President of Senate @Bukolasaraki now addressing the special plenary session of the Federation Council of @Russia pscp.tv/w/bfn5GjFQWEtk…
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, announced minor changes in the leadership of four standing committees.
By this development, Sen. Lawal Gumau (APC-Bauchi), who was elected into the Senate in August, is now the Chairman of the Committee on Federal Character.
Gumau took over from Sen. Tijani Kaura (APC-Zamfara North), who has been moved to the Police Affairs Committee as Chairman.
Kaura replaces Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katsina South), who now heads the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity.
Former Majority Leader, Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) is now the Chairman of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service, formerly headed by Sen Paulker Emmanuel (PDP-Bayelsa Centra).
The Senate President Bukola Saraki has said Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is suffering from diarrhea of the mouth.
Punch reports that this was in response to El-Rufai’s critical comments of the Senate President.
The Kaduna State Governor had alleged that some of the names of defectors announced by Saraki at the plenary on Tuesday had not given their notice of defection.
He had said Nigeria has never had a bad Senate leadership like the one led by Saraki.
We have never had a bad Senate leadership like this one by Bukola Saraki. Some people whose names were mentioned among those who defected said they never authorized it.
We know those who cannot win elections in their homes. Many of them found themselves in the National Assembly by riding on the back of Buhari.
Some of them won the elections because of the presidential and parliamentary elections held on the same day.
Saraki, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said:
El-Rufai is a known careless talker. He is a man suffering from diarrhoea of the mouth. You (one of our correspondents) report the National Assembly on a daily basis. Is it possible for the name of a senator to be announced as having defected without him or her signing the letter communicating same to the Senate President?
We challenge el-Rufai to mention the name of any senator whose name was announced without his or her consent. He (el-Rufai) is a divisive element, an expert hero worshipper and noisemaker.
He worshipped (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo once the way he is now worshipping (President Muhammadu) Buhari, and now he is on the forefront of abusing the former President. It will soon be the turn of Buhari to be rubbished by el-Rufai. He did the same to ex-Vice President Atiku (Abubakar).
PDP, is now the majority in the Hallowed red chamber of the National Assembly, as the following senators have written to the Senate leadership informing them of their intention to defect to the PDP
Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki on his way to honour Police Invitation this morning, his path was blocked by Policemen!!!
Full List Here;
1. Rabi’u Kwankwaso (Kano-Central)
Already displaced by his State Governor, Granduje. He hasn't stepped into Kano State for the past 2 years..
2. Dino Melaye (Kogi-West)
Already displaced by his State Governor, Bello. He can't win any election in Kogi State.
3. Adesoji Akanbi (Oyo-South)
Displaced by His Governor Ajimobi. He cannot get return ticket under APC.
4.Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo-Central)
The same as No. 3 above.
5.Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara-South)
Anywhere Saraki faces..So non issue.
6.Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna-North)
Already displaced by his State Governor Elrufai. Can't get ticket under APC.
7. Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun-Central)
Already replaced by his Governor Amosu. No chance of getting return ticket under APC.
8. Usman Nafada (Gombe)
Displaced during APC state convention in Gombe State. He can't get return ticket under APC.
9. Ibrahim Dambaba (Sokoto)
Wants to follow his Governor to PDP.
10.Mohammed Shittu (Jigawa)
Displaced by his State Governor.
11.Isa Misau (Bauchi)
Displaced by his state governor.
12.Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi)
The same as No 10 Above.
13.Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara)
Anywhere Saraki goes.
14. Barnabas Gemade (Benue).
Displaced by George Akume faction of APC. Can't get ticket under APC.
15.Senator Abdul-Azeez Murtala-Nyako (Adamawa)
Displaced by the Governor, Bindow. Can't get ticket under APC.
So from the above analysis, it is all about political survivals and has nothing to do with opposing Buhari, unlike in 2015, where people defected because of Jonathan.
NOTE: all these people have PDP leaders servicing the party since 2015. Most of them have similar ambitions.
In those states, doors have been opened for some and closed for some, how they will manage the katakaka that will come before and after primaries will determine.
