Saraki: Why I Refused to Resign My Position over CCT Trial

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has revealed that he refused to resign his position as Senate President during the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) travails because of his belief that God would surely vindicate him.

Saraki, who disclosed this in Ilorin, Kwara state capital weekend while addressing his supporters at his Ilofa GRA country home, Ilorin said, “When they asked me to resign, I said, why? We know how much we fought for this government to come into place and they are just fighting God; they are envious of what God is doing.”.

According to him, “We thank God for today because when the entire travail started it was from this same place that we gathered and said we would come back on a day like this to do exactly what we are doing now”.

He said, “And I want to thank the Emir of Ilorin for staying very firm with us. He did it to the extent that even his colleagues across the country knew and at a point he said we would not beg again; that we would resort to prayers because we were innocent. You know he (Emir of Ilorin) too has a legal background, so he said we would focus on God.”

Saraki, who attributed his victory at the CCT to God and the solid support of his followers and supporters, added, “And for you women, I can’t thank you enough. When the matter started you were all confused and you did all within your power and means to help us. You did everything out of love, not out of politics.

“At the height of the travail, I called a cleric and he said the matter was for them, not even for me so they were indeed praying for us and I want to thank them too. We are in this position because God wants it so.

“When they asked me to resign, I said, why? We know how much we fought for this government to come into place. They are just fighting God; they are envious of what God is doing. That is why we will still come back to this same place on the remaining issues”, Saraki added.

Earlier, the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Ishola Balogun-Fulani had described the appeal by the federal government as another level of witch-hunt on the Senate President, arguing that if the federal government knew the best option available to them, such a step would have been avoided.

Balogun-Fulani, who listed some prominent Nigerians who had faced similar charges and were acquitted like Saraki, wondered why the government did not appeal such decision before only to wake up to take such a step now. He described Saraki as a man who has brought more glamour and dignity to the post of the Senate President.

Both the women and youth leaders of the party expressed joy over the CCT decision and praised Saraki for not abandoning his constituency even at the height of his travail.