TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the senate has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave Senate President Bukola Saraki out of its plot to elect new leaders in the 9th national assembly.

In a statement signed by Biodun Olujimi, senate minority leader and Dino Melaye, chairman, senate committee on federal capital territory (FCT), the PDP lawmakers alleged that contenders for the various senate leadership posts in the APC sponsor various publications in the media to make it appear that Saraki is seeking to play a role in who occupy the positions in the next senate.

They said such “surreptitious attempts” would not augur well for the smooth take-off of the next senate , saying it could only create suspicion and ill-will among incumbent senators and the new ones.

“We have noted with regret and surprise how some Senators who are interested in becoming the next Senate President and those seeking to occupy various leadership positions in the next Senate have been busy dragging the name of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, into their schemes for fulfilling their ambitions,” the PDP caucus said.

“We believe those involved in this dirty game are only afraid of the shadow of the Senate President. Such people should know that Dr. Saraki is not interested in their plots, schemes and manipulation.

“His concern now is to continue to provide leadership to the Eighth Senate and to ensure that the Senate achieves as much as it is possible in the remaining two months of its tenure.

“It is obvious that many Senators and even Senators-elect still defer to Saraki. And this is understandable because he is a national leader of the PDP.

“He is a respected Senator who has also provided solid leadership for the Senate. So, those who are afraid of his influence should find a positive way to deal with that, not sponsoring falsehood in the media.

“We therefore urge the APC gladiators and their handlers to leave Saraki out of their schemes and manipulations.

“They should go and concentrate on how to convince the Senators-elect and ensuring that the election of the next Senate President takes place in a conducive atmosphere.”