Presidency blackmailing him with corruption trial – Fayose
By Taiye Odewale, with agency report
Abuja
Contrary to media report, the Senate has said its rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari’s $29.9billion external borrowing plan stands.
The position followed reports in some national dailies that both the Presidency and National Assembly had reached an accord on the controversial loan, as the former agreed to fund the lawmakers’ constituency projects. President Buhari had, last month, forwarded a written request to the Senate for an approval of his 2016-2018 external borrowing plan totalling $29.9billion for infrastructural development across the country.
But the Senate threw away the request when brought to the floor by its President for consideration.
And following several visits by the duo of Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to the Presidential Villa, it’s widely speculated in the media that the issue might have been finally resolved after all.
But debunking the report in a statement yesterday, Senate President Bukola Saraki, said “the Senate has taken a decision on the loan and it stands.”
According to him, the issue never formed part of his discourse with either President Buhari or Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and therefore cautioned politicians and other public commentators to stop making such speculation.
The statement reads in part: “Like I once told the media, these politically-motivated commentaries are trivialising a serious national issue and presenting it as if it is a personal matter that can be decided at meetings between Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The National Assembly which I head as Senate President has taken a position on the issue as required of it by the laws of the land and legislative conventions.
“At every point, the present National Assembly will make decisions based on national interest and we have vowed that we will always act in the interest of our people. That is why despite the fact that members belong to different parties, when national issues come to the floor, we forget about party affiliations and act as Nigerians elected to protect the interest of Nigeria.
“A visit to the Presidency by the Senate President is a normal thing because we need to consult, discuss, exchange ideas and make suggestions to each other from time to time. More importantly, at this time, when the nation is facing economic crisis, there is need for frequent engagements by the Presidency and the National Assembly.
“It is in fact very unfortunate that these empty speculations by the media are now forming the basis for commentaries by some politicians who are in a position to be better informed. Politicians should stop playing to the gallery or drawing political capital from all issues.
“When serious national issues are on ground, we should refrain from making statements based on mere sentiments. Similarly, the media should exercise restraint in their reportage and commentaries in order to properly serve our people.
“Instead of collaborating with the Presidency to plunge Nigerians into the bondage of debt, Saraki should pitch his tent with the masses”.
Meanwhile, Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the Presidency is blackmailing Saraki, by exploiting his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal to get legislative approval for the loan.
Fayose, in a statement through his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said Saraki should not buckle under pressure and should stand against the loan which the governor said, amounts to ruining Nigeria. “Unfolding events in the last few days suggest a dangerous alliance between the Presidency and the Senate President Bukola Saraki to ensure the approval of the $29.96 billion loan at all cost,” Fayose said.
He said the $29.9 billion loan would do incalculable damage to the country’s ailing economy because of the amount presently being used by the federal government to service loan monthly.
“Therefore, Senator Saraki must not allow himself to be seen as using the future of Nigeria as negotiation for his own interests. He must know that no matter what he does to the Aso Villa Cabal to achieve their aims, it won’t change their minds concerning his travails.
“He should be reminded that despite that he assisted the Aso Villa Cabal to pass the controversial 2016 budget and cleared all the ministerial nominees, they never stopped plotting to bring him down.
“Instead of collaborating with the Aso Villa Cabal to plunge the present and future generations of Nigerians into the bondage of debt, Senator Saraki should pitch his tent with Nigerians, who are against the $29.96 billion loan and write his name in gold, like Senator Ken Nnamani did when he rejected Obasanjo’s third term agenda,” the governor frther added.
