Breaking news: Victor Essiet of Mandators Fame Kidnapped

Victor Essiet of the Mandators Fame has been kidnapped in Nsit Ubiom area of Akwa Ibom State.

He was abducted, yesterday, while returning to Uyo from his elder brother’s (Tony Essiet) Christian Wake, who died last month.

Details later.

LOL! Texas woman arrested for unsolicited 'Blowjob'

Usually when a guy awakes to a woman in the midst of a fellatio sesh, he considers it the perfect start to what is probably going to be the greatest day of his life.

Megan Hoelting didn't find that guy, and it probably had something to do with the fact he was friends with her husband.

31-year-old Hoelting was charged with "felony burglary with the intent of committing a sexual assault" after she allegedly broke into her husband's friend's house on Monday.

The man told police that he awoke to a woman "straddling his legs and dressed only in her underwear" before he felt "the offender place his penis in her mouth."

The man said he felt around for a flashlight to see who was rocking his world, but he had to settle for a flashlight app on his phone. That's when he noticed the woman had her "breasts exposed" as well as the fact that she was his buddy's wife.

He ordered Hoelting to leave his house, but she refused. He called 911, and now Hoelting has another mug shot.

No word on whether he would have let Hoelting finish if she would have been any other woman besides his buddy's wife.

Credit: Huffington Post

Ovation Publisher, Dele Momodu writes President Buhari

Ovation publisher and staunch Buhari supporter, Dele Momodu, yesterday wrote a desperate open letter to the President where he expressed a little disappointment over the government of APC in the last four weeks. Read Momodu's memo first published in Thisday below...

Your Excellency, I write to you today with a heavy heart. The u should be obvious. I was one of those latter day converts to Buharism, a political philosophy that believes in the reincarnation of former leaders in the days of tribulation. You were never the first man to resurrect from retirement and near political oblivion. General Olusegun Obasanjo bounced back from prison to Aso Rock Villa. In nearby Benin Republic, former military dictator and strongman, Mathieu Kerekou who had served as maximum ruler for about 17 incredible years, came back to defeat incumbent President, Nicephore Soglo in a 1990 election.  He led his country for another ten years and almost got another five-year term but for the age barrier that disqualified him.

It is normal for Africans to run towards the wise elders of the village when trouble comes knocking. That is one of the major reasons Nigerians in their millions voted with their feet and thumbs to elect you President.  Many of those who supported you did so for several other reasons and you must understand that they were mainly not members of your political party, APC. So, apart from your age, they backed you because they believed in your impeccable pedigree as an incorruptible and honourable man, a strict disciplinarian, a Scrooge who would not fritter away our meagre resources, a scourge of rogues and prodigal sons, a metamorphosed tyrant now a born-again democrat, and so on and so forth. Nigerians ardently placed their hopes in you and fervently prayed you won’t disappoint them.

This is the principal reason I have decided to send you this desperate memo today before some despicable politicians tarnish your hard-earned reputation and truncate this beautiful chance again.

Sir, let me say right away that the goodwill garnered during your campaigns and the jubilation that heralded your recent victory are fast fading and you need to, as a matter of urgency, convince the people of Nigeria that you’re now ready to hit the ground running. They are not going to listen to excuses since you had 30 years after quitting the high office to onerously prepare for the job again. For them it is immaterial that you met an empty treasury or that you are mostly surrounded by selfish, corruptive influences and impostors. As I mentioned in my earlier epistles to you, Nigerians have become totally impatient and what they expect of you is tantamount to performing the miracle of turning water into wine or raising Lazarus from the dead. You cannot afford to waste any second before displaying the sterner stuff you’re reputed to be made of.

I had encouraged you not to be afraid of taking charge of the Party that brought you to power or tackling the politicians that claimed to have helped you in the process. I had imagined that you know the ways of our politicians by now and thought you knew how to handle them. I had told you matter-of-factly that you may have to step on some powerful toes in order to achieve anything tangible. The worst that may likely happen is for people to say and accuse you of dictatorial proclivity which won’t be new in your lexicon or to be threatened with impeachment and all-what-not. But trust me, no evil shall befall you for as long as you carry the people along in your crusade and do not pander to the whims and caprices of members of the privilegentsia.

