The cold war among senators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) resurfaced on Thursday, when the two factions of APC caucus in the Senate disagreed on the recent actions taken by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, especially the decision to prosecute Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu over allegations of forgery of the Senate rules.
A press conference spearheaded by members of Unity Forum with the intent to condemn the withdrawal of support for President Buhari by their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts and reiterate their backing for the president, was boycotted by Senators of Like Mind.
Only 16 of the 58 APC senators who are all members of the Unity Forum attended the briefing.
But in a swift reaction to the briefing, some members from the camp of Senators of Like Mind challenged their counterparts in the Unity Forum to come up with a vote of confidence motion on Buhari as an expression of their support.
According to them, their colleagues should test Buhari’s popularity among senators on the floor of the Senate through a confidence vote and see if the vote would be passed.
They also expressed their disappointment over Buhari’s recent actions especially the recent forgery charges brought against Saraki and Ekweremadu. Our source further learnt yesterday that some Like Mind Senators threatened to dump the party if alleged attempts by the presidency to muzzle the National Assembly, especially the Senate, continues.
However, in their briefing, members of the Forum, which includes the sole Labour Party (LP) senator in the chamber, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, threw their weight behind the programmes and policies of the Buhari administration.
They said the decision of their counterparts in the PDP to announce the withdrawal of their support for Buhari’s government was done in bad faith, describing the move as purely partisan.
Briefing journalists on behalf of the group, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, described as untrue the PDP senators’ claim that the pursuit of the ongoing war against corruption by the federal government was in violation of the rule of law.
According to him, the administration has neither arrested nor imprisoned anyone unjustly, pointing to the alleged diversion of funds meant for the war against the insurgency by the last administration, and challenged the PDP senators to rise above partisanship.
“Members of the Joint Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party senators in the Senate are stoutly behind the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“Our support is aimed at actualising the promised desired change that Nigerians voted for last year."
We are shocked at the totally partisan reaction of our colleagues from the minority party (PDP), to the on-going investigations and recovery of public funds meant for the prosecution of the war against the insurgency.
“Contrary to the assertions of our PDP colleagues, the investigation is not a partisan war against a particular political party. It is no longer news that there was a wanton diversion of public funds meant for fighting the insurgency to fund campaigns of PDP.
“Members of the PDP were the sole and iniquitous beneficiaries of this diversion. Seeking to recover diverted public funds is neither dictatorial nor against the rule of law.
“In all the actions, programmes and policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC federal government, no PDP member has been unjustly arrested or imprisoned on mere allegations.
“On the contrary, we are regaled daily with news of millions and billions of naira of public funds traced to accounts of individuals, some of whom have accepted to return such diverted public funds.
“As law abiding and patriotic citizens, we cherish the rule of law and the separation of powers among the different arms of government. Political interference based on partisan considerations must be eschewed.
“Members of the joint caucus of the APC and Labour Party will always give their best in support of the only president Nigeria has. We plead with our PDP colleagues to rise above partisan inclinations so that together, we all can bring to fruition the positive changes that our people seek and deserve,” Adeyeye said.
The position of the Forum senators, however, was in contrast to the statement issued by the Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, on Sunday, which accused the administration of gross violation of the rule of law.
The position was also in contrast to the motion moved on Tuesday by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), stating that Buhari wanted to cripple democracy by his dictatorial and desperate acts.
AGF is a No Show
However, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, shunned the invitation extended to him by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to appear before it yesterday to explain the reason behind his decision to charge Saraki, Ekweremadu and two others to court over alleged forgery.
The Senate had mandated the committee to summon Malami on Tuesday to explain why he took the action.
But in apparent indifference to the invitation and perceived lack of faith in the current Senate, Malami did not show up yesterday.
Thebreakingtimes
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