A group of young professionals in the All Progressives Congress, APC, has vowed to resist and mobilise against any attempt to undermine the independence of the Nigerian Senate and malign the person of Dr Bukola Saraki, the president of the Senate.
The APC Young Patriots, led by Dominic Alancha, the co-ordinator also expressed worry that “some hired agents of the state,” have regrouped to launch a wicked onslaught against them, warning that this could derail democracy.
“As a respected group in the APC, we can no longer afford to watch and treat as a party affair, this iniquitous assault contrived to smear our distinguished Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki,” the APC Young Patriots said in an e-mailed statement to The Trent on Sunday, April 2, 2017.
“We will do everything possible within our influence as party members and courageous Nigerians to defend the institution of the Senate and protect the dignity of Saraki.
“We had deliberately refused to speak out on these misguided attacks since it started, thinking that one day, a good sense of reasoning will prevail on those vilifying him for making a strategic move to occupy the office of the Senate President. We fear that this ridiculous mugging which has now taken a dangerous dimension as some mischievous individuals are found to be encouraging affronts against the Senate is capable of jeopardizing democracy.
“This unfortunate development is sad, painful, unfair and now getting worse, as some so-called eminent persons in the country have been wooed to instigate public actions to smear and harass the leadership of the Senate. The growing penchant for manipulating the constitution is creating chaos and tension in the polity judging from the recent face-off between the Senate and the executive. We urge Nigerians to rise up in the defence of our democracy.
“We have watched with serious consternation how some senior lawyers and individuals led by Prof. Itse Sagay and Mr Femi Falana have been trying to ridicule the institution of the Senate and its members. We found this very offensive and disingenuous. We are using this medium to avert their minds to the future implications of their action and the possibility of giving vent to a fascist state.
“We will henceforth not tolerate any attempt to ridicule the Senate, while every attack on its leadership will be met with equal and more virulent responses. We appeal to double-faced individuals masquerading as defenders of the poor and anti-corruption fighters, but who in the real sense of it are pro-establishment agents to desist. We will never allow anyone to derail our hard earned democracy.
“We wish to encourage Dr Saraki and the Senate not to be deterred in performing their tasks as graciously defined by section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). We are mindful of the giant strides the Senate is making in passing several important bills for economic recovery and the good governance of our nation.
“The latest amendment to the Electoral Act as passed by the Senate will indeed revolutionised our electoral process and give many of us a great opportunity to contest elective positions in 2019.
“This is a big political liberation for the younger generations who desire to contest. We appreciate our federal lawmakers for this important development. We appeal to the House of Representatives to concur with these amendments,” the statement ended.
