The issuance of a bench warrant of arrest by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Friday against Senate President Bukola Saraki has polarized the All Progressives Congress, APC, as President Muhammadu Buhari has maintained silence over the debacle.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Timi Frank, in an open letter to the President on Saturday, September 19 titled “Urgent Need to End This Impunity against Saraki” published by Nation called on Buhari to intervene in the Saraki episode so that the crisis will not consume the APC.
Timi added that a former Governor from the S/West (Ahmed Bola Tinubu) was still “enjoying his booty being part of the current government.”
He called on Saraki’s detractors to sheathe their sword and allow him to deliver on the change mantra he earlier promised Nigeria.
Saraki failed to appear in court over the Code of Conduct Tribunal’s 13-count charge accusing him among other crimes, of inappropriate use of State funds to purchase private assets during his tenure as the Governor of Kwara State and while as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He was also accused of declaring as part of his assets, a property that had not been sold to him, a maneuver that is known as “anticipatory looting” in Nigeria’s political lexicon.
The Statement reads in part:“Mr President, it is worthy to note that Saraki in recent times has been treated as an outcast. This is very bad development which if not carefully managed will consume the All Progressives Congress and doom our democracy. What has happened unfortunately does not reflect the change we promised Nigerians.
“Is Senator Saraki the only Former governor in Nigeria? Are there no other former governors especially from the South West and other zones that are not just enjoying their booty but are integral part of the government? Yes, Saraki is not the anointed candidate for the senate presidency, but his colleagues elected him. So, why don’t we allow him some peace to deliver on the promises of change?
“Mr President, the executive needs the legislature; hence, the relationship must be cordial because if this situation is not properly managed, Nigerians will be disappointed in us as a party, a development that portends unfavorable results when we go to the polls in 2019.
“As far as Nigerians are concerned, it is very difficult to convince them that this orchestrated onslaught against Saraki is not a case of witch hunt. Nigerians are more politically aware now than ever.
“Sir, you need to act to stop some of these people hiding under your good name to perpetuate this grievous evil. The begging for an answer is: If Saraki were not the Senate President, would all these acts of intimidation and maltreatment be visited on him?
“Please, kindly intervene in good time to stop this apparent political persecution as some few people are now hiding under your name to reap political dividends from this impunity.
“We cannot afford to suffer from the conspiracy of silence at this time because as they say, evil thrives when good people keep quiet. It may be Saraki’s turn today, but it could be anybody tomorrow…’’
It added: “I also want to appeal to all Nigerians to pray for senate president; Dr. Senate President Abubakar Saraki in this trying period as I have no doubt that he is one of the few patriotic Nigerians with so much in stock for this country.”
Earlier Tinubu has surprisingly criticized Buhari, over the emergence of Saraki as the senate president over his preferred candidate Ahmed Lawan saying he (Buhari) betrayed the party.
Tinubu, who through the Nation Newspaper, in an article titled “The untold story of PDP’s coup behind Saraki’s Senate Presidency” pointed an accusing finger at President Buhari for displaying neutrality in who emerges as the Senate President without due regard to the fate of the party.
“Despite the choice of National Assembly leaders being a mixture of party politics and legislative duty, the aloofness, or the perceived neutrality of the President allowed the ‘fight’ within APC to fester until it went of hand.”
Post Nigeria
No comments:
Post a Comment