Senate President Bukola Saraki read the letter. Immediately, the lawmakers became peeved and engaged in verbal war to express their support or disapproval of the nominations.
The rowdiness took several minutes before the presiding officer, Saraki, calmed the situation.
First to fire a shot was Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who raised a point of order and cited Section 14(3) of 1999 Constitution.
He argued that most appointments of chairmen of boards by the Buhari administration were without consideration to the principle of federal character which stipulates that no geo-political zone should be marginalised or neglected.
Ekweremadu further insisted that in the current administration, appointments were not evenly distributed and coming from only a particular zone. He noted that the situation is totally unacceptable as it is bias.
But swiftly, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan in his defence posited that the Buhari administration, does not entertain any partiality in appointments. He said there is fairness in all appointments. This seriously infuriated the lawmakers and the entire session was thrown into chaos, as Senators were openly seen shouting and pointing at each other, in protest. There was near fisticuffs in the Chambers.
On the confirmation of federal civil service commission board, Senators Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) and Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North) who relied on Order 15 of the Senate rules urged the Senate to put the appointments on hold.
But Senate President, Bukola Saraki in his intervention said the allegation of lopsided appointments was speculative.
Saraki, however, mandated the Senator Tijani Kaura led Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs to immediately investigate the matters and report back to Senate in plenary, next week Tuesday, July 24.
As early as 6:35am, supporters of the Senate president had besieged the Ilorin International Airport and adjoining surroundings to await his arrival. Motorists and other road users had hectic time on the Ilorin-Ogbomosho Road as Saraki’s supporters lined both sides of the road; with vehicles stretching for about five kilometres.
Although Saraki’s flight didn’t arrive until about 4.17pm, the supporters kept themselves alive with dance and music from various live bands. He was accompanied on the flight by Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, former speaker of the state assembly and chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Razaq Atunwa as well as a former presidential spokesman, Dr Doyin Okupe.
Speaking with newsmen, thereafter, Saraki described his three-year trial as tough but expressed satisfaction that his followers never doubted his innocence as he had told them severally. But, he refused to comment on what he will do overpressure by some of his followers to lead them out of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He only asked newsmen not to ‘worry’ or ‘push’ him over the matter.
“As I said, don’t worry, don’t push me, I will call at a time and I will tell Nigerians,” said Saraki.
On his trial and the home visit, he said:
“It’s been a long journey for all my own people in the state, and we thank the Almighty God for this. I want to thank all of them who did not at any time waver. They believed in my innocence and supported me throughout those three very tough years and it was a great feeling for all of us.
“It is my first homecoming; to thank them for all the support they have given me and the victory and for the fact that the truth prevailed and justice was done. This visit is thanking the people for the support they have given for years.
“As I always say, time will come for everything, a time will come I will tell people where I am, what I’m doing. For now, it is just to thank the people of the state because the last three years have been tough and they are still committed and remain and I have to appreciate that. I appreciate that.”
Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday led a delegation of Senators to Russia on a three-day parliamentary visit.
According to the Twitter handle of the Senate President,
“The visit is aimed at deepening legislative best practices and further strengthening the relationship between both countries.”
The delegation, which included, Senators Godswill Akpabio, Olusola Adeyeye, Monsurat Sunmonu, Duro Faseyi, Obinna Ogba and Ibrahim A Danbaba were received by Amb. Steve Davies Ugbah, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia.
Saraki on Wednesday was captured on video addressing the Russian Senate.
See the video and photos below:
UPDATE: The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and the Distinguished Senators on the parliamentary delegation have arrived in Russia. The delegation was received by Amb. Steve Davies Ugbah, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia. #SarakiInRussia pic.twitter.com/4yvJcYkijo
PICTURES: On his arrival in Russia, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, met with Senator Rafail Zinurov, the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia's Committee on International Affairs. #SarakiInRussia pic.twitter.com/ilnGksrumA
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has officially responded in writing to his alleged links with the criminal gang that killed 33 people during a robbery operation in Offa, Kwara in April.
Nine police officers and 24 others lost their lives when a group of around 30 armed robbers attacked Union Bank, Eco Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank, as well as the Owode Police Station in Offa on April 5, 2018.
