The President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is currently facing a 13-count charge bordering on financial misconducts, abuse of office and false asset declaration. After months of several deliberate attempts by Saraki and his legal team to frustrate the hearing of the matter on the merit, trial of the Senate President has finally commenced on the 6th day of April, 2016.

In law, Saraki is presumed innocent until the contrary is established beyond reasonable doubt. However, his continued occupation of the seat of the Senate President of our country has certain negative consequences:

• It will continue tarnishing the image of the Senate, the National Assembly and the entire country;
• It will bring inordinate delays in the business of the red chambers as the chambers may not hold session any day his trial comes up. This is particularly likely as he never allowed his deputy to preside the chambers. This may be not be unconnected with fact that the deputy is from an opposition party;
• He would not have the equanimity required of a holder of such a sensitive office as his attention would be divided between his official duties and his trial, among others.

It is based on the foregoing, that we call on Saraki to honourably resign his office NOW. We know honourable resignation is for persons who have some honour and integrity to protect and so Saraki may not trend this path. It is therefore our civic duty as Nigerians to mount the strongest amount of pressure possible to get him out of this exhorted office in order save our country and its image.