News reaching this blogger from Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria are alleging that several groups and organisations that are against the continued existence of the embattled Senator Bukonla Saraki as Senate President,are vigorously planning mass protest marches throughout the nation.

These protests took root with the humiliating experience suffered by the Senator at the hands of citizens of Ilorin, the Senator’s home town in Kwara State at the Eid prayers last Thursday, when he was pelted with stones and pure water sachets and shouts of “Ole, ole” (thief, thief)” were continuously chanted at him.

According to Saturday Vanguard, forces opposed to Saraki’s continued stay as Senate President have concluded plans to embark on what they termed, mass protests to drive home on whether he was morally bound to continue in that office and the need for him to “resign honourably.

Already, there are strong indications emerging of fellow Senators against the embattled Senate President, strategizing on how to ensure that he leaves the position as number three citizen of the country and many of them are in the process of lobbying pro Saraki colleagues in the Senate to switch sides.

Reliable sources report that following the arraignment of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC have concluded plans to move the battle against him to the second stage, which would be carry out campaigns that was expected to catch like wild fire across the country, just as this was designed to weaken his public image and popularising the idea that there was the need for him to resign.

The source disclosed that the protests would be sustained until the resumed hearing of the CCT suit against Saraki on October 21.

It was also gathered that some groups of Protesters were already mobilized and would start their campaigns from Monday September 28, a day to the resumption of the Senate after a six week annual recess, just as this group was said to also be mobilising to ensure that the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was removed.

This Day newspaper says that apart from the protest marches plans which have already been perfected, another set of the groups have also been assigned the responsibility of holding press conferences across the states over the Saraki matter, specifically asking the Senate President to resign.

The report adds that anti-Saraki forces were resorting to mass protest, not only to embarrass the Senate President but force him out of office because they reckoned his current trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal might ultimately not result in the expected outcome, hence the resort to other options to aid their cause

This, the organisers are believed to have also designed to coincide with the resumption of the Senate that Tuesday so that the exercise would not only taint and embarrass the person of the Senate President but also prevent the lawmakers from sitting.

Senate President Bukola Saraki is currently facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT following a 13- count charge leveled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, bordering on alleged corruption and false declaration of assets in 2003 and summoned him to appear before it on Friday.

Meanwhile, Nigerian workers, under the umbrellas of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have asked the Senator Bukola Saraki, to vacate his office pending the determination of his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The workers, who spoke across the country, said although Saraki is still on trial and has not been found guilty of the allegations against him, it is morally right for him to vacate his office as Senate President to defend himself.

Story by Jummy Ariyo

Other sources:

Saturday Vanguard

This Day Newspaper

Punch