The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmakers

  • PDP to lawmakers: impeach Buhari

    THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the National Assembly to enforce legislative instruments against President Muhammadu Buhari to save the nation from imminent collapse.

    In a reaction yesterday, the party said for allegedly sending armed security men to invade the National Assembly and blocking lawmakers from accessing the legislative chambers, President Buhari had crossed the line.

    A statement by the PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the President crossed the line by placing the country’s democracy in jeopardy, thus setting the nation on the path of anarchy.

    The statement said: “The invasion of our highest legislative institution by agents of the Buhari-led executive, a few months after the Senate mace was blazingly carted away by armed hoodlums, is condemnable, reprehensible, unpardonable and completely unacceptable.

    “With this siege, barely a week after presiding officers of the Senate were held hostage at their residences, it has become clear that the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) intend to forcefully overrun and ultimately shutdown the highest lawmaking organ of the Nigerian government and pave the way for the total suspension of constitutional rule in the country.

     

     

  • 23 Kwara lawmakers defect to PDP

    Twenty-three members of the 24-member Kwara House of Assemblyyesterday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Speaker Ali Ahmad announced this as conveyed in a letter by Majority Leader Hassan Oyeleke.

    Only one member Saheed Popoola, representing Ojomu-Balogun Constituency in Offa Local Government Area, did not defect.

    Ahmad said that the movement to the PDP by the 23 lawmakers became imperative “since the APC has failed to meet the aspirations of Nigerians”.

    He alleged that the APC-led Federal Government was harassing and intimidating top government functionaries instead of tackling the problem confronting the nation.

    “In 2014, l was terribly sad leaving PDP reluctantly with 36 members of the then House of the Representatives. Today, l am the happiest man leaving APC for good.

    “l wish l was never a member of that party,’’ the speaker said.

    The speaker announced the removal of Popoola as Chairman, House Committee on information, Youth and Sports.

    The members replace Popoola with Abdulrahman Abdulrafiu, representing llorin North West constituency.

  • Sokoto: Tambuwal, Wamakko scramble for lawmakers

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and his estranged godfather, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, are now locked in a battle of wits for the support of the majority of members of the state House of Assembly as both men go their different political ways.

    Tambuwal is expected to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) later  this week while Wamakko has chosen to remain in the APC.

    Reliable party sources told The Nation that the lawmakers are now being camped in locations across the state by the political gladiators.

    The governor is said to be working round the clock to leave for the PDP with as many state legislators as possible to boost his value in his new party.

    The governor’s move is however being seriously challenged by Wamakko who is the leader of the APC in the state.

    Sources said that more than half of the state lawmakers originally promised the governor to move with him to the PDP only for some of them to change their mind after a separate meeting with Wamakko.

    The source said:”at the meeting, many of the lawmakers started reconsidering their decision to leave the APC. While some were bold enough to tell the governor and his men they wanted to stay back in the APC, other have been playing hide and seek with him.

    “The situation in the state, as we speak, is that of uncertainty. The state lost two Senators and four of the 11 House of Representatives members to the PDP last week.

    “The two Senators and the Reps who left Wamakko to cross over to the PDP were all his political allies and disciples until they took sides in the rift between Tambuwal and his predecessor.

    “Last week’s defection has weakened the base of the APC in Sokoto as the party now has only one Senator while PDP boasts of two. So, the scramble for the Assembly members is very fierce with both the governor and Senator Wamakko determined to outwit each other.”

    Top members of the APC in the state are also said to be joined in wooing the state legislators for either Wammako or Tambuwal.

    It was also gathered that  Tambuwal had planned to switch camps last week but had shelved the move  when he found out that  most of the  state lawmakers had reneged on their agreement to go with him.

    A source said: “it was not easy for the governor to get the four Reps to defect to the PDP.

    “Apart from the two Senators who have personal issues with our leader, all others who defected to the PDP on the request of the governor were lured with a lot of promises and freebies.

    “If this is truly a test of the governor’s popularity within APC, then he can see for himself that he is unpopular. Majority of our party chieftains and members are with Senator Wamakko and the leadership of the party.

    “The battle has now shifted to the House of Assembly. The two camps are struggling to win the legislators to their side.

    “For Tambuwal, it is a must-win battle as he is ready to move over to the PDP anytime from now. But he is disturbed by the hide and seek game by some of the assembly members after a meeting with the APC leadership in the state on Wednesday.

