‘Stop blackmailing Bukola Saraki’

A POLITICAL group has cautioned All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to stop blackmailing Dr. Bukola Saraki on his election as the Senate President.

At a press conference in Ilorin, the leader of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Forum and former Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape, said the allegation made by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammad, against the Senate President was capable of destroying the image of the party in the country.

The forum said: “It is bizarre to imagine that a people’s candidate will be suppressed for the wish of one man in the party. What then is the change we are talking about? Insinuation of Saraki and the Clerk of the House snubbing the President is only but wicked and perilous. The clerk of the House has a duty to perform to protect the NASS institution no matter the personality of people involved and this he did.

“We are convinced that Senator Saraki did not snub the President or any party leadership. It was indeed inauguration time, not scheming time, even the President had sent a proclamation message that was read before the proceedings, why not those APC leaders have the acclaimed meeting overnight like the PDP?”

Saraki, according to Ajape, has good credentials to preside over the Senate having served as a Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo and a two-term Governor of Kwara State.

The Forum commended President Buhari for sticking to his pledge of non-interference with the politics of the National Assembly.

He saluted the courage of the eighth National Assembly members for the maturity displayed in electing a leader they believed in irrespective of party affiliation.

Ajape advised the 51 lawmakers from the party who accidentally missed the election to give full support and cooperation to Saraki to ensure that APC fulfilled its promises to Nigerians.

Meanwhile, former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has commended the newly elected leaders of the National Assembly.
He reminded them that their positions were meant for service and urged them to see it as such.