Encomium
Following the recent standoff between the Senate and the Executive over the allegations of forgery of the senate rules during the emergence of Senate Prsident Bukola Saraki and Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, it was reported that members of the Pro-Saraki side were plotting on how to impeach President Mohammed Buhari.
Senator Dino Melaye, member of the All Progressives Congress representing Kogi west senatorial district was said to be the major actor in the scheme as he was reported to have issued all manner of threats to President Buhari during the Senate closed door session on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.
Malaye who is also the Chairman senate committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), debunked reports that he was the one championing the impeachment plot. He, however, expressed his total commitment to the leadership of the senate.
Other Senators reported to have stood against the Executive at the plenary includes –
Danjuma Goje, Former Gombe State Governor and member of the APC representing Gombe-Central senatorial district
Jibrin Barau , member of the APC representing Kano North senatorial district
Isa Misau, member of the APC representing Bauchi Central. He was reported to have openly declared that they would commence impeachment proceedings on President Buhari
Peter Nwaoboshi, Peoples Democratic Party member representing Delta North Senatorial district
Enyinnaya Abaribe, Peoples Democratic Party member representing Abia South. He was reported to have suggested impeachment to the house.
It was also reported that members of the Pro-Bukola group have been gathering at Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s residence to strategize on how to propagate their impeachment plan.
In a swift reaction, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who is a former Governor of Sokoto, representing Sokoto North, denied the report. According to him, the meeting held in his residence was towards finding amicable solution to the frosty relationship between the Executive and Legislature.
Member of the Senate who are against the trial of the Senate President Bukola and his deputy Ekweremadu also called for the suspension of members of the senate who went to court on the alleged forgery of the Rules and asked for dialogue between themselves and the Executive or face impeachment.
Members of the Unity Forum (a pressure group composed of APC Senators whose aim is to mitigate power in the 8th Assembly) which include Senator Babafemi Ojudu (who represented Ekiti central district in the 7th Assembly), Remi Tinubu (wife of former Lagos state governor Bola Tinubu, representing Lagos Central), who are opposed to Saraki’s and Ekweremadu’s leadership asked the aggrieved members to discard any impeachment plan and seek dialogue.
Events took a dramatic turn as Melaye openly attacked Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, allegedly calling her all sorts of name and threatening to beat her.
– Olalekan Olonilua for encomium.ng