    “Senator Wamakko needs to retain the support of the majority in the assembly to prove that he is still strong politically in the state.”

    Another source said Tambuwal may announce his defection tomorrow to keep his alleged presidential ambition alive.

    The governor is said to have been told by chieftains of the PDP to join the party early enough for him to be granted a waiver along with other defectors.

  • ‘Lawmakers’ exit not a threat to Buhari’s popularity’

    The defection of 14 Senators and 37 House of Representatives members from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to the opposition parties will not affect President Muhammadu Buhari’s popularity and chances in next year’s election, the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) has said.

    BCO’s National Coordinator Danladi Pasali said the analysis of the defected lawmakers showed that most of them took the decision to save their political ambitions as a result of their grievances at the grassroots.

    Pasali said that President Buhari was already popular among the masses with or without the lawmakers, pointing out that no serious politician could dump the President or the ruling party at this particular moment.

    Pasali said: “All of those that decamped to PDP need Buhari in their political career more than Buhari needs them. Except few among them, majority of them rode on the wave of popularity of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 to secure their mandates. So, for us at the BCO, we regard this as great political miscalculation and suicide they committed.

    “We see this as a good omen. We, as the BCO, are celebrating. In most cases, you can’t make progress if you have an enemy within, because he will pretend to be with you, but in reality he is using the relationship to bring you down.

    “We urged the President to be cautious of those types of politicians, because many of such people are still within the party, but Almighty God will reveal them one after another, very soon.

    “The truth is that when somebody feels that he or she has followers, 2019 is coming, we know that as far as we are concern the issue of Kwankwaso and all of the affected lawmakers are nonentity. Look at the arithmetic on how Buhari was contesting elections since 2007, most of them were not with him but he always pooled millions of votes at elections because he is the man of the masses.

    “The masses of this country know what Mr. President stands for, and they tested the good governance that they never witness before in terms of infrastructural development in the area of roads, rails, agriculture, health, educations and employment generation.

    “These are the yardstick for economic prosperities not stealing money and share it to people without providing any goodies to the people as it used to happen during 16 years of the PDP in office.”

  • Senate Invasion: ‘Suspend, prosecute Omo-Agege, six others’

    The report of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating the incidence of the Senate Chamber invasion was considered Tuesday and 10 of the 11 recommendations were approved and adopted by the lawmakers.

    The report which was laid in the House Tuesday by the joint Chairperson of the Committee Hon. Betty Apiafi on Wednesday 5th July, 2018 and considered in the Committee of the Whole Tuesday asked for “the immediate suspension of Sen. Ovie Omo- Agege for 180 Legislative sitting days in line with Section 14(2) of the legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.”

    Read Also:Senate seeks probe of murder of nine police officers in Abuja

    Other recommendations asked for the “immediate prosecution of Senator Omo- Agege and the 6 other suspects for treasonable felony, assault occasioning harm, conspiracy to steal and actual theft of the mace, the symbol of authority of the Parliament;

    “That Senator Omo- Agege be prosecuted for incitement and breach of peace in the Chamber of the Senate and contempt ex- facie;

    “the prosecution of Senator Omo- Agege and the six others for obstructing and assaulting officers of the National Assembly in the course of their duty contrary to section 14(1)(C)  of the Legislative Houses ( Powers and Privileges) which states ‘Any member of a Legislative House who assaults or obstructs any officer of the Legislative House while in the execution of his duty shall be guilty of contempt of. Legislative House’ and should be dealt with in accordance with the provision of the law;

    “That the Nigeria Police’s preliminary investigation on the issue should be concluded to allow for prosecution.”

    The recommendations further state ” that the management of National Assembly should, as a matter of urgency, review the existing Security Operational Procedure  and indeed the entire Security architecture with a view to improving  the capacity of the Sergeants- at- Arm to enable them take the lead in providing security and encouraging synergy among other agencies to assist in complimentary roles;

    “And introduce electronic gate screening mechanism with capacity to automatically process authorized persons to Jain access into and out of the National Assembly Complex.

    “That members should accord the Security Operative the required courtesy and cooperation to enable them discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently.”

    The report commended the House of Representatives, the international community, the media and other well- meaning individuals for their show of support in the side of Senate when “democracy was threatened”.

