Senate now a self-serving trade union, says Onochie, Buhari’s aide

Olalekan Adetayo , Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari ’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Mrs . Lauretta Onochie , on Wednesday chided Senators over their current rift with the Executive, saying they have turned themselves into blackmailers .

She said the federal lawmakers have turned themselves into what she called a self- serving trade union that work with blackmail .

She posted the information on her Facebook page as her reaction to the Executive and Legislative face off over Buhari ’ s refusal to implement some of the resolutions made by the Senate.

Onochie posted the message at a time the President set up a cabinet committee to work out how to end the rift .

She said there are a few clowns in the Senate who she said are being manipulated by awaiting trial cabal .
She wrote, “At best , the Nigerian Senate has turned itself into a trade union of some sort . Not a patriotic trade union that cares and fights for the well being of the citizens , but a blackmailing self- serving trade union that work with blackmail !
“But there are many patriotic and people - oriented Senators in that Chamber . Where are they ? Why are they silent? Why are they succumbing to the bullying antics of a few clowns who are being manipulated by the head cabal? Yes , the cabal!

“What are the patriotic Senators doing to let Nigerians know that they are not part of the unholy and demonic alliance of the awaiting trial cabal?

“How can they sit pretty , and allow those who are either under criminal investigations or are awaiting trials to be the ones deciding the fate of Nigerians ?”

The presidential aide said unless the good elements in the Senate begin to speak up and dissociate themselves from the cabal, Nigerians would think and believe they are all the same .
Onochie accused the Senators of forgetting their principal role of lawmaking.

She continued , “Where are the two bills President Buhari sent to the Senate in January of 2016 ?
“Where is the 2017 Budget that promises to pull Nigeria out of recession? It’ s in the cooler !
“The bills sent to the National Assembly since January 2016 are Money Laundering Prevention And Prohibition Bill 2016 and the Criminal Matters Bill 2016.

“Since the day in January 2016 when the Senate President , Dr . Bukola Saraki , read the bills on the floor of the upper legislative chamber , nothing has been done about the two bills.

“Stand up Nigerians ! Nigerians and the good elements in the Senate must speak up in defence of the integrity of Nigeria as a nation .

“Now , I must commend Nigerians for speaking us against the antics of these men and women who are threatening to hold us ransom. But more needs to be done . ”