- Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has given reasons why he missed out on the recent meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
- Saraki was absent at the APC national caucus meeting on Monday, February 26 at the Presidential Villa
- He was also absent at the APC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, February 27, at the APC national secretariat
After many queries and concerns, Senate President. Dr. Bukola Saraki has given reasons why he was absent at Monday night’s national caucus and Tuesday morning’s NEC meeting of the APC.
A statement sent to NAIJ.com by the special adviser to Saraki on media and publicity, Alhaji Yusuf Olaniyonu clarified the Senate President's itinerary on those days, which made it difficult for him to attend both meetings.
Saraki has to be present in court for CCT trial. Photo credit: SP media office
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Part of the statement read: “On Monday, the Senate President was in Benin from morning till 6.15pm, attending the Senate round-table on migration and human trafficking, one of the interventions by the lawmaking body to source for legislative and policy solutions to one of the major problems plaguing the youth in our country today.
“Dr. Saraki and his delegation, including senators, returned to his Abuja home at 7.45 pm, while the APC national caucus meeting was scheduled to begin by 8.00 pm on the same night. Clearly, there was no way he could have arrived at the venue on time, especially as it would be a breach of protocol to do so at a meeting presided over by the president.
“On Tuesday when the NEC meeting was holding at the APC secretariat, the Senate President was at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where he was fighting to clear his name as the defendant in an ongoing case.
“Dr. Saraki did not fix the date of the adoption of briefs by prosecution and defence lawyers. The Tribunal did, and by law, Saraki must be physically present at the Tribunal as the defendant.
“It stands to reason that he cannot be in two places at once, and so he was unavoidably absent at the NEC meeting.”
Olaniyonu advised that no one should attach any mischievous or inaccurate interpretation to Saraki's absence at the two meetings “held at times when his whereabouts were a matter of public record.”
He added: “Sponsors of misinformation as to why Saraki was not present at the caucus and NEC meetings should be clear that there is no special reason behind the absence.
“I hope this clarification will halt the speculations, misinformation, misinterpretation, mischief and fake news about the 'why' and 'what' of his absence at the APC national caucus and NEC meetings.”
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Meanwhile, a report by international news agency Reuters claiming that the APC NEC endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office has proved to be incorrect.
According to the APC national publicity secretary, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, what the NEC did at its last meeting, was to pass a vote of confidence on the president and the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee.
APC give reasons why his party could be voted out in 2019 on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
