The announcement came amid protest by Sen. Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara) who raised a point of order challenging the senate president’s refusal to read the letter from the party in line with the rules of the senate. Marafa argued that the party had earlier nominated senators to fill the remaining APC leadership slots in the senate.
Saraki while announce the nomination said the APC caucus in the senate had at its meeting elected the duo among others to fill the remaining leadership positions meant the party.
He also announced Sen. Francis Alimikhena from Edo state as the Deputy Chief Whip and Sen. Olusola Adeyeye from Osun state for the Senate Chief Whip position.
Sen. Marafa while citing the rule of the senate questioned why the senate president would read a letter from the party caucus whereas he had refused to read the earlier letter from the APC national chairman which nominated Sen. Ahmed Lawan as senate Leader.
The Abdulsalami Peace Committee during the visit told Saraki to return to Party’s list for peace to reign.
“He was told to do what Dogara did in the House of Representatives so that we can have lasting peace in the senate,” the source revealed.
The comments infuriated Senators Ndume and Na’alla who then stormed out of the meeting in protest.
Embarrassed by the development, the senate leadership quickly moved around to mop up the news, pleading with reporters to drop it.
What followed was a barrage of orchestrated attack on Rev. Father Kukah and his team.
Since Saraki’s emergence as Senate President on June 9 this year, his relationship with President Buhari has not been cordial.
Saraki was accused of betraying his All Progressive Party(APC) and formed alliance with Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to clinch Senate President.
Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan signed a peace agreement ahead of the March 28 presidential election at the instance of the committee.
Those who attended the meeting alongside Abubakar and Buhari include the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’Ad Abubakar III; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan; a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Priscilla Kuye; and Senator Ben Obi among others.
The meeting is coming a few days after Jonathan paid a secret visit to Buhari inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja