RESIGN NOW OR WE TAKEOVER NASS — BUHARI CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION TELLS SARAKI

By: Jumoke Olasoji

A Campaign group for President Muhammadu Buhari, the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) has yesterday said it would physically take over the National Assembly complex if Senate President Bukola Saraki does not resign from office.

This was revealed on Sunday by the co-ordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Danladi Fasali in Abeokuta, Ogun State during the inauguration of the state secretariat of the Buhari support group. 

In his speech, the national coordinator of the group, who did not state the day and time the group intend to invade the National Assembly said: 

“We, the Buhari Campaign Organization, are saying that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki should take a bow and resign honourably. He should also be mindful of what happened and how Senator Godswill Akpabio resigned because the position he was holding in the National Assembly is zoned to the PDP, and immediately he left the party, he honourably resigned. 

“We expect Saraki to do that. But, we are assuring him that the BCO will take over the National Assembly if he continues to demonstrate his impunity. He lacks the sense of direction and he wanted to truncate the present democracy. We are assuring you that before their resumption date, if nothing is done, the BCO will take over the National Assembly.” 

The call for Saraki's resignation follows his defection from the ruling Party, The All Progressive Congress to the opposition party, The People Democratic Party.

Individuals, Civil Societies have also called on Saraki to resign his position as senate president while describing his non resignation as taking another man's crown and glory. 

Preceding Saraki's defection was the defection of 53 other members of the National Assembly, followed by numerous other defections across the country, from the ruling party to PDP and other minority parties.

 
Backing the Buhari Campaign Group, the All Progressive Congress through its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena said the desire of the people should be respected in a democracy. 

 “It is the wish of the people and there is nothing anybody can do about that. If the people are saying Saraki must resign, that is their wish. But the party itself will not stage a protest to the NASS,” Nabena said.

However, the People's Democratic Party has decribed the statement from the Buhari Campaign Group (BCO) as a plot for a "Civilian Coup" thereby called on President Buhari to deter his supporters from such act, stating that such act could bring stigma on his name if the administration allows the BCO to carry out what it called an anarchy.

Deputy National Publicity of the PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi said: 

“They cannot do it. If Dr. Goodluck Jonathan bequeathed to Nigerians a good legacy in democracy, we don’t anticipate or expect Buhari to destroy it. Such invasion will be a civilian coup and if Buhari is seeing defeat ahead of him and his intention is to destabilise the country, he should remember that he has a name and that he has a future; he should also remember that he has children. So, invading the National Assembly to impeach Saraki unceremoniously, without following the constitutional procedure, will be total anarchy and Nigerians should hold him responsible for what happens thereafter.” 

In another development, there seems to be more endorsement for the Senate President as 45 other senators had signed a letter of solidarity with him. This, undercuts the move to impeach him, an act that needs at least 73 votes in the Senate to be effected.

In a letter written and delivered by PDP Senators reinstating their support for the leadership of the Senate,  45 PDP Senators expressed their unflinching support for the leadership of the senate and stated their antagonism against any form of impeachment plans by any group.  

the letter reads;

“We, the undersigned senators, hereby declare our total support for Senator Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as President and Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are against any purported illegal impeachment being cooked up by a few minority  (sic)"

Meanwhile, some APC senators have also signed a petition for his removal. 

However, the letter of support is against the 39 senators who have signed the petition for his removal. 

With this development of 45 senators with Saraki, 39 against him with move for his impeachment, there leaves 19 senators in between opinions. 

73 senators are required by the constitution to remove a Senate President or a Deputy Senate President from office. It becomes a game of number.

Among those who signed the letter delivered to Saraki are former Senate President, David Mark, Senators Jonah Jang, Abiodun Olujimi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and forty- five other Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. 

The PDP Senators are: Senators Emmanuel Bwacha, Barnabas Gemade, Philip Aduda, Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako, Jeremiah Useni, Laah Danjuma, Bayero Nafada, Dino Melaye, Buruji Kashamu, James Manager, Ben Murray-Bruce, Rose Okoh, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mao Ohuabunwa, Theodore Orji, Sam Egwu, Albert Bassey, Ademola Adeleke, Chukwuka Utazi, Peter Nwaoboshi, Matthew Urhoghide, Samuel Anyanwu, Foster Ogala, and Clifford Ordia. 

Others are Senators Obinna Ogba, Emmanuel Paulker, Osinakachukwu Ideozu, Suleiman Adokwe, Mohammed Hassan, Joshua Lidani, Sha’aba Lafiagi, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Philip Gyunka, Ahmed Ogembe, Atai Aidoko, Ubali Shittu, Rafiu Ibrahim, among others