You Have Just 2 Days To Sack Maina,...Senate Tells GeJ

The Senate on Wednesday gave President Goodluck Jonathan a two-day ultimatum within which to sack the Chairman of the Pension Reform  Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, from the Federal Civil Service.

The upper legislative chamber said Jonathan risked dire consequences if he failed to end Maina’s stay in office.

Senate President, David Mark, said this after a debate on a motion entitled, “Dismissal of Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina for refusal to appear before the Senate.”

The debate was sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), and 107 senators, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to sack Maina from the public service. The Senate has 109 members.

Reacting to the Senate resolution on Wednesday, the PRTT said only God would save Nigeria.

“Maina has never committed any offence to deserve this high level of persecution, even if he is an Assistant Director. We have done this assignment in the best interest of this country with all sincerity and honesty. It is only God that will save Nigeria,” spokesperson for the PRRT, Hassan Salihu, said.

According to Mark, the Senate as an institution has been pushed to the wall and can no longer tolerate the insolence of public officials working for the executive.

Mark said, “The executive has to choose between the Senate and Maina. He has crucified himself. If Maina remains, then the Senate would react appropriately.

“The Senate is not lacking in ideas on what to do. Nobody in this country is bigger than our democracy. I have been extremely patient with Maina, so that when we react, they will know that we have been fair.

“Whether the Police are serious about (arresting) Maina is something we are going to find out. This Senate is not going to allow this to linger on, if in two days they have not done anything, we can come here and convene and take a decision.

“This Senate has teeth to bite, the Senate will bite when it needs to bite; and when we decide to bite, there will be no room for escape.

“We have been pushed to the wall. The reaction is the correct reaction, no matter the depth of the Maina situation, nobody in this country will be left to go free, if he is associated with Maina, no matter who is behind Maina, we are not going to accept it.”