    It also recommended for special compensation staff of the Senate Chamber namely Sandra Davou, Chuks Egemuka, Hussaini Yuri, as well as  Timothy Omale and Jacob James Idoko of the House of Representatives Chamber ” who did their best to retrieve the Mace but were overpowered by the thugs.

    Finally, the report commended the Deputy Senate President and the entire Senate “for refusing to be intimidated by the invasion and upholding their oath of office as prescribed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended.)”

    Recall that on April 18, 2018, a set of thugs gained entry into the Senate chamber while it was in session and carted the mace away. The Mace was allegedly seen some days later around the Abuja City gate

    The National Assembly thereafter set up an ad hoc committee with Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Hon. Betty Apiafi as co- Chairmen to investigate the circumstances surrounding the theft of the Mace and come up with recommendations.

     

     

  • Jumbo pay suit: Court orders issuance of notice on lawmakers

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered that a hearing notice be issued and served on the National Assembly and others in a suit by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Second Vice President Monday Ubani.

    Ubani and John Nwokwu, also a lawyer, are praying for an order compelling senators and House of Representatives members to refund N13.5million and N10million monthly running cost, which they allegedly collected in the last three years.

    The plaintiffs are contending that the running cost is illegal as only the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has the power to determine salaries and allowances of political office holders.

    Attorney-General of the Federation, RMAFC, the Senate and the House of Representatives are the respondents.

    Plaintiffs’ counsel J. O. Igwe told Justice Chuka Obiozor that the court’s sheriff failed to serve the defendants with the suit despite being “mobilised” about three weeks ago.

    “We mobilised him three weeks ago. A week ago, he assured us that the proof of service was in the court’s file. But we got to court to discover the defendants have not been served. In the circumstances, we’re left with no choice than to ask for a further hearing date,” he said.

    Justice Obiozor asked Ubani to make a formal complaint to the Deputy Chief Registrar and directed that hearing notice be issues and served on the respondents.

    The plaintiffs, in their originating summons, are asking the court to determine whether by relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly members have the power to fix their salaries, wages, remuneration or allowances.

    They prayed the court to determine “whether RMAFC can delegate its power to determine the salaries or remuneration of the National Assembly or political office holders and/or if such power is subject to usurpation by the National Assembly or any other body (ies)”.

    Ubani and Nwokwu asked the court to determine whether the allocation of constituency projects and funds to the tune of N200 million to the lawmakers is not ultra vires, illegal and unconstitutional.

    They also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the lawmakers or their agents “from further receiving the sum of N13.5 million monthly allowances or running cost or whatever sum as a running cost and N200million as annual constituency project”.

    They want the court to order the refund of all the running costs they received since 2015 within 14 days of the judgment.

    Justice Obiozor adjourned until October 29 for hearing.

  • Presidency faults lawmakers’ claims on budget distortion

    The Presidency yesterday faulted the decision of National Assembly to distort the 2018 Budget after N270 billion allocation was made for their constituency projects.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, while N100 billion was already provided for constituency projects in the 2018 Budget proposal, the executive also allowed additional N170 billion provision for the projects from the increased oil benchmark.

    He said “Sequel to the response of the National Assembly justifying its distortion of the 2018 Budget, the following clarifications have become necessary.

    “Throughout the budget consideration process the executive, through the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, was in touch with the National Assembly.

    “The executive was approached by the National Assembly who indicated that they intended to increase the benchmark price by US$5, from US$45 to US$50. Out of the US$5 increase, the National Assembly informed the Executive that they intended to utilise US$2 (amounting to about N170 billion) for projects selected by themselves.

    “They asked the Executive to suggest important projects that could be accommodated with the funds arising from the balance of US$3.

    “After some consideration, the Executive was of the view that an increase in the benchmark price of crude oil to US$50 was not unrealistic, and the President decided to accept this in the spirit of compromise required for a successful budget exercise.

    ‘The Executive had, in that spirit, suggested that from the additional funds arising out of the US$3 increase, $1.25 from the increase should not be appropriated as expenditure but utilised to reduce the deficit in the budget.

    “The Executive therefore restricted itself to submitting, for the consideration of the National Assembly, important items that could be funded from US$1.75 of the US$3 increase. NASS eventually raised the benchmark price to US$51, apparently to accommodate the additional allocations to Health and NDDC.

