Overwhelmed
by negative reactions to some observations on the floor of the Senate, the
President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Thursday night held a secret
meeting
with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Investigation
conducted by our correspondent revealed that the Senate President’s meeting
with the Acting President was based on “some developments that occurred in the
Senate during the week, including the suspension of consideration of further
nominations by the Executive in protest against the retention of the Acting Chairman
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and
the consequent threats of impeachment by some Senators.
A source
said: “The Senate President met with the Acting President. He actually came
alone and without the paraphernalia of his office to underscore his commitment
to rapprochement between the Executive and the National Assembly.
“Saraki took
the time to explain a few things to the Acting President, but the talks
bordered on the clarification of a few misgivings, especially the rumor that he
was planning to become the Acting President or instigating the Senate against
the Presidency.
“He also
took time to explain why the Senate wanted its resolutions respected in line
with the principle of separation of powers.
“Above all,
the session was actually frank.”
Findings
made by our correspondent also showed that Thursday’s meeting between Osinbajo
and Saraki was preceded by a visit the National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress ( APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, paid the Acting
President on Wednesday night.
Before his
visit to Osinbajo, Odigie-Oyegun was said to have reached out to the Senate
leadership, asking them to prevail on warring senators to tread softly so as
not to plunge the nation into unnecessary crisis.
A government
source said: “The APC National Chairman came at a time the Acting President was
about to have a meeting with a select group of government officials. He was
asked to join the meeting, which bordered on the battle line drawn by the
Senate.
“During the
session, the APC National Chairman said he had interacted with Saraki and
advised the Senate leadership and Senators to ‘lie low’ and avoid anything
capable that was capable of plunging the nation into crisis.
“Oyegun also
said the APC could not understand why the party in power would be in opposition
against itself.
“No one can
say if Oyegun’s intervention was responsible for the visit of the Senate
President to Osinbajo.”
There were
indications yesterday that the Presidency had uncovered four planks on which
the Senate is hinging its threats of impeachment.
One of them
is the running battle between the Presidency and the Senate over continued stay
of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC),
Mr. Ibrahim Magu, in office.
A reliable
Presidency source said: “Intelligence report revealed that some senators have
identified four issues to take the Presidency on.
“These
issues are insistence on the removal of Magu; the renewal of the row between
the chamber and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col.
Hamid Ali (rtd); the alleged denigrating comments of the Chairman of the
Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption(PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay and
alleged constitutional breaches by the Acting President and the Presidency in
general.
“Although
the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, told the party leadership that
the impeachment kite caught him unawares and he swiftly overruled the senators
behind it, intelligence report indicated that “it was a kite flying agenda” by
some senators.
“The
government does not wholly believe the defense of the Senate leadership. It is
closely monitoring events and putting safety valves in place, including legal
dimension.
“Part of the
intelligence report showed that some senators had plotted the impeachment
script before the Tuesday session.
“Those who
tabled the motion were actually not aware that the Acting President had
returned to the country.”
It was
learnt at press time yesterday that some past leaders (names withheld) had
teamed up with the Acting President against the threats from the Senate.
“These
leaders have told the Acting President to remain focused and ignore elements
trying to cause political upheaval in the country.
“In fact,
they assured Osinbajo of their support. These are leaders who the government
thought had identified with the Senate.”
The tone for
the impeachment process was set by two issues raised on the floor of the Senate
on Tuesday.
Saharareporters reported that the Senate
had on Tuesday taken exception to the retention of the Acting Chairman of EFCC,
Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and the Executive’s alleged non-compliance with the
resolutions of the Senate.
The
President of the Senate had said: “This is an issue that we have to once and
for all address. We cannot pass laws and see that the laws are not being
obeyed. This resolution must be obeyed by the Acting President, otherwise, we
will take appropriate actions and resolutions.”
On the same
day, Senators Eyinanya Abaribe and Kabiru Marafa had under Point of Order asked
the Senate President to become Acting President in the absence of President
Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, who was away for AU meeting in Addis
Ababa.
Marafa said:
“If the President is not around, the Vice President should act, and if the Vice
President is not around, the Senate President, who is the number 3 citizen
should become Acting President.”
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