The All Progressives Congress, APC, Unity Forum, has on Friday night, revealed that since the Senate Committees were reshuffled by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, last Thursday, the aggrieved APC Senators have lost sound sleep, due to pressure from many quarters, appealing to them to give peace a chance.
A highly placed source in the Unity Forum said: “Since the reshuffling of some Committees on Thursday, I have lost sleep, because Senators loyal to Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, have been mounting pressure on us to forget about the case in court”.
One of the loyalists, said since the issue of Committees was part of the conditions for peace, we should embrace Saraki and Ekweremadu. The pro-Saraki Senators claimed that they are ready for more concessions.
The Senators however, insisted that the case was already beyond them, since the Federal Government is in charge of prosecution, adding that, it is too late to withdraw the petition that made the police to investigate the alleged forgery in the first instance.
Some members of the aggrieved Unity Forum, asked Saraki to go beyond the shuffling of Committees.
They said there could be an out-of-court settlement, if Saraki respects the wish of the APC to concede some principal offices to members of the Unity Forum.
Recall, that the two leaders of the Senate are standing trial in the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 (as amended).
The trial has been adjourned to September 28, by Justice Halilu Yusuf.
Recall, that in a deft political move aimed at reconciliation with the Senators against him, Saraki on Thursday, reconstituted some Committees to accommodate his opponents.
The breakdown saw two prominent members of the Unity Forum, Senator Kabiru Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, now given what was termed, “strategic and juicy” Committees.
Another ranking Senator, said a principal officer met with him on Thursday and simply asked: ‘Now that we have reconstituted the Committees, will you people (Unity Forum), help us resolve this case now?
“The emissary from the South-East was eager to extract a commitment from me and some members of the Unity Forum with me.
“I reminded the principal officer that the ball is in the court of the Federal Government, which is prosecuting the case.
The source added: “When we met on Thursday night, we weighed all options and concluded that Saraki has not demonstrated substantial readiness to reconcile with the Unity Forum.
“He redeployed a key and effective member of this forum, Senator Babajide Omoworare from Rules and Business to a redundant Committee. Some Senators were really shocked, because Omoworare is a team player.
“The appointment of Committee Chairmen is not far-reaching, because any Senator’s choice is at the discretion of Saraki.
“We can resolve the crisis, but after this step, Saraki may reshuffle all the Committees again.
“We are at his mercy on Committees. Saraki has the sole right to constitute Committees without deferring to Senators.
“If we go back on this case, because of appointment into committees, we would have proved to Nigerians that we were pursuing the case for selfish reasons”.
powered by sue.ng a legal search engine