There are indications that emerging political realities might have informed the federal government’s move to withdraw the forgery charge against Senate President Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The Gazetter learnt from close Presidency sources that the rift between one of All Progressives Congress national leaders, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, might have informed the rapprochement between President Buhari and the duo of Saraki and Ekweremadu.
“This is all about power play. President Buhari has his eyes fixed on 2019. With the fallout with Tinubu, there is need for him to bridge gaps and dropping the forgery case is one smart move as Saraki, in particular, will be beholden to the president,” a source who asked not to be named as he was not permitted to speak confided to this newspaper.
On Thursday, Aliyu Umar, counsel to the federal government asked the federal high court in Abuja to amend the charge dropping Saraki and Ekweremadu from the charge but Salisu Maikasuwa and Benedict Efeturi, former clerk to the National Assembly and clerk of the Senate, respectively, would face prosecution.
Tinubu had fallen out with the national leadership of the APC, calling for the resignation of Chief John Oyegun over his alleged tweaking of the Ondo state governorship primary of the party which saw to Tinubu’s anointed, Segun Abraham losing out to Rotimi Akeredolu.
The war between Buhari and Tinubu has deepened following claims by the president’s biographer, John Paden, that Tinubu placed himself above Yemi Osinbajo for the vice presidential slot, a claim Tunji Bello, an aide of the former Lagos state governor has denied.
