[dropcap]P[/dropcap]erhaps, yesterday when the Senate President, Bukola Saraki drove in that knife to cut through the soul of his own survival in the Senate as sustained by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was confident that this morning he would be regenerated by a pronouncement from the Court of Appeal ousting the firm grip of the Code of Conduct Tribunal on his political testicles and destiny.
But alas, all that dream fizzled to nothingness the moment the Appeal Court affirmed the position of the Code of Conduct Tribunal that Senator Saraki indeed has questions to answer.
Given the disappointing zest with which Senator Saraki confirmed the indicted former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi for ministerial appointment and thrashed off the Ethics Committee report on Amaechi’s petition before the whole world, as annoying and brazen as it was, many had thought that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would have reciprocated his ‘benevolence’, especially after turning his back on his greatest supporters, the PDP. But they are not giving in, and seem to have made up their minds on Saraki. As they didn’t let off Saraki’s case at the Appeal Court and by effect at the Code of Conduct Tribunal as was expected by Saraki, the APC appears to be going for blood on the Senate President.
Unfortunately, with the PDP and majority of Nigerians feeling betrayed by the Senate President and his Party, one can only conclude that he has lost his hold on the Senate. Considering the fact that the only demand of the PDP caucus was to stay Amaechi’s confirmation until he had been cleared by the Courts, there are no assurances that they will stand by him. I don’t expect them to.
Senator Saraki may just have miscalculated his most important decision and dug his own grave. As he begins to fall, as it does appear, one cannot but wonder why in split seconds a man who was riding high on good public opinion would balloon it and lose everything altogether. It’s just as annoying as it is a pity.
Who will bail Saraki? Who will help him after he has helped them to confirm corruption? What a pity.
Oraye St. Franklyn, a strategic communicator and good governance advocate, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He tweets from @RealOraye. He is also on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