There is no doubt that the present imbroglio in your Party is as a result of your lukewarm attitude to Party issues thinking you could merely concentrate on nation-building while others deal with political intrigues. However, it is not always as simple as that. As you can now see, you don’t seem to be on the same page with your Party. While you were busy agonising over the myriad of problems besetting Nigeria, many of your presumed disciples were busy fighting over positions and control of power the way babies squabble over lollipops. They have studiously forgotten the change mantra and the huge expectations that made the electorate to troop out in droves and cast their votes for you and the Party.

The moment you became the President-elect, you should have readied your manacles for all would-be trouble makers. You should have sent out a powerful message to those politicians who may wish to act above the law. But the moment you appeared ready to abdicate some of your leadership responsibilities to them, the obvious lacuna gave them the needed impetus to take charge and cut you adrift. Your political advisers, if any, should have prepared you for the offensive. There is no way you are going to fight and survive the battle ahead if the political class see you as a man they can easily bully. You cannot sit on the fence.  Whilst your decision not to interfere in the affairs of another arm of Government, the legislature, is commendable and indeed your constitutional duty, you must make it clear to your Party that the same non-interference must apply to them.

Our people may have voted for your Party but they also voted for the individuals that the Party entrusted its mandate to including you.  Just as there is a limit to how the Party can control you in the exercise of your executive functions and those you choose to assist you in the fulfilment of those functions, so also must you tell the Party chieftains that there is a limit as to how much the leadership structure and duties of the legislative arm can be controlled.  If you are ambiguous about this, then you are inviting your Party leadership to write a letter to you categorically stating not only those you must appoint as your Ministers and Special Advisers but also those that you must not work with under any guise. I am sure you would not tolerate that. In the same vein, you must not tolerate Party interference in the legislature.  Change has come, please imbibe it!

In essence it is incumbent on you to deal with the issues arising from tensions created by party supremacy, parliamentary democracy and above all constitutionality.  There is a delicate balance to be struck between these competing interests though constitutionality must eventually prevail.  However, even constitutionality is subordinated to national interest, because that is the most important interest of all.

Your Party has a lot to learn from the tragedy which was invited upon itself by advertence of the former ruling Party, PDP. As a mark of respect to your status and office, your Party should have adopted your instinct and temperament immediately you conceded that the elections of principal officers at the National Assembly were “somewhat constitutional.” Even if internally aggrieved, like mortals may invariably be, your Party hierarchy should not have washed their dirty linen in public knowing the full implications of the backlash that might splash and smear your collective image. APC should have done what PDP failed to do when Governor Rotimi Amaechi won the Chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum by instantly recognising the leadership of the National Assembly while seeking ways to ameliorate the unfortunate saga. No reasonable parent would voluntarily kill a recalcitrant child. There is always another opportunity for penitence and atonement.

I expected the crisis to escalate once the warring factions stuck arrogantly to their positions and neither was ready to bulge. Had APC accepted its fate with equanimity, I’m certain this peculiar mess would have been exterminated. Had Saraki and Dogara shown magnanimity in victory some of the truculent malice expressed by certain leaders may have also been mellowed.

Say what you will, the PDP had its fair dose of political migraine and rambunctiousness but it accepted certain realities and moved on. The ones they failed to accept led to their cataclysmic fall. The mutually destructive suspicion in APC should have been nipped in the bud for your sake.

The burden you currently carry is heavier than an elephant and I don’t think you need or deserve this kind of nuisance distraction. The leadership of the National Assembly should also calm down by reaching out to their angry Party chieftains. There is nothing to gain in fighting a perennial war. Once upon a time, they were all friends and members of the same family. It is never too late to embrace peace and reunite. Now that we know what the bone of contention is, no one should be victimised for belonging to whatever factions that exist.

I have read endless arguments for and against the pugilists in APC and my candid advice is that you need to appoint your cabinet and aides now. The sooner you assemble and send forth your foot-soldiers the better for our polity to begin the healing process. Right now our nation appears to be rudderless and floundering and this should not be the case.

What is left for you to do is to quickly bring all the gladiators together and see how you can apply some balm on frayed nerves. The Federal Government has humongous largesse to disburse so it should not be too difficult to appease the juggernauts. When that is sorted, you should draw your own plans and let your people know your roadmap. Your job would be much easier if you surround yourself with people who can look at you straight in the eye and say the truth no matter how bitter. Most of our leaders failed because they fell victims of sweet-talking scammers.

