The Senate on Thursday dismissed media reports that the visit to Borno State of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was in preparation to make himself a potential president candidate for 2019.
The Senate described the report as myopic.
The Senate explained that Saraki’s visit to Borno State was in compliance with a Senate resolution on the ongoing insurgency in the North East.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, explained that Saraki led a delegation to the Borno State Internally Displaced Persons camp to see what the Senate can do to ameliorate the suffering of the people in North East.
Melaye said: “Saraki on Monday led a delegation of seven senators to Maiduuri and they visited three IDP centres and he has shown concern on the condition of the IPDs and he is working to see what the Senate can do to ameliorate their sufferings and work towards the end of insurgency.
“Also on Wednesday, Senator Ike Ekweremadu led some senators to Adamawa State in compliance with the resolution of the Senate after a motion on the floor of the Senate on insurgency.
“Surprisingly today, insinuations were made that Saraki was making himself an alternate president and all this is in line with 2019.
“This is myopic and they failed to note that it was the resolution of the Senate after a motion by Senator George Sekibo.
“We are proactive Senate where action meets word.
‘Four days after the resolution, he complied and Ekeremadu in further compliance.
“You will recall that the Committee on Finance laid their report because there has been serious agitation to reduce remuneration of salaries and in swift response and given the situation of the economy.
“The Senate mandated the committee to review the remuneration and they gave a reduction, which I will not disclose until debated on the floor.
“This Senate will be responsive and responsible and we will only do that Nigerians want us to do in compliance with the constitution.
“The second committee on agenda will be submitting their report and it will be the first of its kind and by the end of the Senate, Nigerians will realise they have a senate of the people by the people.
“Saraki has made it clear that in the next few weeks our agenda will be propelled towards development.
“He has sounded a note of warning that all committees shall be involved in the fight against corruption and any person found wanting will be brought to book.
“We are setting up an evaluation and monitoring committee to see to the compliance of resolutions of the senate and any MDA that refuses to comply, we are mandated by the constitution and we know what to do.”
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