No Outsider Will Impose Senate President, Leaders On 9th Senate ― PDP Caucus

* Asks Oshiomhole to leave Saraki out of APC
troubles

The Senate caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on
Tuesday that outsiders will play no role in electing the Senate
President of the 9th Senate which will be inaugurated in June.

A statement jointly signed by the Senate Minority Leader, Biodun
Olujinmi and Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Dino Melaye said that Senators of the ninth Senate
would have the responsibility of choosing their leaders.

The statement also warned the Chairman of the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole and his party men to
leave the incumbent Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki,
out of the schemes in choosing the presiding officers of the Ninth
Senate.

The PDP caucus stated that it has observed closely as the
contenders for the various Senate leadership posts in the APC have
allegedly been sponsoring various publications to drag Saraki into
their schemes.

The PDP senators said: “Let it be known that no matter the
mischief being sponsored by these spineless people, Dr Saraki knows
that it is the duty of all Senators in the Ninth Senate to elect
their Senate President and other leaders.

“Nobody from outside the Senate has such powers. It is also the
right of every Senator to aspire to that position as stated by the
constitution.”

The statement reads: “The PDP Senate caucus warned that such
surreptitious attempts to drag Saraki into the issue that does not
concern him would not augur well for the smooth take-off of the
next Senate and could only create suspicion and ill-will among the
incumbent Senators and the incoming ones.

“We have noted with regret and surprise how some Senators who
are interested in becoming the next Senate President and those
seeking to occupy various leadership positions in the next Senate
have been busy dragging the name of the Senate President, Dr.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki, into their schemes for fulfilling their
ambitions. We believe those involved in this dirty game are only
afraid of the shadow of the Senate President.

“Such people should know that Dr. Saraki is not interested in
their plots, schemes and manipulation. His concern now is to
continue to provide leadership to the Eighth Senate and to ensure
that the Senate achieves as much as it is possible in the remaining
two months of its tenure.

“It is obvious that many Senators and even Senators-elect still
defer to Saraki. And this is understandable because he is a
national leader of the PDP. He is a respected Senator who has also
provided solid leadership for the Senate. So, those who are afraid
of his influence should find a positive way to deal with that, not
sponsoring falsehood in the media.

“Last week, PDP Senators paid Dr. Saraki a visit in his home as
a way of encouraging him and in recognition of the personal
sacrifice that he has had to make for providing strong and
purposeful leadership to the National Assembly, for protecting the
independence of the legislature and judiciary, separation of
powers, inclusiveness in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious Nigeria
and working for the creation of a conducive environment for
business to thrive. Those who are not sure of their grounds in
their quest for Senate leadership are busy putting a spin on that
visit.

“Let it be known that no matter the mischief being sponsored by
these spineless people, Dr. Saraki knows that it is the duty of all
Senators in the Ninth Senate to elect their Senate President and
other leaders.

“Nobody from outside the Senate has such powers. It is also the
right of every Senator to aspire to that position as stated by the
constitution. He has benefitted from this practice of Senators
within the chambers exercising the right. He is conscious of this
fact and will not be a party to any plan to seize or interfere with
the process of evolving the leadership of the Ninth Senate.

“We, therefore, urge the APC gladiators and their handlers to
leave Saraki out of their schemes and manipulations. They should go
and concentrate on how to convince the Senators-elect and ensuring
that the election of the next Senate President takes place in a
conducive atmosphere with a view to strengthening the institution
and making it perform its constitutional roles, without any
hindrance.”