Saraki’s claims ridiculous, says presidency

The presidency has described as “ridulous” allegations by Senate President Bukola Saraki that there is “a government within the government of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

Saraki had also said he is the target of the “nefarious agenda of a few individuals who are bent in undermining our democracy and destabilising the federal government to satisfy their selfish interests”.

The senate president made the allegations in a statement after appearing in court for alleged forgery on Monday, also saying he was prepared to carry his cross and happily go to jail should the need arise.

But Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, described the allegation as fiction.

“President of the senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, claims there is ‘now a government within the government of President Buhari,’ which has allegedly seized the apparatus of Executive powers to pursue a nefarious agenda,” he said in a statement.

“This claim by Senator Saraki would have been more worth the while, if it had been backed with more information. If he had proceeded to identify those who constitute the ‘government within the government,’ it would have taken the issue beyond the realm of fiction and mere conjecture.

“But as it stands, the allegation is not even worth the paper on which it was written, as anybody can wake from a troubled sleep, and say anything.

“The attorney-general of the federation is the chief law officer of the state.  It is within his constitutional powers to determine who has infringed upon the law, and who has not.

“Pretending to carry an imaginary cross is mere obfuscation, if, indeed, a criminal act has been committed.  But we leave the courts to judge. To claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is anybody’s stooge is not only ridiculous, but also preposterous. It is not in the character of our president.”

Saraki is facing the charge alongside Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president; Salisu Maikasuwa, former clerk of the national assembly; and Benedict Efeturi, deputy clerk of the assembly.