Senators Receive $50,000 ‘Sallah Gift’ To Impeach Saraki

With the drama surrounding the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct has taken a new dimension as reports have emerged claiming that some senators who are not in support of his leadership of the upper chamber have been paid to impeach him as soon as the Senate resumes at the end of their six week break. According to Nigerian Pilot, about 35 senators were on Monday, September 21, 2015 paid the sum of $50,000 each as Sallah gifts ahead of the resumption of plenary next week. A senator who received the said sum was said to have disclosed that “they said the money was Sallah gift, but we know what they want. The motive is clear.” The senator further said that the cash gift “is to curry our support before we reconvene. They are not happy that Saraki wield so much influence here like when about 81 senators passed a vote of confidence on him. They want to reduce his influence on members ahead of resumption date.” The senator also disclosed that one senator from the South West and another from the North West were in charge of the distribution of largesse, adding that many of the senators who received the bribes reported to Saraki, who told them to take the gifts and follow their conscience. The senator went on to reveal that the sponsors of the gift are likely to be working to the anti-Saraki caucus in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are yet to come to terms with the emergence of Saraki as Senate president. He said that the sponsors of the largess hope to reduce Saraki’s support in the senate should he emerge victorious in the CCT trial. He said although he had collected his share, he would remain with Saraki, concluding by saying “But we are not fools to swallow all that garbage hook, line and sinker. After all, the emergence of Saraki as Senate president was neater than that of former Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal in 2011.” Source