The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on
Friday admitted that there was crisis within the All Progressives
Congress and that the leadership of the party was already addressing it.
He declared this to journalists after
emerging from a two-hour closed-door meeting with former President
Olusegun Obasanjo in his Abeokuta, Ogun State Hilltop residence on
Friday.
Saraki arrived Obasanjo’s residence at
9.10am, in company with Senators Ahmed Yerima, Andy Uba, Tayo Alasoadura
and Danjuma Goje.
Others in his entourage were a former
National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and a former governor
of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a former acting National
Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje.
All were former PDP members who defected to the APC.
Emerging from Obasanjo’s inner chamber
two hours after, at exactly 11.10am, Saraki admitted that his emergence
as Senate President and that of his counterpart at the lower chamber,
Yakubu Dogara, caused crisis within the APC.
He, however, expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved.
He said, “As you can see, things are
moving smoothly. Definitely, be rest assured that all that (the crisis)
would be put behind us very shortly. We are very confident about that.”
Saraki also expressed his support for a
downward review of the salaries and allowances of legislators to reflect
the current economic realities in the country.
He said, “Well, I think that is already
in progress. If you remember, last time, it was about N150bn and it is
coming down to N120bn. I think the situation in the country deserves
that every public servant must make sacrifices and whatever sacrifice
that is necessary, we will do it. And that is being done.
“So, rest assured that we are sensitive.
We are aware of the situation in the country and if we are going to
lead, we must lead by example and we would do that.”
Speaking about the team’s visit to
Obasanjo, Saraki said they had come to pay homage and seek the former
President’s advice and blessings because of his immense value to the
country.
He said, “I’m here with some of my
colleagues. We are here to pay our homage to him, seek his advice, get
his blessings and also consult (with him).
“We all know President Obasanjo’s value to this country and we are here to tap from his wisdom, knowledge and experience.”
Meanwhile, Saraki also promised Nigerians that he would not disappoint them as the President of the 8th Senate.
He made this known when he was received
by a crowd at the Ilorin International Airport during his first
homecoming after emerging as the Senate President. Dignitaries that
received him at the airport included the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji
Abdulfatah Ahmed and the state chairman of the All Progressives
Congress, Alhaji Ishola Balogun.
The Senate President was later driven
from the airport in a motorcade to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin,
Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, where he paid homage to the monarch.
Speaking at the Emir’s palace, he said
there was “no word big enough to thank them (senators) because they have
fought a hard battle.”