    “The Executive is therefore surprised that with an additional sum of N170 billion available for the National Assembly to spend on constituency projects, together with the sum of N100 billion already provided for in the Budget, that the National Assembly should feel it necessary to cut allocations to important national projects, and thereby distort the Budget in order to further increase their allocation for Constituency projects. How much is enough!” he added

    He said that the President’s position was clear from paragraph 12k of the President’s speech, where he said “About 70 new road projects have been inserted into the budget of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. In doing so, the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the upward review of the oil price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote.

    “Regrettably, however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly.”

  • Lawmakers under attack for Budget 2018 alterations

    NLC, MAN, IYC, Southeast senators angry

    There was uproar yesterday over the National Assembly’s massive alteration of the budget.

    A non-governmental organisation described the action as “criminal”.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) were also outraged.

    The lawmakers cut 4,700 projects amounting to N347billion from what President Muhammadu Buhari presented and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578billion.

    The President, who reluctantly signed the Bill, plans to send a supplementary budget to the lawmakers.

    According to him, many of the projects unilaterally removed are critical to infrastructure development and economic recovery.

    These include the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the East-West Road, The Enugu Airport, the Itakpe-Ajaokuta road, the mass transit and major arterial road in the FCT and the take-off grant for the Maritime University.

    The lawmakers also raised their own expenditure from N125billion to N139.5 billion and put into the budget 70 new roads.

    Southeast senators cried foul over the removal of funding for the Enugu airport.

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project  (SERAP) described the lawmakers’ action as a crime against humanity, the Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC) said it was self-serving.

    But Senator Dino Melaye said the President was not bound to sign it if he had reservations. He said the National Assembly is not an extension of the Presidency and the lawmakers no rubber stamp.

    The Southeast Senate Caucus was shocked over the cut in the allocation for the Enugu Airport terminal.

    The lawmakers said they were jolted to hear that an allocation of N2 billion sustained by the two Aviation committees of the Senate and House of Representatives was slashed to “a mere” N500 million.

    The caucus said it had already summoned an emergency meeting of Southeast lawmakers to unravel at what point the cut was effected and by who.

    Members of the caucus are agitated that “a region that hardly receives a fair share of the national patrimony”, the little that came its way could be reduced as to make nonsense of the entire budget for the Airport Terminal.

    Southeast Senate Caucus Chairman Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe insisted that no right-thinking Igbo would support any cut in the allocation for projects in the Southeast.

    The Abia South lawmaker, who said budget documents are verifiable, added: “We are committed and determined to find out who made the cut.”

    He noted that they lobbied for the Enugu Airport Terminal allocation to be increased to N3.5 billion until the Ministry of Aviation told them that what they had was an envelope which could not be increased beyond the N2 billion allocation.

    Abaribe, who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, noted that N30 billion was smuggled into the Power budget without his committee’s knowledge.

    He said the N30 billion was listed for expansion and re-inforcement of infrastructure in the distribution companies to reduce stranded firms.

    The amount, he said, “never passed through the Senate Power committee.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said he expected eagerly the supplementary budget on the Enugu airport to correct the cut in its allocaton.

    In a statement by his media adviser Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu said: “I am happy that the President has indicated that he would send a Supplementary Appropriation Bill. So, by the time we are briefed by the relevant Committees, we will work with our colleagues from other zones to ensure adequate provisions for the airport”.

    He urged the Federal Government to release the already approved N500 million so that work could continue at the airport in earnest.

    SERAP: it’s a crime

    SERAP said: ”Cutting funding for essential public services, such as health, education and security, constitutes a serious human rights violation and potentially rises to the level of crimes against humanity against the Nigerian people.”

    The non-governmental organisation’s Deputy Director Timothy Adewale suggested that President Buhari should “instruct Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami to open discussion with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to establish whether substantial  grounds and requisite elements exist to warrant the intervention of the Prosecutor in this case.”

    He added: “Indicting individual lawmakers suspected to be most responsible for the reduction of funding for critical projects would provide a much-needed measure of accountability for leaders, who have traditionally acted with impunity, assured that they will never be held to answer for their actions.”

    SERAP said “the deliberate and systematic acts of alleged budget padding and cutting of funding by the lawmakers, coupled with the widespread negative consequences of such acts for millions of Nigerians across the country, point to not only allegations of corruption but also crimes against humanity, that is, deliberately withholding access of Nigerians to essential and life-saving public services, which is triable at the International Criminal Court.”

