Bukola Saraki |
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Monday said he
had no power to reverse the recent suspension of a former Senate Leader, Ali
Ndume.
He also said there was no big deal in the perceived rift
between the executive and legislative arms of government, saying there would
always be issues arising from one or two things.
Saraki said these in an interview with State House
correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu
Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At the meeting which lasted over 30 minutes were the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; Senior Special
Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang;
and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters
(House of Representatives) Samaila Kawu.
Ndume was last week suspended from the Senate for six months
for not ‘making due diligence’ before filing a petition against Saraki and the
lawmaker representing Kogi-West senatorial district, Dino Melaye.
The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, and some elders
from the state had visited Saraki to apologise on behalf of Ndume.
But the President of the Senate told reporters that he had
no power to take a decision on the appeal, saying he would only convey the
message of the governor on the matter to the larger house that suspended Ndume.
He said being a Senate President or Speaker of the House of
Representatives only made both occupiers of the offices first among equals.
Saraki said, “We should try and understand how the
parliament works. I wish I had these powers you give me.
“The President (of the Senate) or Speaker is first among
equals, they are just presiding officers. People give us these powers that we
do not have.
“Decisions that are taken in plenary are decisions of all
but I have a role to be able to convey the message.
“I will convey the message of the visit of the Governor of
Borno and the Senate is one. We are all one family. There would be issues like
that; there is nothing that is sacrosanct or rigid.”
Saraki said the committee set up by Buhari on the rift
between the two arms of government was a good development but added that there
would always be issues on one thing or the other.
He said, “When you have an arm of government that has to do
with confirmation, there would always be issues. For example, for the NDDC
board, we rejected three people from the NDDC.
“We are all part of one government. That is why despite all
these, major decisions are still taken.
“Like I said, we did a critical amendment on the INEC Bill
by Tuesday or Wednesday.
“For the first time in the history of the legislature, we
are going to lay a report on the PIB for consideration, it has never happened
before. For the past 20 years, it has not reached this stage.
“So, it is work in progress for the interest of Nigeria.”
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