- Rebuffs report of canvassing support for the embattled Senate President
Contrary to the report that the Unity forum are gathered to canvass support for the embattled Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the spokesman of the group has denied such claim.
Kabiru Marafa, the spokesperson of the Forum, said the meeting with the Like Minds group was beyond Mr. Saraki, and was about forging a united All Progressives Congress, APC.
The meeting was rare given the antagonistic past of the two sides. Held at the Asokoro residence of Aliyu Wammakko, a former Sokoto State governor, the meeting had in attendance 10 senators – five from each of the two camps.
According to Premium Times, Mr. Wammakko said, “the meeting has brought an end to crisis in the Senate between APC Senators who now support the Senate President, Bukola Saraki”.
A member of the anti-Saraki group also stated that they had given conditions for reconciliation. One of the demands was the reconstitution of senate committees in favour of APC senators.
However, Mr. Marafa said the meeting was not convened to “rally around Saraki nor anything relating to that, but rather to canvass for a more united All Progressive Congress, (APC).
“What brought about the meeting at Senator Wamakko’s residence was the realization that we the APC Supporters should unite in the interest of our party and the objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari”.
He said in view of Mr. Saraki’s trial the Code of Conduct Tribunal, it was imperative for APC Senators to unite and bury their differences to forestall a situation where PDP will take over the Senate Presidency should Mr. Saraki lose.
Mr. Marafa confirmed that the meeting agreed that the composition of the committees be reviewed.
“Our committees are illegal; so, it is agreed that they will now be according to the law,” he said.
Also, the issue of members of the Unity Forum who were “disenfranchised” in the composition of the committees would be addressed, Mr. Marafa said, adding that “and number three, we should be united and work together as one party because of our party and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari”.
“Burying our differences to work together as one or saying no more crisis with our colleagues who supported Saraki is not same as saying we backed down and rallied around the Senate President at this time”. That is capable of damaging my reputation and character. I have been receiving calls since morning from everywhere from people asking if we were abandoning the struggle.
“I would have made all the money in the course of this fight. I would have got any committee I wanted. But we have stayed firm. So, why will I now announce rallying around Saraki?
“The meeting is about our party and government, not anybody,” Mr. Marafa said.