    It said the failure to decisively address allegations of padding of the 2016 budget allowed the practice to continue with almost absolute impunity, adding that “crimes against humanity invoke criminal responsibility”.

    IYC condemns action

    The  IYC described the alterations as self-serving and against the national interest.

    A statement by its National President Eric Omare, said the IYC took particular exception to the reduction of the initial funds earmarked by the takeoff of the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Okorenkoko and the all-important East/West Road, which are considered as key to the sustenance peace in the oil-rich region.

    According to the youths, the action of the National Assembly had depicted the lawmakers as insensitive

    The IYC urged President Buhari, to waste no time in sending a supplementary budget so as to make up for the mutilations.

    “We consider the action of the National Assembly as insensitive and retrogressive to the development of the country. It is utter selfishness for the National Assembly to reduce the budget proposal for key developmental initiatives and increase the budget for their personal cost when they are supposed to reduce their recurrent expenses. We condemn this action by the National Assembly. The National Assembly demonstrated selfishness and arrogated their personal interest over and above the national interest which they were elected to serve,” the statement said.

    But Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim said Buhari was not bound to implement the budget as signed 100 per cent.

    Speaking in Abuja at a news conference preceding the presentation of a book titled “Poorlitics: The story of the little boy from Goniri and Progressives Manifesto” by Bukar Abba Ibrahim Foundation and Bass Books (UK), he said: “When in Nigeria have we implemented budget 100 per cent? It will take us another 100 years may be to do that.

    “Irrespective of whatever we put in there, he doesn’t necessarily have to implement all of them. Every year, we talk about 50, 60, 70 percent implementation.

    “We hardly have 80 per cent implementation. So, what does it really matter if certain things are inserted? Let him take a good look at them. Let him consult the right people and at the right time and decide which ones he really wants to implement.

    “Nobody is going to hang him for not implementing the budget 100 percent.  So, I don’t see any problem in that.”

    Melaye, Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said:  ”I notice that the President is trying to whip up sentiments against the National Assembly again, by alleging that the 2018 budget was padded.

    “What the President is authorised to do constitutionally is to present the National Assembly with a Bill; a Bill is a work-in-progress and not the finished work.

    “The reason the Constitution directs the Bill to be submitted to the national assembly is that it expects the national assembly to vet it and make inputs before passing it in readiness for Appropriation Act.

    “The National Assembly is not expected to rubber stamp whatever Bill the president presents.

    “If this was the norm, there would have been no need for the Constitution to direct that the Bill should be submitted to the national assembly in the first place.”

  • Lawmakers can’t threaten President, says Malami

    Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has faulted the National Assembly over some impeachable issues raised against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also said any senator or a member of the House of Representatives accused of any wrongdoing must be investigated by the appropriate agency.

    He said he could not come to terms on why the National Assembly passed a vote of no confidence on Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

    Malami bared his mind on Wednesday night while featuring on a Channels TV programme, “The Core”,  anchored by Kadaria Ahmed.

    The AGF said instead of the National Assembly challenging Buhari on insecurity and unemployment, it should realise that it failed to pass the 2018 budget on time.

    He said: “Issues were raised by the National Assembly during their session that they think constituted perhaps misconduct, but then within the context of the issues raised, we need to reassess them. Let us take, for example, the issue of insecurity or perhaps the issue that borders on unemployment, among others.

    “For the past seven months,  for example, the Executive placed the budget before the National Assembly for passage. For instance, you have around N1trillion that was intended to address insecurity but it has just been passed.

    “On unemployment, over N900 billion was embedded in the budget and meant for social investment programme of the Federal Government. Within seven months period, senators, for instance, were taking over N3billion as wages within the seven months while the social security investment meant for the masses was not attended to.”

    On the allegations against some members of the National Assembly by the police and security agencies, Malami said.

    He added: “My immediate reaction to it is that you have to look at the issues and not the personalities. The time is right in this country when we have to start separating individuals from the institutions.

    ”Fundamental issues of consideration when an allegation is made is whether there is indeed an issue or not.

    “If, for instance, someone is alleged to have committed an offence and there are reasonable grounds for suspicion, there should be investigation. Are we now saying that simply because he belongs to the legislature, Senate or House of Representatives, he should not be investigated simply because he belongs to that institution?”

    Malami said oversight responsibility by the National Assembly was not open ended.

    He also said he could not come to terms with the reality of the declaration of the vote of no confidence on the IG by the National Assembly.

