Senate President Bukola Saraki has opted not to participate at a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa on Tuesday.
Bukola Saraki and President Buhari
We
reported it here earlier today that the embattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, will lead other senators to a crucial closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari today at the Aso Rock villa to find a lasting solution to the 2016 National Budget (Appropriation Bill) logjam.
The meeting with President Buhari had become imperative as it would be an avenue to bring up grey areas identified in the budget and harmonize them in the overall interest of Nigerians.
According to TheCable, Bukola Saraki did not attend or participate at the closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the presidential villa on Tuesday.
It was gathered that no government official was willing to comment on the development as speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was spotted at the meeting.
Tuesday’s meeting lasted for 30 minutes, with Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the president, and Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters (senate), were also in attendance.
Security operatives barred correspondents from getting access to Dogara after the meeting as the security gate erected at the front of the council chambers was locked.
Dogara left the meeting and made his way to his vehicle without talking to the media, while Enang declined comment on the meeting.
Saraki's absence from the meeting might be because of his ongoing trial over allegations of false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).