Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has lambasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) for mocking him for emerging the second runner-up at the Presidential Election Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held last Saturday in Port Harcourt.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, won the election.
On Tuesday, APC said the outcome was a befitting end to the ambition of a greedy, untrustworthy and double-dealing politician.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in a statement noted that with 317 votes, behind Aminu Tambuwal’s 693 votes and Atiku Abubakar’s 1532 votes, the PDP delegates have given clear indication that they are fed up with Saraki’s political style.
He said: “When a leader cannot be trusted, cannot be relied upon, and cannot keep agreements, the people take due cognizance and records of these actions and respond with their votes at the appropriate time.
“How will someone who emerged Senate President through conspiracy with members of the opposition Party and against the wishes and interests of his own party be trusted to be elected as the presidential candidate of a party? Even on his being elected to the position, did Saraki acquit himself creditably?
“Throughout Saraki’s tenure as Senate President, it has been one confrontation between the National Assembly leadership with the Executive or another.
“Confirmation of Executive nominees sent to the Senate for confirmation has been delayed unnecessarily, annual national budgets delayed. For instance, the supplementary budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 General Elections is continually delayed due to Saraki’s selfish political machinations.
“A selfish Saraki will rather than perform his constitutional legislative functions by ensuring timely consideration and passage of Executive bills, will rather sabotage the efforts of the Executive in furtherance of his treacherous politics.
“Having sabotaged the President Muhammadu Buhari government while in the APC, he later showed his true colours by formally joining the opposition PDP. The APC bade him goodbye as he returned to the looters club where he belongs”.
but Saraki declared that the ruling party was obsessed with him.
His spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said: “We have noted the irresponsible statement issued by the APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena.
“We know that he and the leadership of the APC are always incensed and disturbed at the mere hearing of the name, Saraki.
“It is also notable that Nabena and the APC are always concerned about the developments in the opposition party, the PDP.
“However, we believe that with the ‘civil war’ that Adams Oshiomhole and Yekinni Nabena have ignited in the APC and the very low level that they have dragged the party, in such manner that the ruling party is wallowing in confusion and disorganization, they have too much to pre-occupy them than to be poking their noses in what happens to Saraki or the PDP.”
