Posted on: 06:37 Tue, 23 Feb 2016



A group known as Open Society
and Good Governance Initiative on
Tuesday, embarked on a protest to
the National Assembly, demanding
that the Senate President, Dr Bukola
Saraki be suspended instead of
Kabiru Marafa who was being
investigated by the Senate
Committee on Ethics, Privileges and
Public Petitions over Media
interviews he granted to the media
a fortnight ago.

The protesters bearing various
placards with inscription “suspend
Senator Bukola Saraki not Kabiru
Marafa”, noted that the embattled
Marafa was exercising his freedom
of speech and opinion, and such
must not incur the wrath of the
Senate because as a Senator, it
behoves on him to air his views on
issues.

President of the group, Mr. Emeka
Ude told DAILY POST that there was
need to strengthen democracy by
allowing free speech as enshrined
in the Constitution, while also
expressing disappointment over Dr.
Bukola Saraki-led Senate’s attempt
to shut down vibrant Senators
instead of resigning his position as
Senate President to face his trial at
the CCT.

“We are here to protest because it
was lawful for the likes of Senator
Marafa to express his views and
where that was considered as
undermining the integrity of the
Senate as was the case to the extent
that they were considering
suspension of Marafa was rather
unfortunate”, Ude said.

He added: “Several Senators have
made unpalatable comments on
issues in the past and none was
suspended for such. Was it because
this one bothers on Car purchase
which was meant to service their
ego rather than National
development?,” he asked.

Meanwhile the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Ethics, Privileges and
Public Petitions, Samuel Anyanwu
earlier submitted the report on
Marafa during plenary.

This follows the motion moved by
Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala
Ibn ‘N’Allah and the motion was
seconded by Senator David Umaru
representing Niger East Senatorial
District.

With the submission of Samuel
Anyanwu’s report, the issue has
now been set to be discussed by the
Committee of the whole at any
other plenary against the
expectation that the Committee
might have recommended his
expulsion which should be
pronounced today.