CCT: Senators renew rivalry over Saraki
Members of the SenateSen Unity Forum and the Li Like-minds, at the weekend weekend, clashed over the calls for the resi resignation of Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The Supreme Cour Court Friday, dismissed the appeal of Saraki, paving way for the con continuation of his trial at the Code ofo Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Saraki is facing a 13-count charge bordering on falsefa assets declaration while he was governorg of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.
Members of the Unity ForumF had, at the inauguration of theth Senate last June, supported the preferred candidate of the All ProgressivesPr Congress (APC) Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC,( Yobe North), for th the position of the PresidentPre of the SenateSen while the Like-mindsL backedbacke Saraki.
At the weekend,we afteraft the Supreme Court judgement, members of the Unity Forum asked Saraki to resign his position and concentrate on his CCT case.
Speaking to our correspondent, spokesperson of the Forum, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), said the call for Saraki’s resignation was beyond members of the Unity Forum.
“What is happening in the CCT is personal to Saraki. It has nothing to do with his position as the Senate president. It has now reached the time when he should take a bow to enable him concentrate on his case at the CCT.
“I don’t have anything against him as a person. He is one of the few Nigerians that ought to respect the image and integrity of the Senate more than anybody in this country. You hardly get 10 families that are blessed as far as the institution of the National Assembly is concerned. He is a senator, a son of late senator and an elder brother of a senator. They are blessed with three senators within their immediate family. So he should be in the forefront of protecting the image and integrity of the National Assembly,” he said.
He said the senators had tolerated him based on the constitutional provisions that he is presumed innocent until he is found guilty by the court.
“I think he has exercised this right through the Supreme Court of the land, which quashed all his grounds. He should resign honorably and face his trial in the interest of the Senate and Nigerians,” he said.
But the spokesperson of the Likeminds, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) lambasted Marafa, over his comment.
He said: We are optimistic that what is happening is not against Saraki as an individual, it is against the Senate as an institution. We will defend the Senate and we will no longer fold our arms on the issue. We know that at the end of the day, we shall come out stronger.
Twice last year, the Senate was shut down when the lawmakers abandoned their constitutional responsibilities to follow Saraki to the CCT.