Ninth Senate: Saraki begins exit plan, directs aides to submit handover notes

Indications emerged on Tuesday that Senate President, Bukola Saraki may have activated his exit plan ahead of the valedictory session of the Eight Assembly scheduled for the first week of June.

Findings showed that Saraki has already directed his legislative aides to turn in their handover notes.

It is also gathered that the Senate President stimulated his exit plan from the upper chamber to ensure “a smooth transfer of power to his successor next month.”

It is learnt that the valedictory session to mark the end of the Eight Senate will be conducted in the first week of June while the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly is billed to hold on 11th of June.

A letter by the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, titled “Handover Notes” addressed to Saraki’s legislative aides directed them to submit within one month their handover notes.

The letter said that the aides were required to submit comprehensive documents detailing records of individual mandates and assignments to help the leadership of the Ninth Senate take off smoothly.

Almost all the legislative aides are said to have complied with the directive.

It is gathered that this is the first time “aides of outgoing Senate President are preparing handover notes to assist those that would take over from them.”

The letter reads: “You are aware that the life of the 8th Senate will terminate in June, 2019, after the inauguration of the 9th Senate. The 9th Senate will benefit from a comprehensive document detailing records of our individual mandates and assignments, major activities are undertaken, as well as advice on the consolidating achievements of the office of the President of the 8th Senate.

“You will please therefore prepare brief handover notes that should include the following: Name, rank/designation, basic responsibilities, key achievements under your mandate/responsibilities, assignments you are currently engaged in, any other matter you may wish to place on record that will assist the new Senate.”

Saraki has not disclosed who out of the three front line runners for the Ninth Senate Presidency he is backing.

The leading contenders for the Senate Presidency include Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, who is yet to officially declare his intention to run for the position.

Goje’s body language clearly shows that he is interested in the position of the Senate Presidency.