It is very essential that your Party sees and embrace you as their father and not the other way round. Whether you like it or not, and whether others in your Party want to accept it or not, you are the de facto national leader of your Party. You are the President and Commander in Chief of our country. Yes, you ARE the capo di tutti capi. You therefore cannot be subservient to any other person.

You must immediately take upon this role and assume that mantle. Please feel free to lay down the law and if occasion demands, enforce our law.  That is what leaders do. Ambivalence or hesitancy will simply not do! You have the next four years minus one month and time is ticking away dutifully.

Equally important is the fact that you are more of a social crusader than a politician and your Party ought to note this fact and understand that it can’t be business as usual. Your Party leveraged on your uncommon reputation to gain POWER. Sir, you can’t afford to evaporate such stupendous equity just like that. You have demonstrated enough tolerance but the time has come to repudiate our propensity for rascality.

The task ahead is so gargantuan and it would require all hands to be on deck. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I reiterate that the first priority, apart from national security, should be how to reduce the atrocious costs of running government in Nigeria. Until you achieve that sir, the Muhammed Alis of Nigeria will never stop their boxing tournaments in parliaments and elsewhere. The fight is for cash and not for any selfless services.

Many won’t bother to contest if they think it is not lucrative. I don’t know how you plan to do this but it has to be done somehow and thankfully there are many methods that you can deploy. I’m glad you hope to retrieve some of the stolen billions. You need some serious cash, Sir. The challenges ahead would dissipate if you can raise the finances needed to tackle them.

I trust that God has deliberately raised you up at this time as a veritable example to mankind that being honest is not a crime and we have a lot to learn and cheer from your miraculous victory. May God help you to carry this cross successfully.

Obama’s half-brother sells revealing letter from the president

President Obama’s half-brother, Malik Abongo “Roy” Obama, has sold a handwritten letter from the president, penned 20 years ago, that reveals Obama’s reasoning for getting into politics including “to deal with some serious issues blacks face here.”

“Some colleagues of mine here have talked me into running for the Illinois State Senate (like being an MP for a province),” the future world leader wrote his kin in July 1995, before his political career began. “I have agreed, since I have an interest in politics to deal with some serious ­issues blacks face here,” Obama wrote.
The letter also reveals Obama’s disdain for meetings, saying,
“Of course, it involves a lot of campaigning, going to meetings and so on, which I don’t find so attractive.” He adds, “Anyway, if I win it will only be a part-time post, and I will ­continue my work as a lawyer.”

The letter, which we hear Malik sold as a package with a copy of a manuscript of Obama’s first book, “Dreams From My Father,” with handwritten notes also gives an update on First Lady Michelle and his late mother, who died later that year.
“Michelle is fine, also busy with her work,” Obama wrote. “My mom’s health has been stabilized for now, but she is by no means cured and continues to undergo extensive treatment.” In the letter, signed “Much love, Barack,” the future president adds news that his brother’s “found a new wife,” “Man, I must say you don’t fool around!”
The letter was offered up to parties such as ­LA-based memorabilia dealer Moments in Time before it was bought by a collector.

Malik, who lives in Kenya, also sold two other handwritten letters from Obama for nearly $15,000 each in 2013.
Malik, who shares the same father with the president, has said they were best men at each other’s weddings. But earlier this year, he called Obama a “schemer” and said, “He’s not been an honest man . . . in who he is and what he says and how he treats people.”

The amount paid for the letter was not disclosed. The White House did not comment.

Credit: The Telegraph

Good Samaritan allows woman to hear her husband's voice before he dies

"You don't know who I am but I'm here with your husband and he's been in a terrible accident."
Those are the words Tami Cochran heard when she answered the phone from an unknown caller on Saturday night. On the other end of the phone, was Bianca Walker.

"That's when she said can I speak to him so I put the phone to his ear," Walker said. " He just broke down crying ."

Walker said she pulled over on Leesburg and Patterson Road around 9 p.m. after seeing Alvin Cochran, Jr. injured on the side of the road. A few feet away from him was a burning motorcycle.
Cochran was struck by a car while on his motorcycle.

Behind the wheel was 44-year-old William Trexler, he's been charged with felony DUI.

"The only thing he said to me was babe I'm hurt, come and get me and I said I'm coming and those were our last words," Cochran said. "Our very last words."
Cochran succumbed to his injuries.

"If no one would've stopped he could've' passed right down the street, but when he passed he was with loved ones," Cochran said.

"I just felt like it was my duty as a Christian and a God-fearing woman so I was like I have to stop," Walker said. " I just can't see something and keep going."

Tami said she would be forever thankful for Bianca's kindness.

"Don't know her all but I'm glad I know her now," Tami said. "She gave me my time. She gave me his voice for the last time."

Trexler was granted a $150,000 bond. He is currently being held in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Credit: LIB

As Fashola turns 52 today, his brother sends him sweet birthday message

Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is a year older today, and his younger brother Demola Fashola took to Social Media to wish him a happy birthday.

See what he wrote after the cut...

'Since i could remember, i have always looked up to you. My earliest memories are of me sitting on your shoulders while walking to Eagle club. Watching you play tennis and football, and me thinking my brother is the coolest in the world. I remember when u moved to ur own place in aguda. It became my home and playground away from home. You have always inspired everyone around you. You have been a great  brother, a mentor, a role model, problem solver. Mr Trendsetter, i wonder what is next. A leader amongst the rest. With all the pressure, you have always made time for family. Wishing you many happy returns, long life and may Allah Grant all your heart Desires.'

Credit: LIB

Emmanuel Adebayor's mum and brother, Rotimi, beg for forgiveness

Emmanuel Adebayor’s mother Alice and his younger brother, Rotimi have apologized him following a visit of a delegation from Nigeria. The delegation, who are family members and friends, and have been following the drama happening online in the Adebayor household, met with Emmanuel and his siblings- in Didjole and Avedji in Lome, Togo in a bid to settle the rift between them.

According to a member of the delegation, Emmanuel Folorunsho, who confirmed this to Sunday Sunsports in a phone chat, Adebayor’s mother was remorseful and even prayed for his son but the football star is yet to accept their plea owing to some reasons which he wouldn’t like to reveal.

“We met Alice at the market in Koviakope where she sells kitchen utensils. She was quite surprised to see us. She presented her own case and prayed for his son.
Although the former Gunners striker and his mother didn’t see each other, she had reasons to ask him to forgive and let peace reign in the family. Soon after, we met Sheyi and conveyed the message to him”
Emmanuel's brother Rotimi, who reportedly survived a suicide attempt 10 days ago, was at the meeting in Adebayor’s house in Didjole. When Sunday Sunsports put a call through to the Royale FC of Benin striker, he confirmed that his elder brother, Emmanuel invited him and he obliged.
“I was at home in Avedji when he called me to join the peace meeting. I prostrated to him for long hours, begging and seeking for forgiveness. I am really frustrated now and I really expect him to pardon us now”
Sunday Sunsports asked Rotimi about his reaction when Emmanuel Adebayor refused to blink while insisting that Rotimi is unwilling to change his attitude. Rotimi, who claimed to have been psychologically affected by the rancour said he only want his brother to forget the past.
“I am very ill now and I need money to treat myself. I also need cash to pay for my house rent, which is already due for payment. I asked him to assist me but he refused. I hope my plea would not be for nothing”

Emmanuel Adebayor seems to be ready to fight on and ignore the plea tendered by Rotimi and his mum. However, Rotimi reveals that Lucia, the last child of the family is the only sibling Emmanuel Adebayor holds no grudge against.

Kinsmen to go spiritual over crisis
After the failed attempt to resolve the lingering crisis between Emmanuel Adebayor, the super rich son of Igbaye, Osun State and his siblings, the four-man delegation from Nigeria are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to create a peaceful situation between the two parties.

Sunday Sunsports has confirmed that the delegation and other members of the family in both Igbaye, where Adebayor’s father hailed from and Ekusa, his mother’s hometown, are now making frantic efforts to consult spiritualists as a way to combat the crisis.

