Buhari, Dogara Meet Over Saraki’s Trial

There were indications that President Muhammadu


Buhari and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, met on
Monday night over the ongoing prosecution of the
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, for alleged
false asset declaration.
The meeting said to have been held late in the
night.
Our correspondent learnt that Dogara had
r
eportedly “secured a booking” to meet with Buhari
at the Aso Rock Villa.
A senior official of the House told The PUNCH that
the meeting was not an open affair and that nobody
could gauge the mood of the President.
The official said, “I am aware that he (speaker)
secured a booking to see the President this night.
But, this will not be an open meeting just yet. I think
he wants to first see Mr. President and inform him
about the resolution of the House.
“The President’s mood will determine whether he
will go on to mediate in the matter to find a political
solution as advised by the House.”
The House had in a resolution passed on
Wednesday, last week, asked Dogara to intervene in
Saraki’s case by meeting with Buhari and the
Senate President, who is also the Chairman of the
National Assembly, with a view to finding a political
solution to the matter.
The move by the House came soon after the Code of
Conduct Bureau arraigned the Senate President
before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false
asset declaration.
The House had argued that a political solution could
save the country the heat generated in the polity by
Saraki’s trial at the CCT.
It also claimed that a matter affecting the National
Assembly could indirectly be a threat to democracy.
Part of the resolution reads, “The House mandates
the leadership of the House to meet with the
President with a view to politically resolving all
outstanding issues relating to National Assembly in
the interest of Nigerians.
“Mandate the speaker to intervene in the present
issues and challenges being faced by the Chairman
of the National Assembly (Saraki) with a view to
finding a political solution and protecting the
institution of the National Assembly as a whole for
the interest of our democracy.”
When contacted for comments, the Chairman,
House Ad hoc Committee on Media and Public
Affairs, Mr. Sani Zoro, said he could not confirm
whether there would be a meeting between Buhari
and Dogara.
Zoro claimed to have made efforts to reach the
speaker but could not because of a meeting of the
leadership of the House being held as of 4.44pm
when he spoke with The PUNCH.
However, he admitted that Dogara was “eminently
placed” to mediate in the issue since his position
had not been “called to question by any authority as
we speak.”
He added, “While I cannot confirm immediately
whether there will be a meeting tonight between Mr.
President and the Speaker, I will quickly say that the
speaker has been involved in several reconciliation
meetings within the party (All Progressives
Congress) and other levels.
“It was not by mistake that the House mandated
him to intervene in the current issue affecting the
Senate President.
“He has been holding several reconciliation
meetings.”
But, another member of Zoro’s committee confided
in The PUNCH that he was aware that Dogara
planned to meet with Buhari between Monday
(yesterday) and Wednesday (tomorrow) over
Saraki’s case.
The source said two other meetings, one with Vice-
President Yemi Osinbajo, and the other with the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr.
Babachir Lawal, would precede a meeting with
Buhari on Wednesday.
“He will likely meet with the VP and the SGF on
Tuesday (today) before another leg of meeting with
Buhari on Wednesday,” the source stated.
Buhari had said that his relationship with Saraki
would be determined by the outcome of his trial by
the CCT.
However, the two top officials of the government
were photographed on Thursday last week at an
event marking the 55th Independence anniversary
of the country as they laughed and bantered.
The photograph was said to be intended to portray
the two as officials who had no scores to settle.
Buhari and Saraki are said not to have held any
official meeting to discuss matters of state since the
latter emerged as the President of the 8th Senate on
June 9 against the preferred choice of the APC,
Senator Ahmad Lawan.
The current peace move being spearheaded by
Dogara is coming amid the screening of Buhari’s
ministerial nominees by the Senate, beginning
anytime from Tuesday (today).
Saraki had on Wednesday last week confirmed the
receipt of the letter containing the names of the
nominees but noted that the letter would be opened
at plenary on Tuesday.
With Saraki in charge of affairs, there are concerns
in some quarters that the Senate President may
seize the opportunity to take his pound of flesh by
influencing senators to reject a number of the
nominees.