Bukola Saraki has been marked for ‘destruction’ by the ‘Hawks’ in the<\/p>\n
ruling All Progressives Party (APC). They want him out at any cost. This
\nis the group that Saraki recently described as “government within
\ngovernment.” He is probably restrained in the use of radical words like
\n‘Cabal,’ ‘Mafia,’ due to the integrity of the office he occupies as the
\nPresident of the Senate and as a result of his continuous search for
\npolitical solution. But as we have seen, and regardless of the onslaught
\nand the pains he has suffered, it appears Saraki’s preference for
\npolitical diplomacy is still preferred by him to the ‘unknown’ cost of
\nconfrontation – option B. His latest comment “I remain loyal to the APC,”
\nand the re-allocation of ‘juicy’ committees to Senators opposed to his
\nemergence, could also be interpreted in the political framework of his
\noption A – diplomacy.
\nThe wild and unrestrained impulses with which those involved in this
\n“operation demolish Saraki,” have carried on so far, do not suggest they
\nare likely to adopt political solution or give up on this matter. These
\nHawks are consumed by the urge to seek political retribution and by
\nextension reduce the burden of challenge for 2019 power struggle – an
\nagitation which started in the APC since April, 2015 before the
\nswearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is also unlikely that even a
\nsigned pact of “I’ll not contest 2019 Presidency,” by Saraki will sway
\ntheir minds. It is a matter of life and death for them – wickedness taken
\ntoo far. They had succeeded in massaging the ego of Mr. President that
\nSaraki contested against his will and he must be crushed.
\nBut Saraki after yet another case – a forgery suit instituted by the
\nAttorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar
\nMalami, against him and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu at an Abuja High Court,
\nmight have put aside any further fear. His statement after the second
\narraignment, sounded more like it to his loyal supporters off and on the
\nsocial media: “Let it be clear, as a citizen and as a foremost legislator,
\nI will continue to rise above all the persecution and distraction that
\nhave been visited on me. In the words of Martin Luther King Junior, `the
\nultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and
\nconvenience but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy.”
\nFor once, Saraki sounded in a way the radicals amongst his supporters had
\nwanted. He capped it by daring the Hawks: “If yielding (unyielding) to the
\nnefarious agenda of a few individuals who are bent on undermining our
\ndemocracy and destabilising the Federal Government to satisfy their
\nselfish interests is alternative to losing my personal freedom, let the
\ndoors of jails be thrown open. I shall be a happy guest.” His popularity
\nsoared afterwards.
\nThe second case instituted by the executive over what is purely an
\ninternal affairs of the Senate is a legal affront against the principle of
\nSeparation of Power. Especially when there is a pending one on same matter
\nin another court of law. Justice Gabriel Kolawole handling the first case,
\nclearly expressed his misgiving on this: \u201cIn all of these facts and
\nissues, having regard to the pendency of this suit in which the defendants
\nhave both filed processes, one question that did not cease to resonate in
\nmy thoughts is why this \u201cdesperate haste\u201d to prefer the criminal
\nindictments in exhibit \u201cB\u201d the investigation of which is at the heart of
\nthis suit and of the parallel suit in exhibit \u201cE\u201d, and which indictments,
\nby law are not time barred as the substantive suit before this court, had
\nby consent of both the Plaintiff\u2019s Counsel and the 1st defendant\u2019s
\nCounsel, been scheduled for 6\/7\/16 for hearing.”
\nWhen the principle of separation of power developed by Baron de
\nMontesquieu is violated by one arm or when another organ of government
\nconstitutes a threat to the other, it is likely to give rise to an
\nunhealthy political rivalry. This sometimes leads to the quest to balance
\npower by the offended arm in a bid to guide and defend its independence
\nespecially if there is the will to do so. The rumours over an attempt to
\ncommence an impeachment process against President Muhammadu Buhari which
\nwas widely reported by the media is an indication of an emerging group in
\nthe Senate that is favourably disposed to negotiating balance of power in
\nan executive-legislature cold war. The constitution confers on the
\nNational Assembly the power to remove the President and such instrument is
\navailable for political negotiations – it is a common legislative
\nbargaining strength globally. The House of Representatives attempted it
\nduring the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and it
\nworked.
\nIn international politics, states oftentimes try to ensure their survival
\nand relevance by maintaining or increasing their power in a self-help
\nworld. In international relations, balance of power suggests that
\n“national security is enhanced when military capability is distributed so
\nthat no one state is strong enough to dominate all others. If one State
\nbecomes much stronger than others, the theory predicts that it will take
\nadvantage of its strength and attack weaker neighbours, thereby providing
\nan incentive for those threatened to unite in a defensive coalition,” –
\nWikipedia. This concept (theory) is also silently embedded in the
\nprinciple of separation of powers as adapted by the constitution of
\ndemocratic nations. The National Assembly understands this perspective
\nclearly too in preserving its independence, hence the rumours of
\nimpeachment.
