Ex-minister Says Saraki Should Resign

Chief Kenneth Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education, has said that if Senate president Bukola Saraki loved his honour, dignity and integrity, he would not stay a day longer in office.

Senate president is currently standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for supposedly making false declaration of assets under oath while he was governor of Kwara state from 2003 to 2011. Nation

 Presided over by him. The entire international community will not believe in the passage of any bill under his leadership.

“If you ask me, I will say it is in his own interest to resign because it is no longer business as usual.”

The former minister faulted the support and solidarity being given to Saraki by some senators, adding they wanted to seize the reins of administration and hold the government to ransom.

He said that false declaration of assets is a very grave crime that attracts stiff penalties in advanced democracies.

 “The only reason why America is still a country today is that no matter who you are, once you crossed the rules of the law, you must pay for it. Until we get to that level, we are just wasting our time,” ex-minister said.

“First and foremost, Saraki cannot be sitting there as Senate President because whatever he does will question the integrity of the entire Senate.”

However, the Senate president pleaded not guilty to 13-count charge of false declaration of assets on September 22, yesterday.

Saraki said this as he finally shown up at sitting of the tribunal which was presided by Danlami Umar.

The CCT had unveiled an order for the Senate president’s arrest after he failed twice to appear in person.