Emmanuel Folorunsho who was in the team that met with Emmanuel Adebayor in Lome, added his own view in support of the move.
“It is true that we have plans to meet with spiritualists because we have met the two parties and there is a deadlock at the moment. We cannot fold our arms and leave the situation in a messy state neither are we going to wait for it to get messier.”
“All I know is that prayer is the key and we’ll employ that to solve the situation. We hope God Almighty will speak to them and a lasting peace will reign.”

Last week, the Onigbaye of Igbaye, His Royal Majesty, Oba Joseph Morounfoye Okunlola stated that the family have met and consulted Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron concerning the situation in Emmanuel Adebayor’s family. He went on to say that they must appease the gods if their situation is to change.

Sunday Sunsports called the Monarch to seek his opinion about the reports presented to him by the delegation when they returned to Igbaye from Lome, Togo.

He backed the idea while noting that peace is paramount at this stage as he also hopes to invite some members of the family for another meeting.

“I have received their report and I must confess that they have done their best. However, we’re still in it and hopefully the matter would be solved amicably soon.”

The Monarch also revealed that they are likely to make a second trip to Ghana but the elders and close family members would be in the second delegation when they decide to visit Emmanuel Adebayor.

Credit: Sunday Sunsport

Olamide stole ‘Shakiti Bobo’ dance from me — LT

An upcoming singer, Olowu Taiwo aka LT. has said that rapper, Olamide stole the popular ‘Shakiti Bobo’ dance moves from him.

LT made this assertion during an interview with HIP TV, monitored by Vanguard Newspaper. In his words, “After I did my video, a friend of mine told me the dance I did in the video (Yobo dance) was trending on Instagram by Olamide. And my friend told me he had already told someone who is in Olamide’s crew about the dance.

I released the audio version of my own song on 22nd April, 2015, and Olamide released his own song on 2nd May. During that time, I was working on my viral video which I released on 6th May. It wasn’t up to 24 hours after that, I saw ‘Shakiti Bobo.’ I was like, what’s going on; why is this happening at this particular time. I’m not here to point fingers that someone stole my dance moves, but I feel it’s not cool for you to do something that you knew about from someone else, and pick it up as your own.”

Meanwhile, when a call was put through to Olamide’s manager, Alex, to react to the story, he hung up the phone, and other attempts to reach him proved abortive.

Credit: Vanguard

Why your children should avoid Davido’s video “Fans Mi”

Have you watched popstar, David Adeleke aka Davido’s latest video, ‘Fans Mi’ featuring American rapper, Meek Mill?

Then you will agree that no child under the age of 18 should see it. Even though music videos have since been reduced to nothing more than scantily-dressed ladies shaking their butts, and the glorification of drunkenness, Davido’s video pushes the boundary of decency.

From the first view, one’s eyes are assailed by lots of cash displayed on a table with several types of guns.   As if that is not bad enough, nearly naked girls are spotted dancing raunchily in almost every scene of the video.

The story-line of the video is worse. Davido tries to seal a deal with a drug dealer to supply cocaine while the dealer hands him cases of dollars for the transaction. Davido then goes back to his mansion where he can be seen aided by the brassieres-and-panties flaunting ladies preparing the cocaine. It is not until the end of the video that we get to see that the cocaine Davido delivered to the drug dealer was only semovita (a local Nigerian food).

We must ask though: what is he trying to teach his fans who are largely made up of impressionable youths? That it is okay to engage in the sale of illicit drugs to make money? Or that guns are now suddenly ‘cool’ toys to have?

Credit: Vanguard

Bribe allegation: My story, Oyegun, APC National Chairman

Allows Progressives Congress  (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, is challenging those accusing him of receiving gratification over the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives  elections to prove their claim.

“It is my integrity they are trying to smear”, Oyegun fired back yesterday.
The party leader had been accused of being bribed to conduct mock election that produced Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as the APC candidates for the Senate President and House Speaker respectively.

But some APC senators not only defied the party’s choice, but also collaborated with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to elect Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as House Speaker.
The opposition PDP Senator Ike Ekweremadu equally emerged as Deputy Senate President.

One of those who accused Oyegun of being compromised on the mock election issue and asked for his resignation was the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank.

By virtue of his office, many see him as having taken sides, especially with the northern power bloc in the party seemingly being controlled by President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubukar.

Some quarters have also aligned him with the camp of Saraki, accusing him of ditching the camp of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, which worked assiduously for his enthronement as National Chairman.

