The All Progressive Congress, APC, at the weekend absolved President Muhammadu Buhari of any blame in the ongoing trial of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, for alleged forgery of Senate rules.
Mr. Ekweremadu, who is standing trial alongside the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy, Ben Efeturi, described the trial as a clear attempt by the APC-led federal government to emasculate the parliament and “silence me as the leader and highest ranking member of the opposition in Nigeria”.
Debunking the allegation at an APC rally held at Awgu, the headquarters of Enugu West Zone in Enugu State, Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Anike Nwoga, said that President Buhari had no hand in Ekweremadu’s travails stressing that the deputy Senate president’s trial was prompted by complaints by members of the Senate Unity Forum that his election, and that of Saraki “did not follow the 2011 Standing Orders of the Senate.
“And that at no time did the 7th or 8th Senate amend Senate Rules to produce the purported 2015 Senate Rules used for their election.
“Where is President Buhari in this matter? How is democracy being threatened? Why is he panicky, without exhausting the court process?”
SEE: Alleged Forgery Case, Plot To Silence Me, Ekweremadu Tells US, EU, Others
The Awgu APC rally held shortly after a pro-Ekweremadu group had protested against his perceived persecution, and was attended by the State Deputy Chairman of the APC, Comrade A.C. Ude; Woman Leader, Lolo Queen Nwankwo; Chief Flavour Eze, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Barrister Juliet Ibekaku, Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform; Mr Osita Okechukwu, Director General, Voice of Nigeria and Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, among others.
Nwoga also gave Ekweremadu knocks for writing a letter to the international community, alleging political victimization and urged him to retract the letter.
“By this unwarranted letter, he has desecrated the Constitution, tarnished the image of Nigeria and by extension our dear president. As a senior lawyer, we had expected him to maintain his earlier statement that he has faith in Almighty God and the Nigeria courts.
“Senator Hilary Clinton, presumptive presidential candidate of the Democratic Party in the United States, is being tried over the email issue, has she written to United Nations or Nigeria?”
“Truly, after careful analysis, I am yet to locate, where the rule of law is being breached, when judgment has not been delivered nor doctrine of separation of powers infringed upon, to warrant an assault to the Nigeria state by a high official of the state. Accordingly, I advise my dear brother to retract the letter forthwith”, the APC Vice Chairman said.