\nAs a trained medical doctor, Saraki understands the implications of a
\ncancer that is already growing and spreading and the likely treatments.
\nUnfortunately, legislative-executive imbroglio has also degenerated into a
\npolitical cancer of sort. It is spreading. The recent Dino Melaye vs Remi
\nTinubu face-off is part of the symptoms. And we are likely to see more in
\nthe weeks ahead if caution is not applied. Semblance of this, is a Senator
\nRobert Boroffice who was not in the National Assembly complex during the
\nconfrontation, but he took to the media to lampoon Senator Dino Melaye,
\njust in a desperate bid to enlist the support of the husband of Senator
\nRemi Tinubu for APC Governorship ticket in Ondo State. There will be other
\nderived intrusions in the trials of Saraki in the days ahead. Same
\nBoroffice is also amplifying the Abuja court trial.
\nBorrowing Saraki’s phrase, this “government within government” group has
\nsince crossed the red-line, closing their minds to any form of
\nnegotiation. Saraki should apprise himself to this singular fact – Hawks
\nare hardliners with extreme positions, they take no prisoners and are
\nperpetually pro-wars. He has options, including fighting back, but he is
\npersonally over-conscious of probable executive tyranny and the fear of
\nnot receiving enough positive media support. Also, the goodwill of the
\nNational Assembly is still considerably low – worry over getting enough
\npublic sympathy. But fighting for honour and purpose is the signature of
\ncourageous men – history reckons with them. The onus is on Saraki to
\nchoose his battle.
\nThere is a latest silent intervention by some past leaders, but yet they
\nare closing in on him with legal distractions. The third leg of his trial
\nis likely in the offing, if and after the Senate confirms Ibrahim Magu as
\nthe Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He
\nwas a Governor and he is on their radar; they may explore that – this is
\nin addition to his trials at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Abuja
\nHigh Court. The plan is to use every means to deprive him of Senate
\nsittings, including his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, joined in the second suit.
\nIt is not unlikely that Ekweremadu will be included in the third-leg
\noption albeit separately to double his trial and ensure none of them is
\nable to attend sittings. At least the EFCC has proved time and again that
\ncases could be manufactured against perceived enemies of government to
\nachieve a mission. The case of fiery human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu
\nAdegboruwa who was arrested just to prevent a mass action in Lagos over
\nsubsidy removal comes handy.
\nSensing that Saraki, aided by one of the best assemblages of lawyers in
\nrecent history, had wriggled himself out of a quick plan to get a judgment
\nat the CCT, the Hawks from all indications decided to adopt the
\n‘distraction approach.’ Probably the lacuna these trials will create, may
\nhelp the anti-Saraki group to negotiate their replacements by reaching
\nsome deals. It is going to be a tall dream. Aside the fact that the Senate
\nis not ready to compromise its independence as epitomised by
\nSaraki\/Ekweremadu leadership, they are also ahead in this game with
\noptions. A PDP person will take over the Presidency of the red chamber and
\nstill secure the seat for Saraki. Mind you, some cases will get to the
\nSupreme Court and none is strong enough to convict Saraki. The Hawks had
\nperfected plans to manipulate court of first instance just to remove
\nSaraki, while appeals would be immaterial. That was why the same CCT that
\nexonerated former Gov. Bola Tinubu reversed himself in a desperate bid to
\nexecute these plans.
\nIn a fair sense, embarking on an impeachment process may not be a bad
\noption to balance power. The Hawks are not likely to compromise their
\nstand and since Saraki\/Ekweremadu are not ready to relinquish their seats,
\nthen they may have to act. Moving against the executive will definitely
\nstoke tension in the land but it will at least give the National Assembly
\na bargaining power at a time the popularity of the President has dimmed.
\nFor instance, the legislature could be blackmailed as working against good
\ngovernance if it adopts the approach of not treating executive requests or
\nwithout dispatch, but certainly not an impeachment move. There is no
\nbetter time for the legislature to save itself from the tyrannical
\ndisposition of the executive than now.
\nAriyo-Dare Atoye is the Convener, PDP Reform Group and can be reached via
\naristotle001us@yahoo.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bukola Saraki has been marked for ‘destruction’ by the ‘Hawks’ in the ruling All Progressives Party (APC). They want him out at any cost. This is the group that Saraki…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n