The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Complete Ogbomosho-Oyo road before August 1, indigenes beg PMB

    Indigenes, residents and inhabitants of Ogbomosholand has made a passionate appeal to the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government to expedite action on the construction of the Ogbomosho-Oyo section of the  Ibadan-Ilorin express road.

    The group also extended the same courtesy to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola to as a matter of urgency declare a state of emergency on the section of the road and ensure the road is completed by August 1, 2018, failure of which will attract a massive protest that will ground activities on the route.

    The residents, during a press conference which held at the Soun Ogunlola Hall, Oja-Igbo, Ogbomosho, Monday, said fixing the road will no doubt salvage the precious lives of Nigerians plying the road from the many dangers that the one way lane, Ogbomosho-Oyo road poses.

    The press conference had in attendance religious leaders, community leaders, sectorian leaders, youth groups and market groups.

    Others in attendance include, traditionalists, indigenous groups, security chiefs, local government leaders and the representatives of the various tribes resident in Ogbomosho land among others.

    Addressing the press and teaming population of the residents who attended the event, the group maintained that the completion of the new express dual carriage road will, apart from saving lives, aid in no small measure both transportation and economic activities across Nigeria, especially the North/Southwest bounded goods.

    Presenting the address, the head of churches in Ogbomosho land, Dr. Isreal Olaniyan urged President Buhari to fulfill his campaign promise to the people having promised that the project is cardinal point in his government agenda.

    Olaniyan who lamented that the road has not only become a death trap but a menace which claims more lives than HIV/AIDS or any other diseases does in the community, alleges that no fewer than 780 lives are lost on the road annually.

    He said, “The Ogbomosho-Oyo section of the Ilorin-Ibadan express road which spans about 52 kilometres has a history of promises upon promises by successive governments. The latest promise being that of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration that the project will benefit from the Sukuk bond share of the loan to be disbursed to the Southwestern parts of the country in 2017.

    Read Also: 2019: Buhari will have an easy ride – Lai Mohammed

    “The construction of the dual carriage highway which started 18years ago has left the Ilorin-Ogbomosho and Oyo-Ibadan portion in a particular deplorable condition while the Ogbomosho-Oyo axis of the express road is yet to be started. The situation has left no option for commuters than to continue to use the old Ogbomosho-Oyo road which is one lane road plied by vehicles of all sizes, going to and from the Northern and Western part of Nigeria.

    “Consequently, the old Ogbomosho-Oyo road has become a death trap. In fact, the road claims more lives than HIV/AIDS or any other diseases does in this community. Statistics at our disposal indicates that an average of 15 persons die on the road per week. When this is multiplied by fifty-two weeks a year, its indicates an average of 780 persons is lost annually on this road. When this is multiplied by 18 years since the road was awarded, it shows that an average of 14,040 persons have lost their lives on Ogbomosho-Oyo road. This is alarming and calls for urgent completion of the express road under construction.

    “Mr. President sir, we know you are a man of your words, having promised that this project is a cardinal point in your government agenda, please ensure that the construction work is fast tracked and completed by August 1, 2018. We (Nigerians) must not only be guaranteed value for our taxes, but much more, value for our lives and properties. We hereby demand value for our lives and the lives of our fellow Nigerians plying Ogbomosho-Oyo road. We appeal that President Muhammadu Buhari fulfils his campaign promise to us.”

    After the conference the people later marched peacefully to the palace of the Spun of Ogbomosho, PBA Jimoh Oyewumi, displaying placards with various inscriptions, expressing the plea to the government on the need to fix the road.

    Receiving the people on behalf of the monarch, the Are Ago of Ogbomosholand, Chief Samuel Sobalaje Otolorin thanked the people for their peaceful conduct and passion to make lost of lives a thing of the past on the road.

  • Buhari appoints Shonubi as new CBN Deputy Governor

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the nomination of Mr Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi as Deputy Governor at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) subject to Senate confirmation.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Shonubi is currently the Managing Director of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) – the financial payments, facilitation and settlement platform.

    Read Also: CBN okays N357/$1 rate for BDCs

    NIBSS has been instrumental to the growth in electronic payments in the Nigerian financial industry.

    Before assuming the headship of NIBBS in 2012, Shonubi had garnered decades of executive-level experience in financial service operations, notably as Executive Director at Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Renaissance Securities Nigeria Ltd and Ecobank Nigeria Plc.

    NAN

  • Nigeria’s embarrassments

    In model earth, the incumbent government would be a scar on Nigeria, a degeneration to coarse civilisation. But there is hardly anything ideal about our world thus we are stuck with a Hobson’s choice. While it may be true that we dodged devastation by voting out Goodluck Jonathan and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it need be understood that President Muhammadu Buhari’s presumed moralist, disciplinarian stance and the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s romanticised ‘Change’ has become urban legend, a whimsical narrative peddled by incurable optimists dreaming of a better tomorrow.

