Saraki avoids journalists after meeting Babangida in Minna

Senate  President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, avoided  journalists after  holding a  private meeting with former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), at his hilltop mansion in Minna, Niger State.
Saraki arrived IBB’s  residence about 4.10p.m.and left at 5.50 p.m. for Minna International Airport, shunning  journalists who wanted  to interview him.
Saraki drove straight to the hilltop home of the  former military  ruler in a convoy of nine vehicles.
Saraki’s visit followed a press conference he addressed at the National Assembly,  in the wake of the blockade of the National Assembly gates by operatives of the DSS.
In a blistering reaction , Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ruled the blockade as  illegal and unauthorised and as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order. Osinbajo then went further to sack the director-general of the DSS, Lawal Daura, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2015.
On Wednesday, Saraki  sidestepped a question on his presidential ambition.
He  said  he would answer the question on another day.
“We are here today about the democracy of this country, and that is what is important to me and to all of us that are here.
“I think when the time is right I will talk on your issue but today, we are talking about democracy in Nigeria, to defend the rule of law,” he said.
On whether or not he would relinquish the position of Senate Presidency which he was ‘given’ under the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Saraki stressed that he was not given the position but was elected by members.
He said that the Constitution allows any member of the Senate to stand for election as the President of the Senate irrespective of the person’s party.
“I was not given the position as senate president. I was elected by members,” he said.