Breaking News!! I Won’t Return To PDP, Says Saraki....

Despite riding on the support of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to become president of the eighth Nigerian senate, Bukola Saraki, says there is no chance he would return to his former party in the aftermath of his party’s unfavourable disposition to his new office. He also described President Muhammadu Buhari’s reaction to Tuesday’s election of national assembly leaders as a “great mark of leadership” and a demonstration of his commitment to democracy. In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Saraki commended Buhari for remaining steadfast in his commitment to the principle of non-interference in national assembly politics even in the face of great pressure on him to act otherwise. “This shows that Mr President is a man of great conviction who, in his own words, belongs to everyone and to no one,” the statement read. Describing insinuations that he would return to PDP as “absurd and laughable”, he said: “It is just cheap blackmail by political adversaries who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. And those making such desperate allegations should remember that I willingly left the PDP on matters of principles when the party was in power. “Is it now that the party is out of government and in opposition that I will now return, having worked so hard for my party in the last general election?” He stated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a loyal and leading member of the party who is committed to contributing his quota to building the party and helping it deliver its promise of change to Nigerian people. He urged all members of the national assembly to put politicking behind them and settle down for the proper business of legislating. “Our country is going through very trying times. We have the challenge of insecurity in the northeast, the massive problem of youth unemployment and general economic challenges occasioned by fall in revenue. “All these against the huge public expectation that propelled our party into office. We have pursued our legitimate aspirations appropriately. Now that the issues have been settled, we need to move on in the larger interest of our people, without whose mandate we would not have been in a position to aspire to these positions in the first place.” He stated his readiness to embrace every member of the senate regardless of their political leanings in the leadership elections just concluded.

Remi Tinubu Reportedly Refuses To Shake Saraki’s Hand During Her Swearing-In

Though there’s a photo of them laughing nd being cordial, there’s a viral report that Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Bola Tinubu, refused to shake hands with the new Senate President Bukola Saraki after her swearing in this morning. Senator Tinubu alongside 28 other APC Senators who were absent when the Senate was inaugurated yesterday, were sworn in as Senators this morning. After their swearing-in, Protocol demands that they proceed to the Senate President to shake his hand and show him their certificate. Every other senator observed the protocol except Tinubu who only showed him her certificate and reportedly ignored his handshake. The APC Senators who were absent during yesterday’s Senate inauguration and sworn in today include the party’s desired choice for Senate President and Deputy Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and George Akume. Others are Senators Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos), Olusola Adeyeye (Osun), Isiaka Adeleke (Osun), Shehu Sani (Kaduna) and Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos). In all 26 of them were sworn in.

Problem in the house of APC already.

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has responded to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate. Tinubu, while speaking on the development at the national secretariat of the party on Tuesday in Abuja, said, “I will never recognise such a kangaroo arrangement that produced Bukola as the Senate President.
“Or how do you want me to recognise a man who deliberately defied his own party because of his personal interest? It is not done anywhere.
“Therefore, recognising Bukola as the Senate President after all he had done to our party today, having gone against the wish and pattern of our great party, honestly will amount to endorsing impunity, and which you should all know I will not ”,Tinubu said.

He added, “For me to recognise Senator Bukola as the Senate President, he must show remorse for today’s action. He had earlier promised to defy the party and the deed has been done. You don’t do that in politics.
“Personal interest must not override that of the party that beget you. It’s a spoken and silent rule of the game, which all and sundry must abide with.
“I’m not God, but as far as this party is concerned, I’m a leader and I know what is good for the party at the appropriate time.
Speaking now is not for the party, but for myself. I cannot recognize Bukola as the Senate President.