Overwhelmed by negative reactions to some observations on the floor of the Senate, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Thursday night held a secret meeting with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the Senate President’s meeting with the Acting President was based on “some developments that occurred in the Senate during the week, including the suspension of consideration of further nominations by the Executive in protest against the retention of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and the consequent threats of impeachment by some Senators.

A source said: “The Senate President met with the Acting President. He actually came alone and without the paraphernalia of his office to underscore his commitment to rapprochement between the Executive and the National Assembly.

“Saraki took time to explain a few things to the Acting President, but the talks bordered on the clarification of a few misgivings, especially the rumour that he was planning to become the Acting President or instigating the Senate against the Presidency.



“He also took time to explain why the Senate wanted its resolutions respected in line with the principle of separation of powers.

“Above all, the session was actually frank.”

Findings made by our correspondent also showed that Thursday’s meeting between Osinbajo and Saraki was preceded by a visit the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, paid the Acting President on Wednesday night.

Before his visit to Osinbajo, Odigie-Oyegun was said to have reached out to the Senate leadership, asking them to prevail on warring senators to tread softly so as not to plunge the nation into unnecessary crisis.

A government source said: “The APC National chairman came at a time the Acting President was about to have a meeting with a select group of government officials. He was asked to join the meeting, which bordered on the battle line drawn by the Senate.

“During the session, the APC National chairman said he had interacted with Saraki and advised the Senate leadership and Senators to ‘lie low’ and avoid anything capable that was capable of plunging the nation into crisis.



“Oyegun also said the APC could not understand why the party in power would be in opposition against itself.

“No one can say if Oyegun’s intervention was responsible for the visit of the Senate President to Osinbajo.”

There were indications yesterday that the Presidency had uncovered four planks on which the Senate is hinging its threats of impeachment.

One of them is the running battle between the Presidency and the Senate over continued stay of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, in office.

A reliable Presidency source said: “Intelligence report revealed that some senators have identified four issues to take the Presidency on.

“These issues are insistence on the removal of Magu; the renewal of the row between the chamber and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali(rtd); the alleged denigrating comments of the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption(PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay and alleged constitutional breaches by the Acting President and the Presidency in general.

“Although the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, told the party leadership that the impeachment kite caught him unawares and he swiftly overruled the senators behind it, intelligence report indicated that “it was a kite flying agenda” by some senators.

“The government does not wholly believe the defence of the Senate leadership. It is closely monitoring events and putting safety valves in place, including legal dimension.

“Part of the intelligence report showed that some senators had plotted the impeachment script before the Tuesday session.

“Those who tabled the motion were actually not aware that the Acting President had returned to the country.”

It was learnt at press time yesterday that some past leaders (names withheld) had teamed up with the Acting President against the threats from the Senate.

“These leaders have told the Acting President to remain focused and ignore elements trying to cause political upheaval in the country.

“In fact, they assured Osinbajo of their support. These are leaders who the government thought had identified with the Senate.”

The tone for the impeachment process was set by two issues raised on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

The Senate had on Tuesday taken exception to the retention of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and the Executive’s alleged non-compliance with the resolutions of the Senate.

The President of the Senate had said: “This is an issue that we have to once and for all address. We cannot pass laws and see that the laws are not being obeyed. This resolution must be obeyed by the Acting President, otherwise we will take appropriate actions and resolutions.”

On the same day, Senators Eyinanya Abaribe and Kabiru Marafa had under Point of Order asked the Senate President to become Acting President in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, who was away for AU meeting in Addis Ababa.

Marafa said: “If the President is not around, the Vice President should act, and if the Vice President is not around, the Senate President, who is the number 3 citizen should become Acting President.”

Joenyam:
The Senate want to play co-presidency.
The presidency want to reserve all powers to itself.
The judiciary instead of giving clear interpretations of judgements, will leave us more confused and divided than we approached it.

In a sane country, on Magu's issue, the executive and legislature ought to present their case before the Supreme Court for interpretation. On receiving judgement, the section 171 of the constitution will thus be amended.
But no, everyone of them likes it as it is, so they can continue the power tussle as it suits them.

Stupid politicians.

Basic123:


Exactly.


I pray we have more if you on nairaland.so,nairaland will go back to the good old days.

ipobarecriminals:
saraki is a Satanist God bless Sahara peep.Their story is 100% on point. Osinbanjo should man up and do the needful. against Malami,daura etc

BabaRamotu1988:


hahahahahahaha hahahahahahaha this is the worst delusional statement ever

keep dreaming

Osibanjo is a vagabond
kiss the truth

ShobayoEmma:
Osinbajo please don't listen to this traitor and corruption personified. You only need the help of God and the support of we, the masses to defeat the cabals.

CROWNWEALTH019:
God bless saraki

Qmerit:


I used to hear some social media handlers re recruited for a purpose I never believed until I met your moniker....keep it up baba

CROWNWEALTH019:
I don't get paid bro..

Just that I don't support injustice

Basic123:


ehn ehn

CROWNWEALTH019:

I don't get paid bro..


Just that I don't support injustice

timawoku:
Osinbajo is wise not to leave the country for too long especially with opportunist saraki. Saraki misfired and now looking for soft landing. Well planned but premature action due to lack of adequate information on the location of the acting president Osinbajo

Qmerit:


Boss all your comments re injustice na hahaha... I started taking note when you say u prefer Fayose to be exchanged for Obaseki in Edo as Gov and called Obaseki a born failure

CROWNWEALTH019:

Smiles



APC has failed us