The Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council has called on the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari to discontinue the Code of Conduct Tribunal case against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, whom they described as their son.
Dr. Saraki is facing a trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on charges bordering on false declaration of assets when he was Kwara state governor between 2003 and 2011.
The Monarchs made this appeal in Ilorin in a meeting with the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
According to the statement which was released by Dr. Saraki’s media office, the monarchs stated that the case against the Senate President amounted to persecution and they would continue to pray for him to overcome all the challenges.
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, who led other Kwara state monarchs on a courtesy visit to Saraki, said: “We are here for good reasons and to bring the goodwill of the Council of Chiefs. We are ready to support our son. We are here to see him on the various constitutional challenges, we would not call them problems, and may God not make them problems for us.
“It doesn’t take long for a 10-year-old child to realise that our dear son, our precious son is being persecuted. The politics of persecution is not the right change for Nigeria.
“We want changes; we want it to be clean. He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. If you want equity, you must do equity.”
The Emir cautioned the federal government against rocking the ship of state in the name of seeking for change, and urged the government to thread carefully for the sake of posterity.
Furthermore, he appealed to leaders to eschew politics of bitterness and play politics that can solidify the unity of the country.
“We, therefore, came here to declare our support and solidarity to our precious son. If you (Saraki) look back, you will see us in various forms, begging Almighty Allah to protect you. Nigeria should beware of destructive elements. Nobody is perfect. We are in this scheme to make Nigeria very strong in the comity of nations,” he said.
In his response, the Senate President thanked the monarchs for their prayer and support and expressed his confidence that he will be vindicated, stating that the case against him was “not prosecution, but persecution”.