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Why APC cannot interfere in Saraki CCT’s trial, by Okechukwu

By Adamu Abuh, Abuja
22 April 2016   |   2:36 am
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Osita Okechukwu yesterday offered an insight as to why the party refused to interfere in the on-going trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Okechukwu

Okechukwu

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Osita Okechukwu yesterday offered an insight as to why the party refused to interfere in the on-going trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Speaking to reporters at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, he argued that such interference would run contrary to the on going anti graft war of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the APC campaign promises.

Okechukwu who is APC spokesperson South East caucus spoke on the heels of calls by the deputy national publicity secretary, Mr. Timi Frank on the party to save Saraki from the troubles of being subjected to trial in the CCT.

Okechukwu however maintained that such interference would prove right those who had accused President Buhari of selectivity in his anti-corruption crusade.

Said he: “I understand the sympathy of (Kawu) Baraje that our friend, the Senate President is at the tribunal, there is nobody who will not be concerned about it. He (Baraje) belongs to the school that alleges that Mr. Senate President couldn’t have been tried, if he did not become the Senate President that there are other Senators, Ministers and other public officers who have one thing in their cupboard, one skeleton in their cupboard or the other I am not dismissing that.

“For those who accused him of been selective also forget that if you are trying Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.) as former NSA, you can’t try Osita Okechukwu because I wasn’t an NSA and luckily for me, they didn’t call me when the Bazar was going on. You can’t try me for NIMASA, because I wasn’t the D-G of NIMASA, I wasn’t a contractor in NIMASA, I wasn’t a Consultant in NIMASA, I wasn’t a messenger in NIMASA.

For those who accused him of been selective also forget that if you are trying Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.) as former NSA, you can’t try Osita Okechukwu because I wasn’t an NSA and luckily for me, they didn’t call me when the Bazar was going on. You can’t try me for NIMASA, because I wasn’t the D-G of NIMASA, I wasn’t a contractor in NIMASA, I wasn’t a Consultant in NIMASA, I wasn’t a messenger in NIMASA

“The sixteen years of the PDP calls them to question, because at a certain point, the oil was been sold at $147- $145 per barrel and we ask where is the money. But it is a human memory that today the Nigeria people cannot know who raped the Nigerian economy.

“So for Baraje yes, I know where is coming from, there is sense in what he is saying that had Dr. Bukola Saraki not contested the Senate presidency, maybe he couldn’t have been tried that is a point that I may not controvert. But on the other hand, for you also to say Mr. President stop the trial, is also neither here nor there, because, its goes against the tenet.

Besides, he argued that such calls would be contradicting the manifesto of the APC saying: “Don’t forget the manifestoes of the APC, I am a member of the Merger Committee and also member of the manifestos sub-committee. It became our first cardinal programme and if we don’t plug all these loopholes even if fuel is sold at a $1000 per barrel, we are not going anywhere.  That is the truth of the matter, that is what the Chinese did.”

Meanwhile, the deputy national publicity secretary, of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Timi Frank has claimed that on-going trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki was politically motivated.

In a statement, he maintained that the recent interview granted by the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to a section of the media has vindicated his position on the crisis rocking the APC.

Faulting Oyegun’s position on the issue, he stated that it was inappropriate for the chairman of the party to comment on the issue particularly justifying the current travails of the Senate President as his sole cross to bear.

Said he: “That the chairman of the ruling party will grant an interview on his personal opinion and asserting it to be the decision of the party, can at best be described as unfortunate and a carefully mapped out plan to rubbish the current trial of the Senate President. It is on record, that there hasn’t been any NEC, NWC, BOT or Caucus meeting of the party were such decision was taking to abandon the Senate President to his fate.”

Furthermore, he alleged: “This move undoubtedly proves once more, that the chairman is acting on an already prepared script to incarcerate and make the Senate President pay for his disobedience for not adhering to the party’s decision in contesting for the seat of the Senate Presidency.

“The chairman’s position on the current travails of the Senate President in the CCT, is a clear indication that the APC under Chief Oyegun has spoken the minds of all those, that were in doubt that the persecution of the Senate President is and may be politically motivated.

The deputy national publicity secretary said that Chief Oyegun should have allowed the CCT to run its course in finding the Senate President guilty, before rushing out to take a position.

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