    Buhari may not be corrupt but his government is septic with worms; and his APC, contrary to its earlier posturing, manifests as you read, like a clean breath of fresh stench. Contemporary facts affirm this ugly reality: from embattled former pensions boss, Rasheed Maina’s – reinstatement while under scrutiny for fraud – to shameful shenanigans of an APC-controlled House of Assembly, where the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, currently grapples with scandalous allegations of wrongdoing by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    Nonetheless, Buhari’s touted renouncement of corruption may not be childish or duplicitous after all; 2019 is a few months away and so much could happen before the next general elections. Will Buhari do better or will he do enough to get re-elected?

    His recent declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and investiture of slain winner of June 12, 1993 presidential elections, Late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO), with Nigeria’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), smacks of desperation but the posthumous award is welcome all the same. Ask kinsmen of the deceased.

    Buhari, who said he reached the decisions after due consultations also intends to honour late MKO’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe, and late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi, with the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).

    These among other measures in the offing, are expected to assuage presumably disgruntled segments of the southwest electorate en route 2019.

    Buhari’s fate and the APC’s chances should however, be the least of Nigeria’s worries, youthful Nigeria to be precise. What is the future of the youth in the coming dispensation? Will the youth continue to serve as thugs and errand boys for the incumbent ruling class? Will we bend and break to the lure of filthy lucre?

    This minute, an inordinate lust drives the Nigerian youth to self-destruct; having perverted the natural order that places man above money, the animate cowers to the inanimate. Nigeria submits to mammon, and science, technology, power, property and other bastions of materialism own and control us. The consequences are rampant and discernible for all to see.

    The lust for money has put paid to our staunch adherence to a cultural value system; that incontestable code of personal and societal ethics that supposedly humanises the average citizen and moulds him into a fuller, better breed.

    The current generation, the youth especially thus manifests a dissonance with future bliss and progressive leadership anticipated of it. I will not bother over the shortcomings and atrocities we inherited from preceding generations lest I tow the oft beaten path and glamourise our claims to victimhood and base sentimentality.

    If the Nigeria we inherited is truly shorn of values and promises of a brighter tomorrow, must we aggravate the circumstances that foist upon us such hopelessness?

    One of the most curious kinks of this generation is its sustenance and worship of the incumbent ruling class. Consider the former administration of President Jonathan for instance; men and women that erstwhile professed to champion the people’s rights united to defend Jonathan’s ‘honour’ and justify the unceasing ineptitude and mindlessness of his administration.

    They conveniently forgot that the administration’s insensitivity, clumsiness and gluttony cost Nigeria thousands of lives and public fund till date. Evidences of the government’s incompetence and tactlessness manifested in its appointment of men and women unfit to run a roast corn kiosk as managers of the nation’s finance, aviation, health, defense, foreign affairs, education, works and housing ministries to mention a few.

    The citizenry’s election of shady men and woman into the nation’s legislative chambers and their defiant justification of the emergence of such individuals in the country’s hallowed chambers was equally instructive in the nation’s descent the steep slope of institutional corruption and decadent culture.

    This anomaly incites harsh criticisms and disillusionment among the citizenry. However, as had always being the case, the leading critics take no part in the pursuit and actualisation of majority will beyond lip service. Ultimately, they proceed to court power and project it, irrespective of the nature of men and women that wield it.

    It is incontestable that many of such men, including the former president’s media aides attract to themselves, too much of every ill that lies on the threshold of psychosis and common crime. They cackle like a coven of crooked enthusiasts that see every shortcoming of the incumbent administration as cause for political theatrics and hysterical spinning.

    Such men are very useful to the ruling class; wobbly in intellect and infinitely handicapped by greed, they repeatedly parade themselves as pirates amenable to crimes and accessible to venal enterprise. They eventually shed their pretensions to heroism and honour to unite with the ruling class in its savage war against the citizenry.

    We have fought many wars in Nigeria. Wars for Biafra and the soul of the Niger Delta. The ongoing war for and against the soul of the northeast currently asphyxiating in the grip of terrorist sect, Boko Haram. And the never-ending war against thieving governors, legislators, and a corrupt judiciary.

    These wars are ultimately triggered by our failures with money and its innumerable material vestiges. But the wars of the underdog, Nigeria’s impoverished lot, has a greater significance than all of the others.

    This daily battle for the soul and survival of the struggling working class and barely existent middle class is merely an episode of the universal war that constitutes the true nature of humanity and history of the world—the war of good against evil, ruling class against working class, the haves against the have-nots.

    These wars however, are lost on all fronts even before the masses march on to the battle field every day. This is a consequence of the knavery of men, mostly in their youth, entrusted to serve as our moral sentinels, custodians of culture, value and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

    These men, contrary to their touted crusades in the interest of the citizenry, unconscionably mutate into more savage destroyers of hope and forms of life than the ruling class they were known to despise.

    But rather than call them out as the savages and murderers of hope that they have become, the Nigerian masses continually rationalise their betrayal arguing that they were only being smart. Perfidy and greed thus become noble enterprise in the Nigeria of our dreams.

