trivialising of a serious issue” the claim by incumbent Senate President, Godswill Akpabio that the call on him to ensure that transparent and open process is instituted to investigate the accusation levelled against him by one of his colleagues, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is an attempt to remove a Niger Delta person from office.

    Saraki, in a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, the head of his media office in Abuja, urged Akpabio to read his press statement dated March 1st, 2025 very well to understand that there was nowhere he suggested the resignation of the Senate President.

    “Rather, he advised that Akpabio should act in the best interest of the legislative institution by ensuring that no reasonable person is left with any doubt about the fact that the allegations raised by the Senator were investigated and justifiably dispensed with.

    “The attention of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has been drawn to the statement made by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio while addressing the leaders of some “youth ethnic groups” on Friday that certain individuals from Kwara and Adamawa States want him removed because he is from the Niger Delta region.

    “Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki would have ignored the statement as a sign of the times in which we now live. However, its underlying motive of politicising and trivialising a serious issue that threatens the integrity, credibility, and importance of the legislature is the reason why we think we should not allow the Senate President to create a misleading impression of the issue at stake in the all-important institution that the National Assembly represents in our democracy.

    “Dr. Saraki in his last comment on the Akpabio-Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan crisis never called on the Senate President to resign or step aside. Rather, he urged the Senate President to be conscious of the fact that perception is reality and therefore he should avoid treating the allegations by the Senator in a manner that will create the perception that the Senate as an institution is trying to cover up issues bothering on sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office.

    “Also, Dr. Saraki made it clear that his intervention was neither about Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan nor whether her claim was right or not. He stated that since the Senator has gone public with such serious allegations against the presiding officer, the image of the institution should be saved through an honest, sincere, open, transparent, and unbiased investigation.

    “In that press statement, he also pointed out that there are already existing processes recommended in the Constitution, laws of the land, Senate rules, conventions, and precedents to be followed in carrying out such investigation.

    “Again, Dr. Saraki is of the firm belief that his suggestions are for the benefit of the legislative institution. So, he will repeat the same suggestion no matter where the Senate President comes from and whichever party he belongs to. It is not because the incumbent is a member of the APC, that the former Senate President is from the PDP or that the former is from the South-South zone while the latter is from the North Central zone. Far from it. It is disingenuous and crude to describe Dr. Saraki’s comment along those primordial lines.

    “This issue is definitely not one in which Akpabio should exploit ethnic sentiments, political division, or regional proclivity. This will neither be in his own interest or that of the institution over which he is presiding. He should face the reality on ground and do what is right.

    “The former Senate President believes that when a sensitive matter suggesting sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and mistreatment of women comes up anywhere, it evokes the pains that thousands of women across the nooks and crannies of our society experience daily. Thus, when it is raised in a place like the legislative institution, it is an opportunity for us to handle it with utmost openness and transparency to ensure that justice is not only done but glaringly seen to be done.

    “Once again, Dr. Saraki stands by and maintains his earlier suggestion to Akpabio and the Senate leadership on the allegations raised by the Senator from Kogi State. An open, transparent, and honest investigation of the allegations is still needed to ensure that the Senate is not cast in the image of an institution that is tolerant of sexual harassment, gender bias, victimisation and mistreatment of women, abuse of office, and enthronement of the culture of silence. By having such an investigation, the general public and the international community will have more confidence in our legislative institution.

    “People like Dr. Saraki have made huge sacrifices in defending the integrity of the legislative institution and will not desist in speaking up for the right thing to be done. May God bless our institutions and our country”.

  • Saraki hails Supreme Court Verdict on Melrose case over Paris Club Fund

    Saraki hails Supreme Court Verdict on Melrose case over Paris Club Fund

    President of the 8th Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has hailed the Supreme Court judgement, which overturned the Federal High Court’s 2018 decision regarding an alleged N3.5 billion fraud case against Melrose General Services Limited.

    Saraki said the judgement vindicates his earlier stance that the case was politically motivated and a veiled attempt to witch-hunt him because he emerged as President of the Senate against the wishes of certain forces during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports the former Senate President stated this on Friday, June 7, in a statement signed by his Head of Media, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, and made available to newsmen in Abuja after the Supreme Court judgment.

    Recall the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 27, 2018, secured judgment for the final forfeiture of N1.4billion which it claimed a firm, Melrose General Services Limited, obtained from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) through false claims.

    Melrose is allegedly linked to the then Senate President, Saraki, who was facing a political battle with some highly placed personalities within the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressive Congress, APC, government.

