The crisis in the Senate would be completely nip in the bud as soon as the leadership allows members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, to occupy juicy office, Senator Kabiru Marafa representing Zamfara Central, has said.
Marafa known for his outspokenness is apparently not comfortable that most high offices were occupied by members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as was the case when APC was in that status.
He dismissed the speculations that the principal officers were being targeted for punishment of any kind, saying that the right things should be done.
Speaking with State House Correspondent after a private visit to President Mohammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, Marafa who had just been nominated as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources while answering question on whether peace has returned said that the forgery case proffered against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekwerenmadu could be withdrawn if the party leadership gives such a directive.
He said: “Yes, as long as the party comes in and the will of the party is respected. We are not at loggerhead with anybody. It is not like we hate somebody. The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been one of my very close friends and senior in the 7th assembly. What you saw happened is what I will describe as loyalty to the party. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes only the party, it doesn’t recognize any individual.
“We didn’t go to court because we didn’t like the faces of those that emerged, but this is the will of our party. During the 7th assembly, we accorded the ruling party at that time the utmost cooperation and we knew the committees that we were given that time. But now, we are in power it is our own time and we should be accorded all the necessary cooperation. We should be seen to respect the party. If the party says withdraw the case, we will go on to withdraw the case.”
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Speaking on the impeachment speculation against president Buhari which has been making the rounds, the senator said it was a huge joke amongst his colleagues.
He also attributed the Thursday reshulfflement of the Senate Standing Committees as a result of the pressure mounted on the leadership by the party.
“In legislature we crack a lot of joke. I will only describe that as heavy joke. Nobody is contemplating that. It is not a possibility and God’s willing it will not happen in this assembly.
“I think reschuffling of committees is not new in any parliament. What made that of yesterday a little new is the circumstances of the emergence of this leadership and what followed. What happened yesterday is a result of the efforts the party has been putting in for reconciliation in the last few days”, he said.
Asked of his mission to the Villa, Marafa said he went for fatherly blessing to enable him discharge his duties effectively.
He also stated that the crisis between the Executive and Legislative Arms in his State would soon be resolved.
“The President is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the committee I was given yesterday relates to the Ministry. As my father and leader, I will not start anything without seeking for his blessings. He has prayed for me and I can face the assignment head on.
“The relationship between executive and legislature at any level is like relationship of husband and wife. So there is nothing knew as far as I’m concerned. We belong to the same political party and we are one. We are on top of the situation and we are trying to calm the nerves and look at the problem from its root. We will resolve the issues amicably. By our tradition and culture, Zamfara has never had that kind of problem”, he said.
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