The ongoing analysis over what truly transpired last Tuesday when against the wishes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a former Governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, emerged as Senate president, continues.
The Saraki and Dogara wins have divided the APC more than at any other time in its short history. The battle for the soul of the party is now reportedly between former vice president Atiku Abubakar and former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu.
Atiku is believed to be one of the political heavyweights who masterminded the upset, including the shocking emergence of Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP as deputy senate president.
However the head of the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe has denied the reports which claim that Atiku conspired against the party’s leadership.
Speaking with The Punch, Ibe said, “Atiku did not orchestrate the emergence of the new leadership in the National Assembly and insinuating that amounts to nothing but political mischief, as he had refused to leave the party or work for the PDP even when the then President Jonathan was desperate for Atiku’s support.
“The visits of politicians and APC leaders including that of the Senate President are common political rituals in Atiku’s Asokoro residence. For the purposes of emphasis, the President has confidence in him and that explains why he had drafted him as an envoy of sorts in the race leading up to the emergence of a Nigerian President of African Development Bank.
“It is baseless and unfounded to suggest that Atiku conspired with the PDP or Saraki to ‘sabotage’ the APC. He would have congratulated Senator Ahmed Lawan (or any other leader) if he had won. It is simplistic to attribute conspiratorial agenda to an innocuous congratulatory visit.
“Atiku’s loyalty to his party is indisputable. He remains a loyal party member. He, in fact, threw his political assets behind the Buhari presidential campaign. Any suggestion that he conspired with Saraki or anybody is the figment of someone’s imagination.”