But the allegations, according to Oyegun are unfounded.

He maintained his neutrality in the emerging power blocs, saying that his interest was to bring the party back together to deliver on its campaign promises  to Nigerians.
The APC leader spoke with Sunday Vanguard, yesterday. Excerpts:

His feelings on  the crisis

“It is an unfortunate thing and I think it has arisen because of the clash within major interest groups within the party and that has given rise to gross disloyalty and an unacceptable level of indiscipline and disrespect to the party. But that notwithstanding, we are doing everything we can to stop this civil war and bring the party back again so that we can focus on our essential agenda of delivering service to the people of this nation. What is happening now is very unacceptable and painting us in a very bad light. But thank God we have this period of recess in the National Assembly to bring things back together again. We are doing everything we can to ensure that by the time the national assembly reconvenes, all of these things would have been squarely behind us.

On gratification

“Well, the issue is simple. Gratification to do what and for whom? And what have I done to justify that gratification except to stand as neutral as possible in the circumstance and emphasize adherence to the supremacy of the party. So that is it. Gratification for what? Let anybody who says he brought come out and say that. It is a public thing. It is my integrity they are trying to smear. That comes only through blackmail from some forces that feel that I am standing in the way for whatever their intentions are. But that is neither here nor there. What’s important is that we must put our party back together again and focus on the promises we have made to the Nigerian people.”

Punitive measures for indiscipline

“Well, at this stage, that is something we are still considering. When there is indiscipline, there are penalties. But first, in the process. When you restore peace, there has to be a make for the indiscipline. There is no question about that. One way or the other. But what is important now is putting the party back together.

Buhari’s intervention to end rift
The reality is that we will welcome all hands, all assistance to put things back together again. The president was right. The House has the freedom in consultation with the party which is exactly what has happened. But other interests have prevailed in the matter. The process has derailed but must be put back on the rails.

Families besiege mortuary in search of 12 dead Ogun varsity students

It was a   hectic task   for workers of   Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu to control the crowd   as families and friends of some students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, who lost their lives on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, on Friday, besieged the   hospital in search of them.

No fewer than 12 persons lost their lives when a container from a truck fell on a 14-seater commercial bus they were travelling in from Ago-Iwoye to Lagos State.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that some   relatives were  told by the hospital authorities that the bodies were not deposited at their morgue as reported by some media outfits.

A senior staff of the hospital, who craved for anonymity, noted that grieving family members of the victims were directed to comb private morgues within the town, saying information at his disposal had it that some bodies of  victims were deposited at a private hospital mortuary.

It was   further gathered that the university’s Head of Students Affairs,Professor Lekan Arikewuyo,  and the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Rasheed  Adekunle, were, early yesterday morning, in search of private morgues were the bodies of the victims of the accident were deposited.

How I escaped abduction on inauguration day -

17 days after his election, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday, opened up on the controversial poll, saying those in opposition to him planned to abduct him to prevent him from emerging as Senate President.

Saraki disclosed that, on Tuesday, June 9, Senate inauguration day, following information he got of the abduction plot to keep him off the National Assembly, he altered his schedule by arriving the parliament car park at 6am, stayed in his car and then trekked at quarter to 10am into the chamber.

He dismissed the insinuation that for him to win, he entered into a pact with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Senator Ike Ekweremadu to be produced as his deputy, just as he stressed that the absence of All Progressives Congress, APC, senators in the chamber paved the way for the emergence of Ekweremadu.

The Senate President, who noted that the emergence of Ekweremadu will make things difficult for him, said, “Never in our wildest imagination did we envisage that some senators would not be present on the day of the inauguration.”

Speaking with journalists, in Abuja, Saraki insisted that he never got any message to attend a meeting at the International Conference Centre (ICC) with President Muhammadu Buhari on the Senate inauguration day. “First of all, as regards the meeting (at ICC), on the morning of the inauguration, I didn’t finish at a meeting until 4:00am of that day and I had got information that efforts would likely be made to make sure that I didn’t get access into the chamber”, he said.

