Chief Gbenga Awoyale, the national president of Orisun Igbomina in Kwara state has accused the president of the senate, Bukola Saraki of intentionally immersing the All Progressives Congress into crisis because of his ambition.
Senator Saraki
The president of the socio-cultural organisation pleaded with the APC leadership to insist on party supremacy in its efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the Senate.
Speaking with reporters in Lagos recently he said the lingering crisis could have been averted, if Senator Saraki had complied with the APC’s directive over the issue, The Nation reports.
Awoyale said: “Truth as they say is bitter, but no matter what, the truth must be told no matter whose ox is gored. It was Saraki’s inordinate ambition that precipitated the crisis. Why did Saraki disobey the APC leadership on how positions should be shared at the Senate?
“He deliberately plunged the APC into this needless crisis and he is now shedding crocodile tears. Nobody should take him serious. He should be sanctioned for disobeying his party. He did the same thing while he was in PDP and this was one of the reasons the party lost the presidential election. The APC should be firm in sanctioning Saraki,” he said.
Noting further, Awoyale said that Saraki’s action was tantamount to an act of treachery.
He queried why the president of the red hallow chamber ignored the party on which platform he won election to become a senator and if he could be higher than the party.
He stated that what the senate president did amounts to indiscipline. The chief further urged that Saraki should be punished for that.
Awoyale said: “If he didn’t have a hidden agenda, why did he sneak in and hide in the National Assembly premises at midnight on the eve of the inauguration of the Senate when other senators elected on the platform of the APC were at the international conference centre waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari?”
The community leader said that the best way to end the crisis is for the APC and President Buhari to ask the senator to step down. He said the people of Kwara state were disappointed by the turn of events at the National Assembly particularly the way Saraki emerged as the Senate president.
Awoyale said if the Senate presidency had been zoned to the state that the ruling party would have come up with other distinguished lawmakers who could fill the position.
He said: “I implore the APC leadership to treat this issue seriously. I’ve known Saraki for a long time. He is a ruthless politician, and an opportunist who will not stop at anything to have his way and in the process, he is also ready to betray anybody.
“Did he not betray his own father the late Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki of blessed memory? Bukola Saraki not only openly campaigned against his father’s choice, but also went ahead to campaign against his father during 2011 general elections in Kwara State.
“It is only those that have short memory that could have easily forgotten what the Senate president did to his father. It was later that he sent emissaries to pacify the old man. For those who have ears, let them hear, the same scenario is playing itself out today. I urge President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other APC leaders to put on their thinking caps. A stitch in time, as they say, saves nine,” he warned.
Awoyale further said implored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to look into the financial books of Kwara state between 2001 and 2015 noting that within that period over N500 billion was received in form of monthly allocation by the state government. He said that in line with that allocation, there is nothing on the ground to show for it in the state.
The leader added that workers and pensioners are being owed.
He said: “No new projects were undertaken and old ones were even abandoned. Kwara state is bleeding. The EFCC and the ICPC should send their investigators to the state. I have nothing personal against Saraki. I’m only speaking out because of my love for Kwara state. I’m interested in the collective interests of our people. We have to think of the coming generations.
“Saraki is not morally fit to hold the position of Senate president. He is still being investigated by the EFCC. Not only that, his wife, Toyin, is also being investigated by the EFCC. Toyin was a recent guest at the EFCC office where she was interrogated for hours. If we are preaching morality, Saraki is not fit to occupy the highly-exalted seat of the Senate president,” he added.
Meanwhile, Justice Ademola hearing the suit filed by dissatisfied senators over the election of Senator Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and three others has frowned at the non-appearance of the defendants in court on Monday, August 31.
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