Photos : Senator Bukola Saraki reaches out to Rashidi Yekini's mum

According to a Facebook user (Enenche Comedian) Senator Bukola Saraki has reached out to Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini, the mum of the late football legend, Rashidi Yekini.

The Senator reportedly renovated her house, gave her funds for business and bought a tricycle for Yekini’s brother. (Check out Before and After pictures above)
This is coming two months after the octogenarian told PUNCH newspapers about her struggle for survival.

“I have been managing. It has not been easy at all. Since he died, I have not had substantial support. I have been surviving on the rent I collect from the house Rashidi built for me as well as the proceeds from my petty trade.  As you can see here, I sell bread, biscuits and some other household cooking materials. I use the rent to do some little repairs on the house and also to find at least a meal a day or more depending on what the day brings.” She revealed.

Bukola Saraki pleads 'not guilty' to corruption charges, granted bail


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Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to 13-count charges of
fraud and alleged false declaration of assaults brought against him by the Code
of Conduct Bureau. The ex Governor appeared at the Tribunal today with more
than 30 senators and members of the House of Representatives and during the
course of the prosecution, his lawyers challenged the jurisdiction of the
tribunal affirming that the matter wasn’t a criminal case. 
The
prosecution opposed the argument adding that the trial was purely criminal.
Citing section  2 of the
Administration of Justice Act, 2015, he said the matter could be heard
alongside any preliminary objection regarding the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
The new law was signed by former
President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2015, as part of a major reform of
Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
The Act is expected to speed up
corruption cases before the courts, by dealing with issues of preliminary
objections, adjournments, and jurisdiction. The law says such objections must
be addressed by the courts concurrently with the corruption charge, unlike the
past when interlocutory injunctions could go to the Supreme Court and return,
before the main trial begins.

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Mr. Saraki pleaded guilty concerning
his failure to declare his assets when he was Kwara State governor as well as
his alleged use of foreign bank accounts. He also denied making false
declaration of assets. “I
believe that I am here as the Senate president to indicate my respect for the
tribunal. I am puzzled why I am being compelled”
. He said
He has also been granted bail.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to 21st, 22nd and 23rd October for
hearing.

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Bukola Saraki's son makes history

Oluwaseni Saraki, the 22year-old son of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has become the world’s youngest chairman of a professional football club. The law graduate is now the bonafide Chairman of the Ilorin based Nigeria National League side, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club (ABS FC). 
Formerly known as BUKOLA Babes, the ABS FC is a privately owned football franchise in the NNL, and is owned by Bukola Saraki who remains the proprietor of the club.‎
The announcement was made by the club’s spokesman Jimoh Bashir who that the decision to effect the change was taken after a meeting with the new Chairman and the General Manager of the club, Alloy Chukwuemeka in Lagos over the weekend.
The second of four children, Seni ‎ an upcomming rapper and a registered Arsenal fan‎ has assured that necessary incentives and expertise would be provided to make the club a more professional side in line with the vision of establishing the club.
He assured the players and officials of better deals, while he also pledged that their welfare would be accorded the required priority to allow them deliver their best to club.
He charged them to be focused, disciplined and work towards getting a promotion ticket at the end of the on-going season.

Bukola Saraki sets up committee to review Senators' salaries.

Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has set up a Committee to review the salaries, allowances, and the overhead cost of running the Senate.
Asides the Committee on financial review, it also set up another committee on Legislative Agenda. The two committees have been given one-week to submit their reports.

“The Senate’s Ad-hoc Committee on Financial review is the first time the Senate is setting up a body to review its own salaries, allowances, and the overhead cost of running the Senate with a view to realigning them to reflect the present economic situation in the country.” A statement from the Media Office of the Senate President reads.

Saraki said the Senate under his leadership will make “financial conservatism” its watchword.

There still persists the need to project clarity, accountability and transparency in all legislative matters and legislators’ welfare.

“The 8th Senate under our watch recognizes the concerns raised by Nigerians about the cost of running office most especially with the economic challenges facing our nation.

“The Senate will be more transparent regarding all public funds spent for the purpose of paying salaries and allowances of legislators and ensure that distinction is sufficiently made between what a legislator actually earns and what is spent to run and implement legislative business and committee activities.

“The watchword in our financial issues will be fiscal conservatism. It is therefore on this arm that the committee is mandated to carry out thorough fiscal examination on the Senate finances with the aim of coming up with the best cost-effective regime in the 8th Senate.”

 

Why I visited Obasanjo – Saraki

People have been itching to know the details of the 2-hour closed-door meeting between Senate President, Bukola Saraki and elder statesman, Chief Olusegun.
Saraki, while fielding questions from Journalists today said his visit to the former President at his Hilltop home in Abeokuta was to seek consultation and advice on how to  moving the Senate and the country forward.

“I’m here with some of my colleagues. Since I’ve been the Senate President, as one of our fathers, the former president, we are here to pay our homage to him, to seek his advice, to get his blessing and also to consult.

He continued, “We all know President Obasanjo’s value to this country and we are here to tap from his wisdom, knowledge and experience.”

NASS Leadership: APC rejects Saraki, Dogara

The All Progressives Party (APC) has rejected the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. ‎The elections which took place today June 9, 2015 at the Red and Green chambers have been deemed “unacceptable”.

A statement released by the party through its National Publicity Secretary reads: 

“Senator Bukola and Hon. Dogara are not the candidates of the APC and a majority of its National Assembly members-elect for the positions of Senate President and House Speaker. The party duly met and conducted a straw poll and clear candidates emerged for the posts of Senate President, Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, supported by a majority of all Senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives. All National Assembly members-elect who emerged on the platform of the party are bound by that decision.

”The party is supreme and its interest is superior to that of its individual members,” the statemtent concluded.



Bukola Saraki Has My Vote.

Let me jump into this fight. My sole candidate for the Senate Presidency is His Excellency Senator Bukola Saraki simply because I once saw his father eat Amala at a party in Gbagada. My very good friend Feyi Banjoko was having a party for her cousin somewhere in Gbagada long time ago and she invited me. It was at this party that I met, the legendary Olusola Saraki, father to Bukola.
 I watched him very closely as he greeted everybody and carefully sat to eat his Amala and Ewedu soup. He devoured the food with so much vigor, he was very hungry that day and asked for extra Amala. When the Amala was not forthcoming he stretched and took my own. I was so proud, that I could ‎not wait to get home to tell my mum, that Olusola Saraki took my Amala.
Ever since, I have followed very closely the fortunes of this family, from the crashing of Societe Generale Bank, their family bank through Bukolas emergence as Governot and his fight with his Sister Gbemi. My understanding of the Saraki enigma was complete when I used to go to ilorin to beg the Present Governor for business as an Investment Banker when he was Commissioner of something.
 The man will sit me down and tell me how Bukola was the next best thing after Agege Bread. The man will talk and talk and at the end of the day, he will not give me the business and he will not even give me food or transport money. I used to imagine which kind Commissioner be this and be praying in my mind for him to loose election.
 So you see my long relationship with Bukola hence my support. So I am appealing to all Senators to please kindly elect Bukola Saraki as the next Senate President for all the reasons I have stated above. Thank yo‎u.
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Written by -Joseph Edgar; an investment banker who writes as a hobby from a very interesting point of view. He blogs at josephedgarng.blogspot.com
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