A power bloc in the Presidential Villa may have reportedly succeeded in excluding the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for those to be honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari with a national award during events to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary.
It was reported that the investiture ceremony is billed to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
It was gathered that a Vice President, Senate President, and Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, are normally given national titles either on the assumption of office or when national awards are being generally bestowed on recipients.
According to The PUNCH, the committee set up by the Federal Government to recommend deserving Nigerians to the Presidency, enlisted Saraki, but he was denied a place on the list by a cabal in the presidency.
The Aso Villa power bloc reportedly labelled Saraki an “enemy of the administration,” arguing that the All Progressives Congress-led government should rather give it to other deserving Nigerians.
Kicking against the position of the cabal, another group argued that though Saraki’s opposition to some of the policy decisions taken by Buhari while serving as Senate President was well documented; he should not be denied a place in the 2022 honour list.
The group pointed out that Saraki’s successor, Senator Ahmad Lawan is also set to bag the prestigious award next week.
According to the group, Bukola Saraki is more popular with the people and is credited to have achieved more while in office
