SARAKI REVEALS DETAILS OF BUHARI'S MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADERS.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has
revealed that the focus of the meeting between
President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership
of the National Assembly yesterday evening was
focused on how to better the lot of Nigerians.
Saraki, who refused to link the parley with his
ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal,
CCT, said the meeting, which was at the instance
of the President, was to devise means of
delivering the promises made to Nigerians during
electioneering.
He made this known while interacting with State
House correspondents at the end of the meeting
held behind closed doors at the First Lady’s
Conference Hall inside the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
According to him, “The meeting was an initiative
of the President for an interaction with the
leadership of the National Assembly.
“It was a very useful session, being the first one.
This kind of interaction helps in ensuring smooth
relationship between the two arms of government.
“We discussed a number of issues: some of the
plans. The general commitment is that yes, the
National Assembly has legislators from different
parties but now we are representing Nigeria. We
have a common goal to see that we work together
for the interest of the country as a whole.”
On whether his ongoing trial by the Code of
Conduct Tribunal over alleged false declaration of
assets featured during this discussion, Saraki
said, “We are talking about what will make Nigeria
work, we are talking about the promises we made
during elections.
“Those are the big issues we are talking about and
to ensure that there are no distractions. The focus
is to ensure that the executive arm does things in
the interest of the county.
“It is normal in democratic setting, from time to
time, you see the parliament talking with the
executive. That is how to make things work.”
Saraki said Nigerians should be confident that the
present government would work in their interest.
He promised that the two arms of government
were committed to working together for the good
of the people.
“What we are taking away is for Nigerians to be
confident that government is working. We are
committed to work together and it is going to be
for the good of Nigerians at large.
“It is a good development. We are all committed
to what we are all elected to do: to make Nigeria
work,” he stated.
While justifying why the Deputy Senate President,
Ike Ekweremadu, was absent at the meeting,
Saraki said it was because he was attending a
conference outside the country at the time of the
parley.
“Two people are not here because they are
attending a conference. The Deputy Minority Whip
in the House too is not here. It just happened
that they are not in the country,” he explained.
Saraki and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, led the
lawmakers to the late night meeting with the
President.
Others who attended the meeting from the Senate
included the Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume;
the Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah;
Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio and
Minority Whip, Philip Aduda.
Those who attended from the House of
Representatives included the Deputy Speaker,
Yusuf Lasun; and House Leader, Femi
Gbajabiamila.