The Senate President narrated further: “So, as early as 4:00am and 5:00am, I had made contingency plans that I must get into the National Assembly because the plan before was that senators-elect should go to Transcorp Hilton Hotel around 8:00clock and 9:00am to proceed to the National Assembly.
“But I was advised that it would not be safe or it would not be secure for me to do that because if some people made sure I didn’t get into the chamber, it would not be possible for me to be nominated, for the nomination to be seconded and for me to accept the nomination.

“I can tell you today that I was in the National Assembly Complex as early as 6:00 in the morning and I stayed in a car in the car park till quarter to 10:00am. That is the truth. I stayed there and I was there with no communication whatsoever.

“So, anybody who said he spoke to me to go to the ICC was not being truthful because I didn’t even know what was going on. All I was monitoring was how people were arriving the complex.

“It was just before 10:00 that I got information that the Clerk to the National Assembly had entered the chamber. So, I got out of the small car I was inside, stretched myself and put on my Babariga because I didn’t have it on before then.
“I walked from the car park into the chamber. That was why some of you would have seen that I looked very tired that morning.

“Even when I was in the chamber, I didn’t know what had transpired earlier. The only thing I observed was that it appeared that some of our senators were not in the chamber, but because the fact that my colleagues arrived in batches, I had the opinion that they were on the way and, by 10:00am, the programme started.

“Before I knew it, my election had come and gone. Even my people were worried; it was only when I got into the chamber that they were relieved.”

Speaking on the emergence of Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, Saraki said, “In my own view, and, in the view of some of those who worked closely with me, I worked hard for my election. I had direct contact with every single senator, one on one; weeks leading to the election, I did not rely on anybody. I worked hard; both in our party, the APC and out of it.

“I approached every senator, I talked to them, we built confidence, not only in the APC, but, also, in the PDP. I talked to them. That was why I laughed when people said I had a deal with Ekweremadu or I had a hand in the emergence of Ekweremadu.

“I didn’t need any deal to win. I had penetrated, there was no deal; I didn’t need any deal in the first place. I had worked hard such that everybody who was a Senator, I campaigned hard and canvassed for their votes and won their confidence.
“At one of the meetings held at Transcorp Hilton which Senator Godswill Akpabio co-chaired with Senator Ibrahim Gobir and a few others, which had both APC and PDP members, if you heard most of them there, the position they took was that ‘this is the Senate President they want.’

“Across party lines, that day they believed in me and that this is the Senate President that can lead us, there was no deal.

“Sometimes, I wonder how some of our colleagues found themselves at the ICC. If it had been a case that the Clerk of the National Assembly had made an announcement and the event had been postponed or it was no longer holding, plus, the invitation, I’m sure some are asking now, what really happened?

“First of all, the PDP senators had announced to the public that they were supporting me without even meeting me because, in their own meeting, majority had decided to vote for me.

“In their own interest, strategically, they decided that, `look, this is a fait accompli’ because 30 of their own senators were going to vote for this man anyway and the remaining felt it was better to join.

“It wasn’t until 2:00am that they called us to tell us their decision . With regards to the deputy, when they told us that they had a candidate, we, too, told them we had a candidate for Deputy Senate President in the person of Senator Ali Ndume!

“After our own meeting, it was our thinking that it was after the election of the Senate President that the two groups in APC would meet and we would agree on a candidate. We never in our imagination thought they would not turn up. By the time we got there, we were only 24 while the PDP was  more than 40.

“In an election, there’s no way they would not have defeated us and that was what happened? And now, when people say it was a deal, I say that if the CNA had started the procedure in the House of Representatives first, and moved to the Senate, thereafter, today, we, the APC, would have had a deputy Senate President."

Speaking further on the election of Ekweremadu, the Senate President said: “It is unfortunate that we have a PDP man as deputy Senate President. It is painful. It is painful for every APC member because when we went through the struggle, that was not what we signed for. But it has happened; but it is unfortunate and it is not fair to put the blame on one side because it is a combination of errors and miscalculations that led us to have, that morning, some Senators were at another place instead of being there.

“So, to suggest that it was out of a desperate act to emerge, is what I reject completely and those who followed the events would know that I didn’t have that deal to emerge.”
When asked to speak on his rumoured ambition for 2019 presidency, Saraki noted that there were enough challenges confronting the  country and not 2019, adding that those talking about the election at the moment could be described as irresponsible.

Credit: Vanguard