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Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reportedly met over the rift between the executive and the Senate on the appointment of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.
According to the newspaper, the meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
It was reportedly attended by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the Deputy National Chairman, North; Senator Lawal Shuaibu; the National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni; the National Treasurer, Mohammed Gwagwaruwa; and the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.
A source said, “Our party leaders have met with all the gladiators. I met on Friday with some of the party leaders who attended the meeting. I guess they will be speaking on the outcome soon.”
The source added that Senate President Bukola Saraki contacted Osinbajo after the upper chamber passed its resolution on Magu.
“To be fair to the Senate President, he was the one who contacted the acting President shortly after their resolution – to express his willingness to attend any meeting organised to find a lasting solution to the matter and he attended,” the source said.
A National Assembly source, however, told Punch that the meeting was at the instance of acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
The source said, “A meeting took place between Sasaki and Osinbajo. The acting President actually reached out to the Senate President after the lawmakers sent a strong signal to the Presidency.
“The acting President seems to have realised the implication of what he said. He was literally begging at the meeting that nobody should heat up the polity; that what he said was only a reaction to what Mr. Femi Falana said. Also, note that if the acting President did not want to see Saraki, the Senate President would not have gone there.”
Osinbajo’s comment on the appointment of Magu as EFCC Chairman had angered the Senate.
The acting President had said the executive does not need the approval of the Senate to appoint Magu.
The Senate in response asked Osinbajo to apologise after suspending approval of executive nominees.