PDP Senators Visit Jonathan, Pledge Support …As Saraki Reviews Committees

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators yesterday paid a surprise visit to former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
Reacting to the visit, yesterday, the ex-president on his @GEJonathan said: “I thank the distinguished senators who paid me a visit earlier today (Thursday), and I urge them to continue giving Nigeria their all”.
Since the former President handed over power to Muhammadu Buhari after conceding defeat in the presidential election in 2015, he has not been seen actively participating in the activities of PDP.
The PDP has also been rocked by leadership tussles and controversies with two factions battling for the chairmanship position of the party.
Jonathan since handing over to Buhari has focused on building his Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and was noticeably absent at the PDP’s convention.
Perhaps, in a move to make the former President an active member of the party, the senators paid a visit to him although details of the visit have not been made public yet.
The former president has however insisted that he has no plan to contest for the Presidency in 2019 so it is unlikely the meeting has anything to do with making him the party’s presidential candidate for 2019 election.
The visit by the senators generated reactions from Nigerians. While some commended the move and exalted Jonathan as a true statesman, others described him as a man who allowed corruption to flourish in the country.
Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki, yesterday, reshuffled the leaderships of the Senate’s committees, in what has been described as one of the moves to return peace to the troubled Red Chamber, since June 9, 2015.
Senator Kabiru Marafa, former Chairman of the Committee on National Population was appointed chairman of the Petroleum (Downstream) Committee. Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former chairman, Committee on Women Affairs was named chairperson of the Committee on Environment.
Senator Suleiman Hukunyi is now chairman of the Committee on National Identity.
These lawmakers were all outspoken critics of the Saraki-led Senate.
Saraki made the announcement shortly before the Senate adjourned, yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to put in necessary measures to evacuate Nigerians in South Sudan, currently facing internal conflicts.
The decision followed a Point of Order by the Deputy Spokesman of the Senate, Sen. Ben Bruce, at plenary.
Bruce while raising the point of order said that reports reaching him indicated that Nigerians in Sudan were the only nationals still left in the country in spite of the increasing tension.
According to him, rather than being evacuated by the authorities, Nigerians in South Sudan are being subjected to question and answer sessions and subsequently dismissed.
“As we speak, in the Hallowed Chamber, the fate of Nigerians in South Sudan is unknown and there are no indications that they have been evacuated,’’ he said.
Bruce urged the Senate to summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, to explain why Nigerians were allegedly abandoned in the war torn country.
The lawmaker also urged the Senate to mandate the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, to carry out holistic investigation into what transpired between Nigerians at the Nigerian Embassy in the country.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the relevant authorities would be communicated appropriately to ensure that the lives of Nigerians in South Sudan were not in danger.
“Ben Murray Bruce came to discuss this matter with me and I think that based on our rule there will be no debate.
“But we will get the message across to the relevant Ministry to see that a thing like this doesn’t happen and action is taken to properly address the matter.’’
The Republic of South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, following a referendum that passed with 98.83 per cent of the vote.
The country, has however, suffered internal conflicts since its independence, with a resurgence of violence following its fifth anniversary as a country.