The Senator representing Zamfara Central senatorial district , Senator Kabir Marafa said on Sunday that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki lacks both moral and constitutional rights to summon the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance for briefing on the state of the economy.
Spokesperson of the Senate Unity Forum which has tacit support for Senator Ahmed Lawal’s Senate Presidency bid, Senator Marafa, said in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday that since Saraki had allegedly violated some sections of the Constitution to emerge as Senate President on Tuesday, June 9, he can not accuse another person of committing the same offence he had earlier committed.
Last week, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Anastasia Mabi Daniel- Nwaobia, refused to honour an invitation by the leadership of the National Assembly and the Chief of Staff to the Senate President. The Permanent Secretary was summoned to brief the Senate President on the state of the economy.
But Marafa, in his statement, accused Saraki of violating the same Constitution which he claimed the Permanent Secretary flouted.
“I read with open mouth amazement, the letter written by both the Chief of Staff to the Senate President and that of the Clerk to the National Assembly on the refusal or inability of a government functionary to honour the invitation of the “leadership” of the senate.
“They were saying the refusal violates section 67(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Can somebody please tell them that they are guilty of similar, if not higher offence?
“They, in fact, not only violated the constitution to ascend to the senate leadership , they murdered it !”
Marafa alleged that the leadership and management of the National Assembly, “murdered section 60 of the constitution that gives the Senate and not any individual or group of persons, the powers to conduct the business of the senate on the 9th of June 2015 using the forged document”
He also alleged they violated section 65 (2b) of the constitution that “recognises the supremacy of the political party in favour of the unmentioned, unrecognised and unknown zonal caucuses.”
The Senator representing Zamfara Central senatorial district equally alleged that Saraki violated order 3(2) of the authentic senate standing order 2011 as amended, which puts ranking above all other considerations in nominating senators to serve as presiding or principal officers of the senate and its committees.
Marafa also added that Saraki’s decision to announce Senators Ali Ndume and Bala Na’ Allah as Senate Leader and deputy leader respectively flouted the rule of ranking because Senators Ahmed Lawan and Bukar Abba Ibrahim who were nominated by the party, for the positions, were seniors.
