"Tinubu Attack Saraki Again"

• Senate president: I remain committed to the ruling party
Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday launched a verbal
assault on Senate President Bukola Saraki, describing the
manner in which Saraki captured his current position as a
“crass act of disloyalty to the party”.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, added that the Senate
president might have joined the APC on paper, but has remained
committed to the malpractices and wrong aims of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) at heart.
He launched his attack in a statement by his media aide, Mr.
Sunday Dare, in response to a report alleging that the national
leader had conspired with the Senate president to undermine the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the six-page statement issued from Conakry, Guinea,
Tinubu’s media adviser said his principal remained glued “to the
party’s decision that the manner by which Saraki captured his
current seat travestied party discipline”.
Dare stressed that it was a crass act of disloyalty showing that
Saraki might have joined the APC on paper, but has remained
true to the malpractices and wrong aims of the reactionary PDP
in his soul.
He noted that the idea of an alleged conspiracy between Tinubu
and Saraki against the president was an “execrable lie”.
“The alleged conspiracy is a figment. It takes at least two
people to make a conspiracy,” he said.
He revealed that there had been no substantive communication
between the duo since Saraki decided “to foul the integrity of the
Senate and the party. To be truthful, I do not think Saraki would
care to hear what he will have to say to him”.
He advised Saraki to shelve his personal situation for the
moment and concentrate on the people’s business, adding: “It
would be a grave mistake and abuse of office for Saraki to
directly or indirectly inject his personal matter into the approval
process (for ministerial nominees).
“Saraki should not link the approval of a single minister to his
desire for extrajudicial treatment of his issues. If adhering to the
decisions of the party, supporting the government’s progressive
plank and working for the good of the people qualifies Tinubu for
surveillance, then he will accept that. However, we know that
any such surveillance is not from state security organs.
“Such activity would come from the insecurity agencies of the
PDP and its mercenary allies elsewhere who would seek to
fragment the true core of the APC so that they may scuttle the
Buhari reform programme and return the nation to the
misgovernance of the past.
“They hope to delude the APC into attacking itself. By so doing,
they believe they can regain through stealth, the reins of
government the people seized from them through elections.
“They seek to break the hearts and hopes of the people. Tinubu
would never team with anyone to gain such an inhumane
objective.”
He added that “those who midwifed this garish tale would give
birth not to truth but to lies intended to kill APC’s unity and to
retard the Buhari administration’s strategic reform initiatives, as
earlier outlined by our party manifesto”.
“Given the potential for change that stands before us, we are
now beginning to see the true nature of many people. There are
those who truly want positive change so that we can break from
the ways of a stolid past.
“Then there are those who speak of change with their mouths
but never believe in it in their hearts. They came along with us
for the ride or because no other political option availed itself at
the operative time. Now, given the chance to redeem
themselves from their past political actions, they would rather
return to the political morass from whence they came,” Dare
claimed.
He added: “If this nation is to have more than a fleeting chance
of escaping the quagmire into which years of PDP misrule have
taken us, we cannot allow these regressive elements to deploy
their cunning tricks to divide and pit progressive against
progressive.
“Tinubu waited for the president to select his cabinet. The
majority of the selections have been made. There is nothing to
do but congratulate the appointees and pray for them. Their
responsibilities are vast, the future of the nation now rests on
their shoulders.
“The challenges before them are manifold and daunting. Those
who want the best for Nigeria can only hope that these people
succeed. The only intervention that Tinubu will make is one of
encouragement. He will charge them to remain true to the
progressive vision of the party and our president.
“None should allow themselves to be enticed to join league with
those who would cast us back into the old mold of PDP
governance: to pilfer, destroy and pillage. Instead they should
cohere faithfully to the enlightened programmes and promises
made by our party and this government.”
But in a swift reaction, Saraki said he would not join issues with
Tinubu over the publication, adding however that he remained a
committed member of the APC.
Noting that there had been no communication or meeting
whatsoever with Tinubu since he was elected Senate president,
Saraki, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Yusuph
Olaniyonu, stated: “Therefore, I do not see any basis for a
newspaper to report that we are both plotting to oppose the
president.”
He said that he recognised the former Lagos governor as one of
the leaders of the APC who contributed considerably to the
victory of the party in the last election, but so did others.
“I recognise Tinubu as one of the leaders of the APC who
contributed so much to the victory of the party in the last
election. Some other people also contributed and I believe the
collective efforts made it possible for the first time in the history
of our country for an opposition party to win the general
election.
“Let me state clearly that I remain a committed member of the
APC and will do all in my power to ensure the party fulfill its
promises to bring positive changes into the country.
“Since my election as Senate president, my focus and efforts
have been devoted to doing the job that I was elected to do by
my constituents and my colleagues in the Senate. Twice, my
colleagues have confirmed their support for me as the primus
inter pares in the Senate.
“As I said in my speech when we resumed from our recess late
September and in Ikenne yesterday, the screening of ministerial
nominees will be handled by me and my colleagues with all
sense of responsibility and in adherence to the provision of the
constitution.
“We will be fair to all and be guided by the interest of Nigeria.
The screening will be devoid of sentiment and it is not an
opportunity for anybody to settle scores. We are equally eager
for us to make a positive difference in our polity and Nigerians
will be able to judge us whether we acted in their best interest or
not,” he said.
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