In the last one week, President Muhammadu Buhari had met publicly twice with the embattled President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki. Buhari had avoided having a formal meeting with the Ilorin-born lawmaker since he emerged the President of the Senate against the choice of the governing All Progressives Congress leadership, Ahmed Lawan.
Shortly after Saraki’s emergence, the President had in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he was ready to work with whoever emerged leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly, although he would have preferred that the process initiated by the governing party scaled through. The party had conducted a mock election outside the Senate chamber and declared Lawan winner of the coveted seat.
Not ready to be seen as engaging in anti-party activities, the President initially avoided Saraki like a plague publicly. To further compound Saraki’s problem, the Code of Conduct Bureau accused him of alleged false declaration of assets while serving as the Kwara State governor and thereafter arraigned him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The President who is more popular for his anti-corruption posture could not hold back his feeling when, during an interview, he told his interviewer that his relationship with Saraki would be decided by the outcome of his ongoing trial.
Shortly after he granted the interview, however, fate played a fast one on the President when he had no choice than to sit side-by-side with Saraki at an event organised to mark the nation’s 55th Independence Anniversary last Thursday. The event was the ceremonial change of guards held at the forecourt of the seat of power.
That was the first time Saraki was seen openly inside the Villa. On his arrival at the venue of the event, Saraki took the salute and proceeded to join dignitaries who he exchanged pleasantries with before taking his seat beside a former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.). He thereafter engaged Gowon in a long discussion.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who arrived a few minutes later also shook hands with the dignitaries, including Saraki before taking his seat beside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. The President’s empty seat was between Osinbajo and Saraki. That probably explained why the two officials were not seen talking to each other.
Buhari, on arrival at about 10.05am, also received the national salute. After granting a presidential permission for the parade to proceed, the President also proceeded to the pavilion where he shook hands with the dignitaries, including Saraki and took his seat between Osinbajo and the President of the Senate.
The first four Nigerian citizens were all decked in white agbada. I don’t know whether it was pre-arranged or it was a mere coincidence. Osinbajo made his own a complete national colour with his green cap.
Immediately after taking his seat, the President first kept a straight face. I initially thought he would not talk with the President of the Senate while the event lasted. I was however taken by surprise when they ended up not only discussing but also laughing aloud. Photojournalists who might have been thinking along the same line with me clicked away as the two big men were laughing. Nobody was privy to what led to that laughter but I am still interested in the subject matter, in case any of them will graciously oblige me.
Expectedly, the photograph of that particular drama made the cover of many newspapers the following day. It was interpreted to mean that the battle was over. After the event, Saraki met with Osinbajo inside his office before leaving the Villa.
On Wednesday, the President had his first ever meeting with the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly with Saraki and Dogara leading their men. The meeting which started at about 9.15pm lasted about two hours and the lot fell on the President of the Senate to brief State House correspondents. He said the issue of his travails did not come up at the closed-door meeting. The pictures that came out from that encounter also showed Buhari, Saraki, Dogara and others laughing. There must be something about this “laughing matter.”
Boni Yayi, Nigeria’s 37th state governor
President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic can be described as a Nigerian in many ways. Apart from the fact that his country shares common border with Nigeria, he is said to have lived in Lagos before.
Yayi had been a regular visitor to the Presidential Villa since the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He was so regular to the extent that he would say it openly that his country is Nigeria’s 37th state. He was very close to Jonathan who he always refered to as “my brother.”
Some of us who thought the frequency of his visits would reduce with the emergence of Buhari were surprised that nothing of such has happened. Rather than reducing his visits, Yayi told State House correspondents during his last visit to Buhari that he would be visiting the President at least once in a month!
Yayi took his love for Nigeria and our leaders to New York during the recent United Nations General Assembly when he attended a sideline event, ‘Operationalisation of the 2030 agenda for Africa’s Industrialisation,’ alongside Buhari.
The female compere invited him to speak before Buhari and advised him to speak in French so that he could be comfortable. Ignoring the advice, Yayi started his protocol list in English and slotted it in that the Nigerian President is his teacher. The hall erupted in laughter. He later delivered his address in French.
A few minutes later, the compere did not forget to introduce Buhari as Yayi’s teacher when she was inviting him to deliver his own address. Trust the Nigerian President for his sense of humour. He responded from his seat that he thought he would be allowed to finish his lunch before delivering his address.
As the hall again erupted in laughter, Buhari left his food in care of the new President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, who shared the table with him alongside other dignitaries. He delivered the address and returned to his seat to continue with his lunch. Enjoy your weekend.
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