A coalition of Civil Society Organization under the auspices of Non State Actors Consultative forum has expressed worries over move to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the timing for the action is wrong.
The forum said the impeachment plot by some members of the national assembly can truncate the democracy as this may be sending a wrong signal considering the 2023 general elections is less than a year.
Addressing a news conference in Kano, on Wednesday, the forum lead Convener, Abdulrasaq Alkali said despite the fact that the Buhari led administration has not feared better in many sectors including the economic, security and poverty levels , the national assembly members are complicit in the whole action.
‘’The lawmakers cannot at this moment pretend as if they love Nigeria and Nigerians more than before, when they have always been supporting almost all the actions of the Buhari led executives,’’ Alkali said.
He said the incompetence of the lawmakers has contributed to the worsening economic and security situation in Nigeria.
According to him,’’They have also failed to carry-out the oversight functions on the various security arms of the government despite billions of dollars budgeted for security, instead majority of them have focused their attention on befriending the head of these agencies in their chase for getting contracts and other financials gains.’’
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‘’We have come to realize the move to impeach the president is orchestrated by mostly members of the ruling APC who lost out at the presidential primaries and senatorial of the party. Most of those in the forefront of the impeachment struggle are agents of some defeated candidates that will benefit if the president is impeached. While there are others supporting the impeachment out of sheer frustration to pull down the APC since they won’t return to the red chambers having been defeated earlier in the contest.’’
‘’We can all agree that the current security problems of Nigeria today have been as a result of accumulation of years of incompetence, selfishness, greed, injustice and corruption perpetrated by mostly political leaders who are shielded by ethnic and religious entities, a weak and corrupt justice system and to some extend by common citizens. ‘’
‘’As such despite some weakness on the part the President Muhammad Buhari, it will be unjust to lay all the blame on his table and start calling for his impeachment, rather the legislators should focus on finding real solutions of making citizens-oriented legislation that will bring solutions to the insecurities tormenting the country.’’
Alkali noted that while majority of Nigerians blame the government for not fulfilling its promise on improving and protecting lives and properties of citizens, the government is also accusing some citizens of selfishness and not fulfilling their citizenry duty of community policing but instead some are colluding with terrorists and serving as informant for the terror groups, thus making it difficult for the Nigerian security operatives to overcome the terror groups.
The lead convener added that although it is the prerogative of the legislature to move for impeachment of the president so long as it in line with section 143 of the 1999 constitution as amended but urged them to tread with caution not to jeopardize the nascent democracy as the plot can throw the country in more chaos than we are presently, with the 2023 general elections around the corner.
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‘’It is imperative for well-meaning Nigerians not to allow themselves to be played by the selfish interest of a few, whose action will worsen the fragile situation in this country. It is very important for Nigerians to exercise caution and allow democratic process to take place through proper electoral transition, the general election is just around the corner, and the current administration will leave less than a year from now.”
‘’The ball is now in our court as Nigerians to vote for competent leaders for both executive and legislative positions and to make sure that those we voted for next will put the interest of citizens first in everything they do.’’
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