Group Of Lawmakers Reject National Assembly Resolution On President Buhari

Some members of the House of Representatives, Bashir Baballe and Abubakar Chika, have condemned the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara for leading the move to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

On Tuesday, the National Assembly at a joint session, threatened to invoke its powers against the President, if nothing was done to end the ongoing killings in the country, kidnappings, humiliation of perceived political opponents of the president among other reasons.

 

Reacting, Bashir Baballe, who represents Ungogo/Minjibir Federal Constituency, Kano, wondered why the lawmakers never found it expedient to call for joint session until after security details of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House were partially withdrawn.

“It is baffling that when people are killed in different parts of the country, the leaders of the National Assembly did not deem it right to call for the joint session until when the security details of Saraki and Dogara were withdrawn a couple of days ago”, said Baballe.

“The last time joint session was held was when the Senate chamber was intruded by thugs. No joint session was convened when communities were intruded and people killed by gunmen.

“They simply convened the session because they have some sinister motives.

“On the issue of humiliation, I will say that ‘he comes to equity must come with clean hands’. What was the crime of Senator Ali Ndume and Rep Abdulmumin Jibrin that they were humiliated and suspended by the leadership of the Senate and House?”

Baballe, who is the vice chairman of the House Committee on National Planning, said he raised the issue of insecurity three times on the floor of the House, advising the principal officers of the House to go and meet the president.

“Why didn’t they consider it appropriate to meet the president over insecurity in the country in the past?” Baballe asked.

The lawmaker also faulted the National Assembly’s resolution on the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption, urging his colleagues facing investigations should clear their names.

“If you are accused of corruption, go and clear your name and stop the blame game,” he added.

Simikary, Abubakar Chika, who represents Shiroro/Rafi/Munya Federal Constituency, said the National Assembly should stop crying foul and wake to its responsibility.

He faulted passing vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, saying members opposed the move when it was raised in the House.

Meanwhile , a group at the two chambers of the National Assembly under the auspices of Parliamentary Support Group accused the Senate President Bukola Saraki and some other members of the National Assembly of putting their personal interest against national interest as the President Buhari has not done anything to warrant impeachment threat.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT GROUP

PRESS STATEMENT

The Parliamentary Support Group of the Senate and House of Representatives is aware of the joint Executive session of the National Assembly held today and wish to state as follows:

That almost all the members and senators that spoke at the Executive session are of the PDP while members of the APC declined joining the discussion to avoid a rowdy confrontation as the entire session could easily pass for a PDP Executive session

That it is commendable that the Speaker tactically refused to make any comment at the session even after the Senate President took time to explain the issues which are mostly personal

That it is disturbing and raised many questions of pre determined intentions that a known ally of the Senate President from Kwara State Hon Rasak Atunwa drafted what was adopted as the resolution and without voting against standard parliamentary practice

That most of the issues raised concerning the fight against corruption, insecurity and the rule of law has been severally discussed in the Senate and the House and various resolutions passed

That we commend the efforts of Mr President in the fight against corruption, tackling of the insecurity challenges and respect for rule of law and democratic institutions. Mr President is known for his non interference policy.

That every Senator or Member of House who has corruption or criminal allegation against him or her should clear his or her name without dragging the entire institution of the National Assembly into the matter

That the National Assembly should as well look in ward and address the issue of suffocating Senators and members with dissenting or contrary opinion through coercion or extra legal means

That the PDP should recall how it members in the 7th Assembly sat comfortably in the chamber and watched a sitting Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal locked out of the National Assembly and all his security personels withdrawn while APC members had to scale the fence to gain entrance into the National Assembly

That we must exercise caution at this delicate period not to over heat the polity with statements that are capable of dividing the country, embarrassing us before the watching world and creating friction between the legislature, Executive and specifically Mr President.

We wish to reaffirm our support to Mr President as he works assiduously towards dealing with the challenges of our country

Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin

For Parliamentary Support Group

Senate and House of Representatives