83 Nigerian Senators Pass Vote of Confidence on Embattled Senate President, Saraki

 

Seeking to shore up support for the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki who is facing corruption charges, the Nigerian senators on Tuesday in a plenary session, passed a vote of confidence on their leader.

 

It can be recalled that the senate president was arraigned last week before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on a 13-count charge of alleged corruption and false declaration of assets, though he denied wrongdoing, but said the trial was politically motivated.

 

The Senate which met today for the first time since Saraki appeared before the tribunal, had 83 senators co-sponsored a motion to give him a "Vote of Confidence".

 

However, David Umar from Niger East, who read the motion, initially said it was sponsored by 84 Senators, but the Chairman Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Babajide Omowarare from Osun East, asked that his name be removed from the list.

 

"Ordinarily by virtue of my position as the Chairman, Committee on Business and Rules, I should have seen this motion before now. But it comes as matter of urgent public importance. My name is listed as number eleven. Let me say that I don’t know how my name got into the list. I therefore say I am not part of it," Omoworare said.

 

David Umar said the Nigerian Constitution guaranteed separation of powers. He condemned the 'ongoing unwarranted media embarrassment of the Senate and the Senate leadership' and urged Nigerians not allow themselves to be used to harass or intimidate the Senate leadership.

 

Supporting the motion, Sani Yerima from Zamfara State, said "We shall continue to support our leaders". According to him, the lawmakers' right to choose their leadership should be respected, adding that 'anybody outside this chamber who wants to control the Senate should go and sleep'.