Banner Online News

By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Senate President Bukola Saraki on Friday avoided journalists after holding a private meeting with the former Military President Ibrahim Babangida at his hilltop mansion in Minna, Niger state.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Sen. Saraki arrived IBB ’s residence at about 4.10p.m.and left at 5.50 p.m. for Minna international Airport, shunning journalists who wanted to interview him.
NAN reports that Saraki drove straight to the hilltop home of the former military ruler in a convoy of nine vehicles.
On his Twitter account, Saraki dropped some hints on why he visited::”Dropped in to pay my respects to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Always happy to be with a father and leader.”
Saraki’s visit followed a press conference he addressed at the National Assembly, in the wake of the blockade of the National Assembly gates by operatives of the DSS.
In a blistering reaction, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ruled the blockade as illegal and unauthorised and as a gross violation of the constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order.
Osinbajo then went further to sack the director-general of the DSS, Lawal Daura, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2015.
On Wednesday, Saraki sidestepped a question on his presidential ambition.
He said he would answer the question on another day.
“We are here today about the democracy of this country, and that is what is important to me and to all of us that are here.
“I think when the time is right I will talk on your issue but today, we are talking about democracy in Nigeria, to defend the rule of law,” he said.
On whether or not he would relinquish the position of Senate Presidency which he was ‘given’ under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Saraki stressed that he was not given the position but was elected by members.
He said that the Constitution allows any member of the Senate to stand for election as the President of the Senate irrespective of the person’s party.
“I was not given the position as Senate president. I was elected by members,” he said.