- Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, maybe in for a rough time
- A youth group in his home state of Kwara have threatened to recall him
- The group accused Saraki of elevating personal interests above public interest
A youth organization in Kwara state, Kwara Youths Stakeholders Forum (KYSF), has threatened to initiate a process to recall the Senate resident, Dr Bukola Saraki.
According to Sahara Reporters, the group made the threat in a statement jointly signed by its leaders, including Mr Charles Olufemi Folayan, president; Ahmed Alanamu, deputy president; and Abolarin Olusola, secretary.
The group stated that the long-running face-off between the Senate and the executive arm of government is hindering the operations of the government and affecting the masses.
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They went on to blame the situation on what they say is the Senate president's lust for power.
“We are cognizant of the separation of powers in a democratic government, but it is shocking to see the legislative and executive arms of government formed by the same political party playing opposition between themselves in the name of separation of powers,” said KYSF.
The group said it is particularly disappointed by the conduct of the Senate president, an indigene of Kwara state, for refusing to work with the executive to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
It accused the Senate under Saraki of elevating personal interests above public interest.
“Sadly, bills of public interest such as local government autonomy bill and other bills that will make direct impact on the people have not yet received adequate attention from the Senate.
“We are disappointed that despite the economic recession, which demands urgent attention, the Senate leadership has been paying more attention to swarming court rooms for Code of Conduct Tribunal trial, Customs boss' uniform and debates on the recalling of an individual senator,” the group added.
KYSF advised the Senate to support Osinbajo, who is standing in for President Muhammadu Buhari, to lead the country out of its current economic hardship and keep the unity.
They lamented that Kwara state has not felt the impact of producing the Senate President.
KYSF said it has resolved that if having a Senate president from Kwara state is of no value to the youths in the state and Nigerians in general, it will have no option other than initiate the process to recall Saraki from the Senate.
“We hereby advise him to realize that he is there to serve the good people of Nigeria, adjust his ways and prioritize the interest of Nigerians above ego and personal political ambition,” said KYSF.
The Senate president represents Kwara Central senatorial district in the upper chamber.
Reacting to the group's demands, the new media aide to Saraki, Bamikole Omisore, chided the leader of the group for their stance.
“He is actually just trying to exploit the on-going situation to play local politics. He deserves no response and attention from us,” Omisore told NAIJ.com.
Saraki had on Thursday night, July 6, held a secret meeting with Osinbajo over the tension between the executive and the legislature.
NAIJ.com gathered that Saraki’s meeting with the acting president was based on the suspension of consideration of further nominations by the executive in protest against the retention of Ibrahim Magu as the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes.
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