    “Before analysing or coming to conclusion as to whether the oversight functions have been properly conducted by the National Assembly, I think the major consideration has to be situated within the context of the constitution. Within the purview of the constitution, if you look at Section 4 of the constitution alongside Section 88 of the constitution, I think the fundamental functions of the legislature is lawmaking within the context and spirit of Section 4 of the constitution and two, is oversight.

    “The oversight function is not open-ended in all sincerity. Within the context of the workings of the ministries, departments and agencies, the major responsibility of the National Assembly is exposing  corruption. That is the bottom line. I cannot in all sincerity come to terms with the reality of the declaration of the vote of no confidence against the IG, where to situate it within the context of the lawmaking responsibility of the National Assembly and within the context of exposing corruption.”

    Malami said: ”We must within the context and spirit of democracy learn to operate within bounds of our respective constitutional rights, responsibilities.”

  • Lawmakers threaten Buhari

    Senators, Reps give 10 conditions

    162 oppose impeachment plan at stormy session

    Parliamentry group warns against dragging National Assembly into private matters

    Pressure group Parliamentary Support Group (PSG) yesterday warned against heating up the polity for selfish reasons.

    The PSG described the stormy joint session as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affair because members of All Progressives Congres (APC) did not partake in the debate to avoid issues degenerating into rowdiness.

    The group said rather than heat up the polity for selfish political reasons, any senators or member of the House of Representives who is facing corruption or criminal allegation, should clear his or her name without dragging the entire institution of the National Assembly into the matter.

    The statement signed on behlf of the group by Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC,Kano), said  the resolution of the joint session was predetermined and drawn up by an ally of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    The group reiterated its support for President Muhammadu Buhari adding that the resolution was not voted on according to parliamentary norm.

    The statement reads: “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 personnels 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.

    Immediately after the session a member of the House of Representatives Mohammaed Gudaji Kazaure (Jigawa State) told reporters that lawmakers from the north would not support any impeach,ent move against the President.

    . Although he expressed support for the resolution, he rejected any bid for impeachment, saying soe of the issues could not be carried out immediately by the President.

    He advised the President to look inward and review the activities of some of his aides.

    He said some of the President’s aides that could not command electoral relevance were undermining his efforts at moving the nation forward.

    According to him, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara appealed to the sponsors of the impeachment move to have a change of mind.

    He said while all the members were unanimous on the resolution, all hell broke lose when the invocation of necessary constitutional provisions against President Buhari, if he failed to implement the resolution, was raised.

    He said: “I have never seen this kind of hot joint session.  What is the necessary legislative action, if not impeachment?  Many of us are not interested in threatening the President”

    Kazuare noted that immediately some of them from the North got wind of the plot to impeach the President, they quickly mobilised and formed a group of 162 Northern lawmakers to frustrate the move.

    He said: “Many of us are not in support of threatening the President because he is a man of integrity. We know his heart is clean. But people are complaining about some people surrounding him.

    “Today,  I call on the President to checkmate those people. Let him remove anybody that people are complaining about.

    “Let him remove them and bring people that will move this country forward, because enough is enough.

    “We don’t want a situation whereby some people will create problems for the president, then at the end, we will come to this House and complain against the President.

    “While the President is around in the Villa and doesn’t know what is going on in the country. Because unless they come and brief him, and sometimes, they brief him wrongly, and that is the reality.

    “As we are in the House of Representatives, I’m sure we have some members in the Senate, I’m sure we will not allow anybody to threaten the President.

    “The President will remain the President and he will be re- elected, when he finishes his eight years, he will go, then anybody can come. But that threat is the only thing that worried me in the Chamber.

    “Because after all the resolutions, they said without the executive adopting the resolutions we will use any legislative power that we have against them.

    “The issue of people collecting signatures to serve notice of impeachment to the president, we know it’s there in the House. But we know nobody can afford to come and show us that they will impeach the President in the Chamber.

    “Nobody will do that, because there is no two-thirds. I’m sure there is no two- third in the House of Representatives because our group, we are strong enough to stop any impeachment

    “I agree with the legislature for saying that we have to improve the security of this country and that the killings must end. This is accepted, and the issue of the people around the president that are not performing, I accept that the president should change them or sack them.

    “Issue of intimidating people like intimidating a whole Senate President, saying he sponsored a robbery, a whole Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it embarrassed this institution. I will not support it and I’m sure the President never supported it”.