Opinion: Why Saraki's Senate election cannot stand. By Kingsley Obolo

Date: 2015-09-18

The purported emergence of Olubukola Saraki as Senate president, which election was held on the floor of the Senate, defies all logic, parliamentary ethics and standard practice because of the absence of legitimate legal procedure known to the constitution of the country.

The constitution made it crystal clear that the party with the majority shall produce President of the Senate, but the dubious process relied upon by clerk of the house is patently wrong, null and void. What played out was that 48 members of the opposition pronounced Saraki as president of the Senate. This recorded 48 members of the opposition and a 'gang' of nine cannot make that election legitimate, the 51 members of All Progressives Congress, APC, that were schemed out surreptitiously constituted the majority.

Therefore, the pretentious tendency of the Senate president is a facade only known to the gutters, his arrogance for tenaciously wanting to hold on to that office in spite of the doctored process may court disaster because there are apparent breaches and infraction of the 1999 Constitution.

We are not opposed to his emergence, but due process must manifestly be seen to have been followed, we hasten to say that the build-up of the Senate around his personality for strength will ultimately be unhelpful to him because it's intended to engage in a trial of strength with President Muhammadu Buhari. If this collision occurs, be certain, he would be worsted in such an encounter. Supporters of the Senate president are limited only to Kwara State, although discernible but equally of passive block, I pray his supporters do not challenge the thunder of authority of Buhari's vociferous, boisterous and highly aggressive element if threaten, they spread across the entire North-West, North-East and sophisticated enlightened discernible support base in the South-West.

Saraki is a man of great intellect, transparency, forthrightness and largeness of spirit, coupled with his political exposure that is quite comprehensive, he should submit the seal of his office and resign now or alternatively surrender to the national chairman of his party to accommodate that 51 majority APC members if he wants to legitimise his action to further his stay in office.

We advise him to equally beg Ahmed Bola Tinubu to forgive him for his pride and arrogance, he is a Yoruba man located in the North Central and he needs Tinubu's five states in the South West. Therefore, building support with reactionaries is the surest way to fail unless he does not want to go beyond the Senate presidency. Any pretention to the contrary will spell doom; he equally needs the support of President Muhammadu Buhari whose support base spreads across North-West, North-East and the entire Nigeria.

All senators from the zone laying claims to individual electoral strength outside the Buhari phenomenon amount to plain dishonesty. Therefore, any untoward romance with the 'gang' of nine is clear political obituary. They should learn from the vast outpouring of love, affection, support and admiration of Nigerians showered on President Muhammadu Buhari, with more than 70 per cent rating, his performance thus far is an acknowledgment of the fact that he wants to serve God and humanity with singleness of purpose.

He has amply demonstrated his firmness and sense of justice, even the Washington Post, a very influential newspaper of the western world, has said he is the most honest Africa leader, that is why we pass a vote of confidence on his leadership, he has succeeded in instilling discipline, which has been lacking in the past, he has blocked all financial leakages hitherto used as conduit pipe to siphon our money. His zero tolerance for corruption is legendary, he has reawakened the civil servants to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation, Buhari's integrity has reverberated all over thereby instilling in all of us a sense of moral value. For some antiquated politicians accusing the President of dictatorship is a misuse of language; nobody at the moment has been detained without due process.

It would be recalled that prior to Ekiti and Osun elections more than 2,000 opposition members were arrested for no just cause, the past administration used the instrumentality of the state to intimidate and harass people principally for electoral advantage.

They are now criticising Buhari unjustly. Nigeria voted for the current positive change they are witnessing now, and any attempt to distract the President from discharging his constitutional responsibility would be a disservice to the nation. The last administration was not able to hold the line against the prodigals, which led us to this sorry state. The President must bring to account anybody who wants to put Nigeria's economy in reverse gear. There is also need for Saraki not only to beg Tinubu but also acknowledge him as father of modern democracy, a real champion, defender of the oppressed, a man who defended democracy with his blood even after the death of Moshood Abiola of blessed memory.

He fought all military administrations that wanted to thwart our democratic march and suffered privation, deprivation and all kinds of unwarranted indignities. In spite of everything he remains resolute and steadfast in his pursuit for justice, a man who was in the opposition for years.

And as a reward he was offered the position of vice president by President Muhammadu Buhari, but he graciously declined because, looking at the complexity, heterogeneity, diversity and religious sensibility of being labelled Muslim Muslim ticket, he sacrificed this exalted office so that Nigeria's dignity would be preserved. We are even of the steadfast conviction that given the mood of the nation at that time, he would have won the election probably with greater margin than we witnessed.

That is patriotism at its finest; there is no living Nigeria politician that ever sacrificed this much. Nigerians are not looking for a religious leader but a performer, how many of our leaders have sacrificed their personal interest for the service of the nation? When he was governor of Lagos State, he dedicated himself to redressing all economic imbalances in the state.

He has equally produced leaders who have contributed to the shaping of modern Nigeria for better, all the pains he suffered during the NADECO era conditioned him and he never visited vengeance but clarity for all, it is now left to history and generations yet unborn to chronicle his achievements to posterity where he will be better appreciated.

Professor Kingsley Obolo is National President, National Support for Buhari/ Osinbajo Presidency (NSBOP)

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