Saraki Expresses Optimism That President Buhari Will End Boko Haram

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki said he is optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari, will put an end to Boko Haram insurgency terrorising the nation. 

In a statement released by his spokesman, Yusuf Olaniyonu, Saraki expressed disappointment at the suicide bomb attack that occurred when the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo visited Maiduguri. He also condoled with the families of the victims that lost their lives in the boat mishap that happened in Lagos, assuring that the National Assembly under his leadership would strengthen the present administration to prevent also deftly respond to life wasting emergencies.


He condemned the senseless killing of innocent Nigerians by Boko haram, especially during the month of Ramadan that was supposed to be a peaceful month.


Daily post reports that the Senate president affirmed that the Islamist group was not invincible and the present administration would make it a thing of the past.


The statement read: “It was really a sad day for me to learn that suicide bombers unleashed attack on the people on a day the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, visited Maiduguri to see things for himself and also visit beleaguered families and communities whose lives and means of livelihoods have been adversely affected by the barbaric acts of the insurgents.

“Boko Haram is not invincible and I have no doubt that the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari possesses the requisite political will and determination to decisively fight the insurgents and restore security to affected areas.”

He admonished officials in charge of water transportation to be alert in prevention and rescue of water accidents referring to the boat capsize that claimed the lives of some student in Lagos


“This incident, which is one too many, is another wake up call for officials charged with the regulation of water transportation across the country to rev up their prevention strategies and emergency preparedness level so as to avoid future occurrence and prompt rescue of victims.


“Any life lost in these type of tragic circumstances is a star dimmed and it is my firm commitment that the senate and indeed the national assembly, under my leadership, will continue to fashion appropriate legislation aimed at strengthening the capacity of the present administration to appropriately prevent and respond to life wasting emergencies such as we have just witnessed,”  he said.


Recently, the Nigerian Army promised to present medals of honour to its officers and soldiers, who are involved in the ongoing counter-insurgency war in Maiduguri, Borno state.

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Saraki, Dogara Defy APC Again On NASS Matters

 

The senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has Thursday, June 25, announced Senator Ali Ndume and Bala Ibn Na’Allah as Senate leader and deputy respectively thereby defying a directive contained in a letter from the APC leadership.

 

The letter which was signed by the national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, recommended that Sen. Ahmad Lawan and George Akume be nominated for the two principal positions of the hallowed chamber.


In a letter which was obtained by Breaking Times and dated June 23, 2015, also had Sen. Sola Adeyeye and Abu Ibrahim recommended for Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip respectively (the article continues below).


But contrary to the letter’s recommendations, Saraki also announced that Senator Francis Alimikhena from Edo state has been nominated as Deputy Chief Whip.


In the same vein, the APC national leadership also wrote another letter to the speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, recommending Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as majority leader along with Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who was also tipped for deputy majority leader.


However, this led to altercations in the chambers of the House of Representatives today over the Speaker’s refusal to implement the directives of the APC leadership. The House eventually adjourned the sitting to July 21.


The Senate had on Wednesday rejected a move by some All Progressives Congress senators to read the letter from the party’s leadership recommending some senators to occupy specific principal officers of the senate.


Mr. Lawan had lost the senate presidency election to Bukola Saraki, even though he was the preferred candidate. This is presently causing a heat-up among the APC bigwigs as the party still insists that its preferred candidates who failed to be elected president and speaker for the Senate and House of Representatives respectively should be elected as Majority Leaders in both the red and green chambers.

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Tinubu's Wife Walks Out On Senate President, Saraki

Nigerian Senators who were absent at yesterday’s inauguration ceremony were today sworn in by the new Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The senators were gathered at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fifteen into the meeting, the clerk of the National Assembly, conducted the election and subsequently swore Senator Bukola Saraki in as the Eighth Senate President.

Saraki, discharged his first duty as the new Seanate President by administering the oath of office and allegiance on the 75 senators that were in attendance. APC senators were led by Ahmad Lawan to take their oath of office.

According to protocol, every senator after swearing in is expected, to present a copy of their certificate to the senate president and in turn, shake hands with him.

However drama started when the wife of APC National Leader, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central ), left Saraki’s hand hanging after displaying her certificate. She then walked out on Saraki while while muttering some words in low tone to the senate president.

The twenty-six other APC senators-elect who were also sworn in are: Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos), Olusola Adeyeye (Osun), Isiaka Adeleke (Osun), and Shehu Sani (Kaduna).

Afterwards the senate went into a closed-session at 10:58 am.

Senator Bukola Saraki on Tuesday outsmarted Tinubu’s candidate, Ahmad Lawan, in the race for Nigeria’s Senate President.

 

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