Senators-elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been cautioned to stop dragging the name of the President of the Senate Bukola Saraki into their tussle for the Senate leadership of 9th Senate’s presidency.
The Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upper legislative chamber gave the caution in a statement jointly issued by the Majority Leader, Abiodun Olujimi and Senator Dino Melaye on Tuesday in Abuja.
The PDP advised their APC colleagues to desist from involving Saraki in their schemes to hold on to certain Senate leadership positions in the 9th Senate.
The PDP caucus stated that it has observed closely as the contenders for the various Senate leadership posts in the APC sponsor various publications in the media to make it appear that Dr Saraki is seeking to play a role in determining who occupied various leadership posts.
“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 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.
“Ït 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,” the statement said.
The PDP caucus, therefore, urged APC members in the Senate as well as their handlers to leave Saraki alone and concentrate on how they will convince the Senators-elect to vote them.
The APC senators and to-be senators were further urged to focus on ensuring that the election of the next Senate President takes place in a conducive atmosphere with a view to strengthening the institution.