    Dissatisfied with the verdict of Justice Cecilia Olatoregun, and the Court of Appeal which in May 2019, resolved the four contentious issues in favour of the EFCC, Melrose General Services approached the Supreme Court for redress, asking it to set aside the pronouncement of the lower courts.

    Delivering judgment on Friday, June 7, the Supreme Court panel led by Justice Akomaye Agim(SC 1519/2019) set aside the judgments of the lower courts and ruled in favour of the appellant, Melrose General Services.

    Reacting to the judgement on his handle on the social media platform, X, Saraki said the ruling has revealed the truth and affirms his earlier position of innocence.

    The former Chairman of the NGF stated that the legal suit was a proxy war, aimed at persecuting him, undermining his political career, and and tarnishing his reputation.

    “As much as this case was between the EFCC and Melrose General Services Limited, it was a proxy war, with Melrose serving as a mere pawn in a larger scheme to victimise and persecute me. It was always clear that this case was a thinly veiled attempt by the Buhari administration to weaponise the legal system for political gain.

    “The allegations of “Paris Club Fraud” were nothing more than a smokescreen designed to weaken the institution of my office, undermine my political career, and tarnish my reputation through spurious accusations similar to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, which also acquitted me of all charges.

     

    “As I said in my first appearance at the CCT, this is a politically motivated case. The case was trumped up in the first instance because I emerged as the President of the Senate against the wishes of certain forces.

    “The fact that this case was even brought to court, based on dubious evidence and procedural irregularities, is proof of the length that some people will go to manipulate the legal system for political gain. It was a disservice to the Nigerian people and a waste of our limited but valuable judicial resources,” Saraki said.

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain lauded the judiciary for ensuring that justice prevailed, and charged all to be inspired by the verdict in the fight against corruption and abuse of power promotion of Nigeria’s democracy.

    “I am profoundly grateful to the Almighty Allah, the ultimate arbiter of justice, for guiding the Supreme Court to this righteous verdict. I applaud the judiciary for their meticulous examination of the evidence and adherence to due process, which has ensured that justice prevailed. I also thank Melrose’s legal team for their tireless efforts in bringing this case to a just conclusion.

    “Moving forward, we all have to canvas for fairness in the fight against corruption. We should see this verdict as an inspiration to champion the rule of law, promote democracy and its institutions, and tolerate divergent views,” he stated.

  • REVEALED! Major reason Obi visited Atiku, Saraki and Lamido in Abuja

    REVEALED! Major reason Obi visited Atiku, Saraki and Lamido in Abuja

     

    Major reason the 2023 Presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi visited Peoples Democratic Party, PDP frontline politicians in Abuja has been revealed.

    This was contained in a statement signed by Obi’s Spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko on stating that:

    “Obi’s abiding devotion is to the emergence of a Nigeria that works for all its peoples and where the people are quickly pulled out of poverty.

    Worried about the state of the nation and the increasing uncertainty in the living conditions of the poor and underprivileged, Obi in Abuja on Monday visited some top Nigerians, among whom are Former Vice President, and PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, the Former Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki and the Former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido.

    At the center of discussion during each of these visits was the state of the nation and how to reduce the suffering of all Nigerians irrespective of class and location.

    In particular, the desperate condition of the downtrodden in our midst was highlighted.

    Of particular interest and emphasis in these discussions was the worrisome situation in the Northern parts of the country .
    #

  • Saraki’s Senate paid 40% on Constituency projects – Akpabio

    Saraki’s Senate paid 40% on Constituency projects – Akpabio

    Senate President. Godswll Akpabio has said that the Saraki-led Senate paid 40% on Constituency projects.

    Addressing the Senate on the ongoing security challenges across the country, the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, reminded the Apkabio that he was part of the Saraki Senate.

    According to Ndume, “Our security [agencies] have the capability. All they need is training, equipment, motivation. That’s what they need. But we can do it.

    “Now the President [Akpabio], he headed, when he was the Senate leader, he headed three committees and made far-reaching decisions. You were part of the Saraki Senate as a Minority Leader…”

    Akpabio replied: “I was a part of Nigerian Senate, not Saraki’s Senate. If you said I was part of Saraki’s Senate, it means I was part of those who paid 40% on Constituency project and 60% was not being paid till today, I don’t want to be part of that.”

    Senator Bukola Saraki was the Senate President in the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

  • How Saraki plotted with Dogara, Ekweremadu to seize NASS leadership – Femi Adesina

    How Saraki plotted with Dogara, Ekweremadu to seize NASS leadership – Femi Adesina

    Femi Adesina has disclosed how ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki plotted to seize the leadership of the National Assembly in 2015.

