I was not sponsored by oil barons and cabals – Saraki

The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Monday debunked the allegation that oil barons and cabals were behind his emergence as the leader of the Senate.

A former Governor of Osun State, Chef Bisi Akande, had alleged that oil barons and cabals had positioned themselves to frustrate President Muhammed Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

Saraki, in a statement, said he will be the last person to be so sponsored by the oil barons or cabals because in the 7th Senate he led his colleagues in exposing the rot in oil subsidy.

He was also a part of the committee that made recommendations on how the system could be reformed and made corruption-free.

In his word: “We make bold to state that in the 7th Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki was Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee  which exposed the fraud and mismanagement in the oil sector. Until Saraki’s motion on the floor of the Senate, no one was in the picture of the rot in the sector or took any action. Therefore, surely, Senator Saraki will be the last person the oil baron will want to see as Senate President.

“No doubt, we make bold to state that Saraki is the last person to be so sponsored by the oil barons or cabals.

“In that position, Saraki did not only lead his colleagues in exposing the rot in the scheme but made very strong recommendations on how the system could be reformed and made corrupt-free.

“It is on records that through his motion on the floor of the Senate, the House of Representatives followed in what is to be known as oil subsidy probe and to which Ministers of Finance and Petroleum summoned and at least over N500 billion was saved. Certainly, Senator Saraki is the last person to be so sponsored by the oil barons or cabals.

“Further to this, during the Senate hearing on the missing $20 billion, for those who attended the public hearing, Senator Saraki led the onslaught of difficult questions to both the Minister of Finance, Minister of Petroleum and other federal agencies despite being in the ruling party then. To this effect, Senator Saraki refused to sign the final copy of the committee’s report but rather put forward a minority report with a press statement that followed suit.

“Saraki went further to oppose the inclusion of kerosene subsidy in the 2015 budget as well as his opposition to Petroleum Swap deal by NNPC. Let it be known therefore that the Senate Presidency of Dr. Bukola Saraki would not in any way be a stumbling block against President Buhari’s posture against anti corruption.

“Rather, the 8th Senate under him as the President would give all necessary legislative support to the administration to fight and reduce corruption as his previous actions and bold step taken against the so called oil barons indicates that Saraki is committed to anti corruption.

“For avoidance of doubt, we want to make it abundantly clear that it is totally false, untrue and calculated mischief to suggest that Senator Saraki’s emergence as Senate President was facilitated by oil barons. This is a case of calling the dog a bad name so as to hang it. Another blatant lies that can not fly.

“In any case, Senator Saraki was elected unopposed as the Senate President, therefore the lies that he was sponsored by the oil barons cannot hold.

“Senator Bukola Saraki is determined and focused to achieve the Senate targeted legislative agenda and he is committed to support President Buhari to deliver on his promises to the people of Nigeria.”