Saraki, Buhari and Osinbajo
It
seems that the senate president, Bukola Saraki, who was set to dump his
party, the All Progressive Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party
ahead of 2019 elections, may not make the move again.
There were strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari, the
All Progressives Congress and governors are considering juicy offers for
the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to prevent his defection to
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It was learnt that some prominent leaders of the party, especially
the coordinator of the reconciliation initiative, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,
might be involved in the negotiation with Saraki.
Tinubu was said to have been briefed about the President’s interaction with Saraki and others.
But Saraki, who bowed well for the President after a meeting at the
Presidential Villa, was frank in expressing his mind. He said he felt
humiliated by the party he co-founded and the government he jointly put
in place with others.
He was solemn in expressing his disappointment to the President and some APC governors.
Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the
President and some APC governors met with the Senate President as a
follow-up to the talks with New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) caucus
of APC being coordinated in the past few months by Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo.
It was gathered that most APC leaders, governors and other members
were unhappy that the party was on the verge of losing Saraki to PDP.
They believed that the defection of such a “political heavyweight”
to the opposition might affect cohesion in APC for the 2019 poll.
The consequences of a depleted APC impelled some governors and
party leaders to broker understanding between the President and Saraki.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “At least, for the first time, there was a frank session between the President and Saraki.
“He expressed disappointment with his humiliation by the government he fought hard to put in place. We were all sober while he relived his travails, because none of us would pray to be in such a situation.
“We understood with him but we felt it was time to forgive and forget in order to move forward.
“As part of preventing Saraki’s defection, we may offer him juicy terms including:
-Automatic return as the President of the Senate in 2019
-More consultation and inclusiveness in key decisions henceforth
-Mutual Executive-Legislature relationship
-Revisiting all issues raised by nPDP Caucus which formed the basis of talks in the past few months
-Reconciling with all aggrieved leaders of nPDP
-Avoiding a repeat of past mistakes which led to his humiliation
“We also appeal to Saraki to shelve moves to defect to PDP or
any other party. We agreed that he has a better stake in APC than any
other party.”
Asked if Saraki made any commitment, the source added: “There was none yet, but the atmosphere was cordial and hopeful. After the meeting, he even bowed well to the President.
“The session was the climax of talks in the past few months. As
one of our leaders, we leave the final decision to Saraki to take.
“But one thing was clear from Saraki: he will want all
commitments put into writing and documented in case of any breach in the
future.
“To some of us who have been wooing him, such a demand is in order. It is a case of once bitten, twice shy.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “The final stage of
talks with Saraki will still involve some of our leaders, like Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu who is coordinating the reconciliation in the party.
“In fact, Tinubu has been briefed on the outcome of the meeting at the Villa and why he has to play a key role too.”
Some of the major complaints on nPDP are:
Grudges on the conduct of state congresses.
Alleged refusal of the party leadership to stamp its feet on parallel congresses in some states.
In the constitution of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) the New
PDP block was generally sidelined as virtually no position was conceded
to it. The only member of FEC that belonged to former New PDP block
comes from a state that contributed virtually no vote to the APC in the
2015 presidential election.
There has been no significant patronage and appointments to
executive positions in various government agencies such as Chief
Executives and Executive Directors of government agencies and
parastatals as members of our block of the party continue to helplessly
watch as these positions are shared by the erstwhile CPC, ACN, ANPP and
even APGA blocks of the party and those who have no party at all.
In appointments into boards of various government agencies, very
few former New PDP members were patronised. These are, however, not
commensurate with our contributions to the growth and victory of the
party.
When members of the former New PDP block showed interest in running
for the offices of President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of
Representatives, they were subjected to a vicious and relentless
political opposition as if they were not legitimate members of the APC
family.
During the party primaries preparatory to the 2015 general
elections, most of the promises made to sitting members of the National
Assembly, who belonged to the former new PDP in terms of a level playing
field were reneged upon or observed more in breach.
There has been general lack of consultation, non-recognition and
even persecution of former New PDP members and leaders by the party and
government. For example, some of our leaders are denied the security
cover necessary to visit their constituencies even though they are
elected representatives of the people in a government they sacrificed so
much for.
Harassment, intimidation and persecution of former New PDP leaders
by the government is still an ongoing affair. We do not want to
overstate the obvious by cataloguing names of former new PDP stalwarts
that are targets of this political pogrom.
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Culled from: The Nation
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