How Saraki, Other Powerful Politicians Plotted To Hijack Power

Fresh indication has emerged on how former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and other powerful politicians plotted to hijack power.

Femi Adesina, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, revealed that Saraki orchestrated a plan to seize the leadership of the National Assembly in 2015. Adesina disclosed that Saraki collaborated with former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and ex-Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

Giving further detail, he disclosed that the plot involved working with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to secure the necessary support since most senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) were not aligned with Saraki.

In his book titled “Working with Buhari: Reflections Of A Special Adviser, Media And Publicity (2015 – 2023),” Adesina detailed the behind-the-scenes maneuvering. He highlighted that Buhari was displeased with Saraki and Dogara’s emergence as leaders of the National Assembly. Adesina recounted the incident, stating:

“Unknown to the party leadership, Senator Bukola Saraki, a former Kwara State Governor, and Hon. Yakubu Dogara, from Bauchi State, had plotted to seize the leadership of the National Assembly.

“To get the necessary figures, Saraki was in league with the PDP, his former party, as a significant number of APC senators were not with him.

“We were in the President’s living room at Aso Drive, preparatory to driving to the International Conference Centre (ICC) for the meeting with APC legislators when we saw on television that the Senate had already been convened, and the election was in progress.

“The requisite constitutionally required number had been made up by renegade APC members and the PDP.”