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| SENATOR BUKOLA SARAKI |
Former governor of Kwara State and member of the national assembly, SENATOR BUKOLA SARAKI has said contrary to speculations, he was not after the seat of the Senate President, David Mark.
At a media chat with correspondents, SENATOR SARAKI said that his actions and comments in the Senate were borne out of his passion and commitment to good governance.
According to him, “For me to dissipate my time and energy seeking Senator David Mark’s seat with a year to election will be illogical. It would be unfortunate of anyone to say that I want his seat.“I do not want his seat, but I will not be blackmailed into not saying what I feel is right because I have been down this road a number of times while standing strong on not only what is right but on what is in the best interest of our great country.“In September 2011, I stood up then to demand transparency and accountability in the management of the fuel subsidy scheme, where I said that there was massive fraud in the scheme, which posed great threat to our economy.Then, I was called names and told that I did not like the President and that it was all about 2015 elections. Now the facts have shown otherwise.
”SARAKI also spoke on the crises in Rivers and said that the constitution clearly stipulates the power and authority of a state governor as the Chief Security Officer of the state, whereby he can give orders and instructions to the Commissioner of Police of his state.“We cannot keep quiet concerning what is happening in Rivers because this is tantamount to the breach of the constitution. It is our belief that the Inspector General of Police has the experience, capability and maturity to manage crisis, except if there are factors above him that impede his abilities to discharge his duties.
As lawmakers and leaders, it is incumbent on us as part of our oversight functions to assist the IG to make sure that this issue does not engulf Rivers State or spread to any other states,” he said.
On the issue of the declaration of seats vacant and defection of some Senators, SARAKI stated that the leadership of the senate cannot and will not, to the best of his knowledge declare a Senator’s seat vacant particularly in line with the decision taken recently by group of Senators, who have written to the Senate President wherein they expressed their lack of support to such move. Also, in view of the pending court action which directs the Senate leadership not to take any step towards declaring vacant the seat of any Senator, he is of the belief that the leadership of the Senate will exercise caution on this.
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