Saraki Eager To Prove His Innocence At Tribunal – Olaniyonu
Alh. Yusuph Olaniyonu Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki speaks with Temidayo Akinsuyi, on the call for the Senate President to resign over the ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) .
Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has called on your principal, Dr. Bukola Saraki to resign his position as Senate President in order to preserve the integrity of the National Assembly. What is your take on that?
Mr. Femi Falana is a senior lawyer and a SAN for that matter. I am sure he is very familiar with the fundamental philosophy of our legal system in which an accused person is deemed innocent until he is proven guilty by a competent court with relevant jurisdiction.
The Code of Conduct tribunal has not even started looking into the substantive matter involved in the charges preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. So, on what basis is Mr. Falana making his call? Or is it that Mr. Falana, who is a well known human rights activist, believes that when the matter concerns a man of the status of the Senate President, due process, justice and the fundamental philosophy of the legal system should not apply? That will smack of inconsistency and discrimination. So, to re-echo the words of the Senate Committee Chairman on Information, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who recently issued a statement on the matter on behalf of his colleagues, the call by Mr. Falana is “premature, unnecessary and unwarranted”. We should all wait until this matter runs its full course and end in the final platform of our judicial architecture.
There were reports that there is serious pressure by his political associates who are alleged to be uncomfortable with the ongoing tria on Saraki to resign. Are you aware of such moves?
My answer to your question is that the statement issued by the Senate after their Sunday night meeting has taken care of this question. Saraki’s associates and all impartial, objective and rational observers of the developments around this case against him know that it is simply a case of political vendetta. It is persecution not prosecution. Some people are seeking to achieve through the Tribunal what they failed, and will continue to fail, to achieve on the floor of the Senate. To answer your question specifically, Saraki’s associates want him to continue to do the good job he is doing in providing good, robust, creative and intelligent leadership for the Senate in particular and the National Assembly as a whole.
The Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, recently led some of his colleagues to a meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Some have insinuated that they were sent by the Senate President in order to find a political situation to the crisis. How true is that?
Honestly, I do not like answering questions, which are based on speculations. The Senate leader after the meeting with the Vice President told journalists they came to discuss issues bordering on the present assignment being undertaken by the National Assembly in conjunction with the executive arm. It should be clear to you that the visit is about the 2016 budget. Remember at the time of the visit, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was the acting President.
Now that the trial at the CCT will continue, do you believe Dr. Saraki will be vindicated at the end of the day?
There is no doubt that the Senate President will prove his innocence. Anything built on lies; malice and manipulation will not stand. Dr. Saraki is in fact eager to do just that, anytime the trial commences.
Can we say that the rancor that arose as a result of Saraki becoming the senate president has been resolved?
If you read the statement by the Senate after the Sunday night meeting, you will see that Senators emphasised the fact that Saraki has provided stability for that legislative institution. An overwhelming majority of his colleagues have on three different occasions passed votes of confidence on him. The Senate has continued to move on progressively to play its law making, advocacy and oversight roles in the nation. And the Office of the Senate Presidency under Saraki has been very creative, pro-active and forward-looking more than ever. That does not mean there are no very few Senators who still hold a different view from that of the majority. However, that is democracy at work. In a Senate where members represent the diversity of our country, everybody cannot be thinking the same way or hold same view on one issue.
There were indications that following the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement, senators opposed to the Senate President under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum, had regrouped to force Saraki out of the seat, how true is that?
Like I said earlier, an overwhelming majority of the Senators have spoken to express unflinching support for Dr. Saraki. And that is what matters. In a democracy the majority will always have their way while the minority will have their say. A very large, comfortable majority is in support of the Senate President.
What is the relationship of the Senate president with Senator Lawan and other senators who disagreed with his emergence now?
Dr. Saraki is the President of the Senate with responsibility to serve all the other 108 Senators. As a leader who knows that he is just in fact the primus inter pares in the Assembly, he relates well with all Senators, including Senator Ahmed Lawan who is chairman, Senate Committee on Defence.
Given the support he has enjoyed from majority of the lawmakers, who usually show solidarity with him whenever he appears in court especially from senators under the umbrella of the opposition PDP, can you say Saraki’s emergence was ordained by God?
I am a Muslim and by orientation, antecedent and belief, I know that the Quran says Allahu Molika li Muliku etc which means only God enthrones kings and only Him can remove Kings. As a Yoruba, I also know the saying that no leaf can wither from the tree that bears it except with the knowledge and permission of Almighty God. If God does not want Saraki to become Senate President, he won’t be occupying the position today. I believe he will continue to be there until Allah decrees otherwise. So, if human beings can live with that unassailable reality, they will do less scheming, manipulation and mischief to supplant people in authority.
There were reports that there is a no love lost relationship between Saraki and the Kwara state governor since the praying ground issue last year. How true is that?
There is no iota of truth in that statement. Maybe that is the wish of some people who cannot understand why the duo continue to remain close after similar relationships across the country had collapsed shortly after the emergence of the successor-governor. That wish will never be realized in this case.
Check The
Daily Independent newspaper for the full story.
Comments
Post a Comment