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Nigerians Must Resist Attempt To Change Constitution To Suit Saraki, Says Senator Marafa

Senator Kabir Garba Marafa of the Zamfara Central senatorial zone has urged Nigerians to resist attempts by some senators to change the constitution in order to save Senate President Bukola Saraki from his trial for corruption at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

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In an interview with our correspondent, Mr. Marafa reminded Nigerians that the current moves to gut the laws establishing the CCT highlighted his earlier warning the forgery of the Senate’s standing rules.

“You can also recall my call on the leadership of the Senate to respect the ranking rules,” said Senator Marafa, adding, “The chickens are now coming home to roost.”

He said what happened in the Senate last week when pro-Saraki senators tried to carry out an underhanded attempt to amend the laws establishing the CCT, was propelled by blind, naked ambition and the personal interests of a few.

He explained that most senators either walked out or refused to waste time opposing the bills was hinged on two factors—that Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was presiding and that many senators did not want to waste their time arguing non-issues.

He said, “All the three proposed bills fall under constitutional amendment and not an act of the National Assembly.” 

Senator Marafa stated that the bill that was passed for second reading yesterday attempted to rearrange the constitution and redraft it to suit the narrow purpose of Senator Saraki and his supporters “This is pure constitutional amendment,” said Senator Marafa. He explained that the second bill that was stood down sought to delete or ignore sections of the constitution, adding that the third bill was a controversial attempt to enlarge the immunity clause.

Senator Marafa stated that Nigerians should lose no sleep over the current illegal moves by the pro-Saraki senators, describing their efforts as “dead on arrival.” However, he said it was “unfortunate that an issue like this can even be listed and given an accelerated hearing in the hallowed chamber presided over by a senior lawyer.”

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