'Senate shamelessly blackmailing the president,' says group

A civil society group, Stand Up for Nigeria (SUN) has accused the Senate of using Ibrahim Magu’s rejection to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the group, the Senate under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki “practically gave a red card to the anti-corruption war when they started using the confirmation of nominees as bargaining chips to frustrate reforms that were promised by the government.”

Addressing journalists in Abuja, national president of the group, Sunday Attah urged the Senate to reverse the decision to suspend Senator Ali Ndume, as well as commence the process for the confirmation of the nominees for Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Attah described most actions of the Senate as a ‘blow’ on the anti-corruption drive of the APC government.

His words:“The Senate has not only did they engage in anti-people activities, the federal lawmakers shamelessly blackmailed President Muhammadu Buhari by refusing to consider the confirmation of 27 resident electoral commissioners when they know that these nominees needed to resume and familiarized themselves with their duties in time for the next general elections.

"Through its Ethics Committee, the Senate, in the most brazen case of make believe to have ever occurred in any elected parliament cleared one of their own, Senator Daniel Jonah Dino Melaye of certificate scandal after arm twisting the leadership of his supposed alma mata to give a favorable testimony.

ALSO READ: Senate investigates SUV, certificate scandals against Saraki, Melaye

“The same farcical panel cleared Saraki of complicity of involvement in the armoured Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) impounded by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) earlier in the year. Perhaps the Hameed Ali must wear uniform saga has been made clearer with this development," he said.

The group called on former presidents, statesmen and nationalists to prevail on the Saraki- Senate to retrace its steps before ‘plunging the nation into international embarrassment’.

Similarly, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has called for the impeachment of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.