Senate president, Bukola Saraki
According to reports, the 8th Senate of the National Assembly may
soon erupt in fresh crisis following an agreement between loyalists of
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Senator Ahmad Lawan to reshuffle
the chamber’s 64 standing committees.
It was reported that the new agreement was reached last Tuesday, at
a meeting held at the instance of the former governor of Sokoto state,
Senator Aliyu Wammako, which was held between lawmakers of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) who belong to the Senate Unity Forum and the
Like Minds.
Speaking with Daily Sun, Senator Kabiru Marafa, said the two
factions agreed on a three-point agenda, one of which was to
redistribute chairmanship of the 64 standing committees in order to
compensate aggrieved APC members.
"Number two agreement of the meeting was that APC members,
especially the Unity Forum elements, who were marginalized in the
formation of the committees, be accommodated. That was because we
contested, but, they won. We lost and we had no reason to complain. If
you are asking us to come together, we can ask you for fairness. Our
members in the Unity Forum were sidelined.
"Number one item on the list was agreed upon. We agreed that we
will amend the rules to accommodate all committees of the Senate.
Number two on the agenda was also agreed upon. That is the issue of
committees, with a view to giving the committees what they deserve. We
are continuing with number three and that is how the Senate can comply
with the directive of the party."
But the move may not go well with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
who have been seen as the power base behind the Senate President since
his perjury trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) started.
Senate spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi who spoke with a correspondent,
said he would not make any comments about the agreement reached between
the two factions since he is not a member of any of the two groups,
adding that he could not also comment on the execution of the agreement
reached between loyalists of Saraki and Lawan on the reshuffle of
committees.
"Remember, Senator Marafa said the meeting had nothing to do
with the Senate President. For me, the issue is simple. I was not part
of the team and I was not there. So, I speak on behalf of the Senate, as
an institution. I do not think I can make any comments on that.
"It is better for you to talk to those who attended the meeting
and who reached the agreement. They are in a better position to make
any comments. I speak for the Senate and within this context, I do not
think I am in a position to speak. Talk to the participants from the
Unity Forum and the Like Minds," he said.
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