    Adesina, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari said Saraki plotted with former House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and ex-Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

    He said Saraki worked with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers to get the necessary figures because most senators of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were not with him.

    Adesina disclosed this in his book “Working with Buhari: Reflections Of A Special Adviser, Media And Publicity (2015 – 2023).”

    The former presidential spokesman, however, said Buhari was unhappy with Saraki and Dogara’s emergence as leaders of the National Assembly.

    Adesina wrote: “Unknown to the party leadership, Senator Bukola Saraki, a former Kwara State Governor, and Hon. Yakubu Dogara, from Bauchi State, had plotted to seize the leadership of the National Assembly.

    “To get the necessary figures, Saraki was in league with the PDP, his former party, as a significant number of APC senators were not with him.

    “We were in the President’s living room at Aso Drive, preparatory to driving to the International Conference Centre (ICC) for the meeting with APC legislators, when we saw on television that the Senate had already been convened, and election was in progress.

    “The requisite constitutionally required number had been made up by renegade APC members and the PDP.”

  • Sallah: Saraki greets Muslims, urges them to intensify prayers for Nigeria

    Sallah: Saraki greets Muslims, urges them to intensify prayers for Nigeria

    Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated Muslims around the world on this year’s Eid-El-Kabir festival and urged them to continue to pray to Allah to intervene in the affairs of the country by restoring peace, unity, prosperity, security, and development across its nooks and cranny.

    In a Sallah message from his media office in Abuja signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki noted the significance of the Eid-El-Kabir festival as it symbolises the test of the faith of Prophet Ibrahim who is the origin of the world’s biggest religions and urged all Muslims to borrow some of the attributes of the man known as the father of faith.

    “Prophet Ibrahim demonstrated unflinching faith in almighty Allah and his creator compensated him by making him the father of the most prosperous nations today. He demonstrated patriotism by praying to Allah to bless his land and his forbears that will come from generations after him. Today, we can see the manifestation of Prophet Ibrahim’s prayers in the prosperity of the lands occupied by his offspring.

    “It is for this reason that I use this occasion to call on Nigerians to also continue to pray for our country. We need to continue to request our creator to turn things around for the better in Nigeria. We need God to help us conquer our economic, political, social, and security challenges.

    “I also urge our countrymen and women to demonstrate faith by ensuring that those who are privileged come to the aid of the less privileged ones and ensure that many people across the country can celebrate this Sallah in a joyous mood and with food in their households ” he stated.

    Saraki added that times are hard for many Nigerians because of the general economic situation and the resultant high cost of food items. He, therefore, pleaded with traders to desist from adding to the suffering of their fellow citizens by unnecessarily raising the prices of goods in the market.

    “Part of the lessons that this Eid-El-Kabir is teaching us is that we must believe that Allah’s blessing is more important in all that we do. Traders across the country must avoid creating conditions that will worsen the situation of our fellow citizens”, he stated.

    He also prayed for Allah’s protection of security agents who are on the frontlines in the defence of their country and prayed that Allah should give them victory over the negative forces arrayed against the country.

    “May Allah heal and bless our land. Eid Mubarak to all Muslims”, the former Senate President stated.

    Signed
    Yusuph Olaniyonu
    Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office
    Abuja

  • Adeleke’s signature dance moves distinguishes him – Saraki

    Adeleke’s signature dance moves distinguishes him – Saraki

    Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on his birthday, saying his dance moves and humility distinguished him from others.

    Saraki in a tweet said: “For several years, Governor Ademola Adeleke (@AAdeleke_01) has stood out as a distinct politician.

    “His humble and captivating personality, his skill in energizing and managing crowds, his signature dance moves, and his honesty have consistently distinguished him from others.

    “When Governor Adeleke assures you of his support, you can count on him to be there every step of the way.

    “Today, as we honour this exceptional leader who has been tirelessly working for the progress of Osun State, my family and I extend our warmest birthday wishes to our brother and friend, Governor Adeleke.”

  • Saraki commends INEC, calls for extension of voting time

    Saraki commends INEC, calls for extension of voting time

    A former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the peaceful conduct of the Presidential and Senatorial elections in Kwara.

    He told newsmen in Ilorin after casting his vote on Saturday that the conduct of the elections was satisfactory.

    Saraki, also a former governor of the state, however, expressed worry over the delay in the commencement of the exercise.

    He, therefore, called on INEC to extend the voting time by two hours so as to allow voters exercise their civil rights.

    The former senate president, in the company of his wife, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, cast their votes at their polling unit, Ode Opobiyi, 005, Ajikobi, Ilorin, at 12.30 p.m.