When 15 of the suspects were paraded on Sunday, June 3, alleged mastermind, Ayodele Akinnibosun (aka, AY), confessed that Saraki and Kwara state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, are his political sponsors.
He said,
"I am the chairman of Liberation Youths Movement, Kwara South. My involvement with the senate president is we're his boys; we work for him at Kwara South. We're the ones that hold Kwara South for him. We've been working for him since he was Governor of Kwara.
"We mobilise and do political arrangement there (Kwara South). For example, where we can't win, we make dabaru (disruptive) arrangement there; we scatter elections if we don't win."
Even though the Police initially invited the senate president to show up at the Force Intelligence Response Team office in Guzape, Abuja for questioning, Saraki revealed on Monday, June 4, that he'd been asked to instead respond to the allegations in writing within 48 hours.
On Wednesday, June 7, he took to his Twitter account (@bukolasaraki) to announce that he has sent a letter to the police in response to the allegations.
He posted,
"In line with their request, earlier today, the Police received my response to their letter on the investigation into the Offa robbery case."
Fallout of allegations againt Saraki
Since he was accused of links to the criminal gang, Saraki presided over a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 5, with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and lawmakers reaffirmed a vote of no confidence passed on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
On Wednesday, the police announced that the senate president has been implicated by two more political thugs who have admitted to working for him.
Akinnibosun had allegedly mentioned three other notorious political thugs who work for Saraki in Kwara Central. The police proceeded to arrest two of the suspects, Kehinde Gobiri (aka, Captain) and Oba Shuaib Olododo (aka, Jawando), who have both admitted to committing various crimes in Kwara Central senatorial district under the guise of political thuggery for the senate president. The third suspect, Alhaji Dona, remains at large.
The Senate of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, has ordered an immediate and indefinite closure of the school following the violence that ensued among students on Sunday.
There had been growing tension in the institution, following a recent students’ union election that polarised the students along religious lines.
Reports had it that a statement was allegedly posted on the engineering students’ group WhatsApp by a student, a development that irked some Muslims students to stage a protest that turned violent, leading to the burning of places of worship including mosques and a chapel.
The Senate after an emergency meeting, which held on Monday decided to close down the school till further notice.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has disclosed the details of a conversation he had with superstar Nigerian musician, Wizkid.
He made the revelation in his keynote address at the Georgetown University African Business Conference in Washington DC, United States on Saturday.
Saraki said that the artiste, who is widely regarded as Nigeria’s biggest music export, told him how he (Wizkid) sold out 40,000 tickets for a concert in Gabon, a Francophone country.
The former Kwara state governor said
“Wizkid told me that he was astonished that Gabonese fans could fill the venue of his concert despite not understanding a word of his lyrics.
“Our Entertainment industry, which has grown tremendously over the last 20 years – provides us with value addition and a comparative advantage – as our artists have risen from local champions to global recognition.”
In order to halt the untold hardship presently affecting Nigerians due to the ongoing fuel crisis, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, directed the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to cut short its recess and immediately convene a meeting with industry stakeholders.
According to the report by Punch, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa, revealed this today in Abuja.
Following the directive, the Committee has summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Maikanti Baru and other relevant stakeholders in the petroleum sector to a crucial meeting on Thursday, January 4, 2018.
He further added that the meeting, which will be held in the Senate Hearing Room 221 and its proceedings aired live on the Nigerian Television Authority, is meant to address the lingering fuel scarcity bedevilling the nation in the last few weeks with a view to putting a complete stop to the unsavoury development.
The Senate, which is presently on Christmas and New Year break is billed to resume Committee work for budget defence on January 9, and commence plenary on January 16.
The National Broadcasting Commission has sanctioned 23 broadcasting stations for various breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The Head, Public Affairs, NBC, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, that the sanctions were for breaches in the third quarter of 2017.
The broadcasting stations were fined a total of N2.849m.
Jimada said that the contraventions included breaches of the rules on hateful speech, vulgar lyrics and unverifiable claims.
