THE rift between the executive and the legislative arms of government, once again, manifested at the 58th Independence Day anniversary as the leadership of the National Assembly was conspicuously absent.
According to the programme circulated to guests, Saraki and Dogara were listed to arrive the venue by 9.10a.m for the event.
Even on Sunday, at the interdenominational church service at National Christian Centre, NCC, Abuja, Dogara was listed on the programme to take the second Bible reading but he was absent and the reading was then taken by former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
Why I was absent — Saraki
Explaining why he was absent at the ceremony, Senate President, Saraki, said he was out of Abuja attending to other important political assignments as an aspirant to clinch the presidential ticket of PDP, ahead of its primaries, weekend. He also said in his home state, Kwara, the gubernatorial primary election took place yesterday and required his presence. Special Adviser to Saraki on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, who spoke on his behalf, said his principal was unavoidably absent at the parade ground because he would also meet with Kogi delegates to the national convention of the PDP.
According to him, these are two very important political assignments that required the attention of the Senate President. Olaniyonu said:
“The Senate President and a frontline presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP is currently not in Abuja, he is at the moment in his home state, Kwara.
‘’The governorship primary is holding today (yesterday) in Kwara and he must be present and after that, he will be holding a meeting with Kogi State delegates to the PDP National Convention.
These are two very important assignments that require his attention.” Spokesperson of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Turaki Hassan, said he had no idea if his boss was invited to the event or why he was not present at the ceremony.
“Actually, I am out of Abuja and I don’t know what is happening there,” he said.
Culled from Vanguardngr