She said that all the erring stations had been fined according to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“The commission wishes to remind broadcasters that they have a duty to promote the socio-economic well-being of the Nigerian state and abide strictly by the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code or face sanctions.”
For the “Use Of Hateful Speech”; Family Love FM, Uyo, was fined N200,000, ABS FM, Enugu - N100,000, Express FM Radio, Kano, N100,000. The latter was also fined twice later for similar infractions.
On the “Use Of Indecent Musicals”; Royal FM, Abuja was fined N100,000, FLO FM, Enugu - N100,000, Radio Continental, Lagos - N200,000, Crystal 100.5FM, Abuja - N100,000.
For ”Unverifiable Claims”, a fine of N100,000 was meted on Crowther FM, Abuja, Harmony FM, Abuja - N100,000, Inspiration FM, Uyo - N100,000, BCA FM, Enugu - N150,000, ABS, Enugu - N100,000, Minaj Systems Radio, Enugu -N100,000 and IBC (Orient TV) Enugu - N50,000.
Others are Rainbow FM, Ibadan - N100,000, Globe FM, Jos - N100,000, Arewa Radio, Kaduna - N100,000, EBS Radio, Benin - N100,000 and Bond FM, Lagos -N499,000.
ITV, Jos was fined N100,000, while IBC (Orient TV), Enugu was sanctioned N50,000 for ”Voicing and Unprofessional Broadcast”.
Source
NAN
THE Senate has approved death sentence for abduction, wrongful restraints or wrongful confinement for ransom.
The upper chamber also approved 30 years jail term for anybody that colluded with an abductor.
This followed the passage of a bill on abduction, wrongful restraints or wrongful confinement for ransom.
The upper chamber, which did clause by clause consideration of the report by its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, adopted the clause which specified death sentence for kidnapping.
Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) presented the report of the committee on behalf of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Senator David Umaru.
The Bill was sponsored by Senator Isa Hamma Misau (APC-Bauchi).
Presenting the report, Utazi said the Bill sought to prescribe stiff punishment for the offence.
He said the bill sought to combat and prevent any form of kidnapping in Nigeria by giving wider powers to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure adequate policing of the crime.
Clause 1 (3) of the Bill stated: “Whoever is guilty of the offence and then results in the death of the victim shall be liable on conviction to be sentenced to death.”
Clause 5 (2) of the bill revealed: “Anyone who fails to produce any book, account, receipts, vouchers or other documents, which is in his possession or control shall be guilty of an offence.”
The person shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both fine and imprisonment.”
Clause 3 provides a 30- year jail term to anyone who colludes with abductor to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined.
The report was unanimously accepted by the lawmakers after a voice vote.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi has insisted that the senate would not disclosed salaries of its members.
Abdullahi said this during a live programme on Channels Television entitled, ‘Politics Today’ and monitored during the weekend.
Recall that the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has claimed that a Nigerian senator earns N29m per month.
When the presenter asked him how much he earned, Abdullahi angrily said it was rude of the presenter to ask him how much each senator earned.
Abdulahi said, “You don’t expect me to come out on national television to say this is what I earn. It is not done. I cannot ask you as a journalist how much you earn. It is not done.
“If anybody is interested in how much we are getting paid, you know where to get the information. The documents are available. If Nigerians won’t believe that, is it what I will say that they will believe?”
The Senate spokesman said the figures released by Sagay were false, adding that the Senate’s budget was not even as high as what Sagay released.
He said Sagay was only trying to cause unnecessary tension between the National Assembly and the Presidency.
He added, “This issue has become a recurring decimal. In the last two years people have been discussing this matter and I always ask myself, what do people really want to believe? I think if this subject matter has been discussed for two years and we are still looking at issues wrongly, then I think there is something wrong with us.
“The institutions that are responsible for providing this information are there. A law was promulgated on Top Salary Scale also known as TOPSA and it is based on this scale that everyone who holds one political office or the other gets paid.
“I want to also submit that I presume Prof. Sagay would have been paid based on the provision of this scale. For us in the National Assembly, the question needs to be asked ‘what is the cost of having democracy and what is the cost of not having democracy?’”
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