     

  • Group urges US to ignore alarmists in Nigeria

    A Group under the auspice of Vanguard for the Protection of Democracy in Nigeria (VPDN) on Thursday urged the US President Donald Trump to ignore the antics of those that over-state the security situation in Nigeria for political capital.  

    The group which addressed reporters in Abuja, appealed to the US and the Trump led administration to continue to partner the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in order to find a permanent solution to Nigeria security and economic challenges.

    Its National Coordinator, Sharon Cham, who made this appeal, added that Nigeria has been making some tremendous efforts at containing its security situation, with positive results.

    He recalled that “in spite of the vigorous multi-faceted efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to combat the protracted Boko Haram terrorist insurgency as well as to contain and to resolve the recent incidents of sporadic violent attacks against mainly innocent rural communities variously associated with herdsmen and farmers clashes and callous ploy to complicate criminal activities, it is now evident that there is a deliberate and well-orchestrated ploy to undermining national security.”

    The National Coordinator added that it is unfortunate that high profile people in the country have turned their backs on their fatherlands do become willing tools to the enemies within and outside the country.

    Some individuals, according to her, have chosen to betray the national cause from which they derived their privileged status and recognition as statesmen and leaders by fanning the embers of discord and intolerance among the people. 

    Cham said that “we are particularly concerned about the growing tendency, especially in the international arena to accommodate and encourage the nefarious activities of those individuals against the larger interests of the generality of peace-loving and patriotic Nigerians who remain unshaken in their resolve to identify with the federal government relentless determination to uphold and defend the nation’s territorial integrity and national stability at all cost.”

  • It will be tragic for PDP to rule Abia for another 4 years – Apugo

    A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Apugo has said it will be tragic if the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rules Abia State for another four years.

    Speaking with select journalists at his Nkata Ibeku, Umuahia country home on Tuesday, Apugo said for the nearly 20 years the affairs of the state has been in the hands  of the PDP, Abia has suffered tremendously as there were practically nothing to show for all the years they have been in power.

    “If the PDP rules the state for the next four years, there will be nothing like Abia State again, people will die of malnutrition and hunger because in the past 20 years PDP has been in power, there are no good markets, infrastructure and the general things that can create wealth in the state.”

    The BoT member said the only way forward was for the people of the state to vote for APC in 2019 so that the needed change will come to the  state as in other APC controlled states across the country

    He opined that the success recorded by President the Muhammadu Buhari- led administration in the fight against corruption and the amount so far recovered from looters has endeared him to the Igbo.

    He noted that aside from the landmark achievements in the anti-corruption war, President Buhari will ensure that power is shifted to the Igbo in 2023 as there are assurances from the party.

    Read Also: nPDP halts talks with Presidency

    According to him, “we the Igbo especially in Abia, are beginning to appreciate the achievements of the Federal government, we have nothing to fear under Buhari , APC will give us nomination in 2023.

    When PDP was in power under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Boko Haram came to Abuja, bombed everywhere but now the President has fixed Nigeria by not only tackling the insurgents, stopping more corruption, he has just started it and he needs another four years.”

    Speaking further on the decision of the nPDP to suspend further discussion with the Presidency, Apugo who is also a member, assured that the nPDP will not pull out of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We can’t leave the house we built, we helped the president to win election in 2015 through mass mobilisation, and he contested three times before and lost. The truth is that nobody should bring his personal problems to and put it on the nPDP as a bloc, we have talked with the party and the Federal government and we have agreed, the only mistake Buhari has made so far is neglecting us and not putting members of the nPDP in positions of trust. The bloc is a force because the nPDP ensured that Jonathan failed the 2015 presidential election.”

    Apugo maintained there is no crack in the All Progressives Congress but called on the members of the nPDP to coordinate themselves and meet the president over marginalization faced by members of the nPDP in the non APC states while appealing to the President to create presidential liason offices in non APC-controlled States.

  • I will harmonize Ondo APC ahead of 2019 poll – Adetimehin

    The new Chairman, Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Ade Adetimehin has said that his utmost priority would be the resolution differences within the party.

    He vowed to consolidate the ruling party ahead of 2019 general elections.

    Adetimehin made the pledge at a reception held in his honour at the party’s secretariat on Thursday in Akure, the state capital after being inaugurated as the chairman of the party by the National chairman Chief John Oyegun last Monday in Abuja.

    According to him, the party cannot afford to go into the 2019 general elections with a divided house.

    The state was one of the states in the country that witnessed crisis following two parallel congresses.

    But Adetimehin, while addressing the party members,assured that aggrieved members who were not pleased with the outcome of the congress would be pacified.

    Adetimehin who said he harbour no grudge with those who worked against him during the congress, thanked governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi for their support.

    He said: “My first task is to unite the party. We need unity because we don’t believe in division. We will bring the aggrieved members on board so as to win the forthcoming election.

    Read Also: Lawmaker seeks resolution of Ondo APC crisis

    “I promise the people of the state to serve them very well. I thanked the governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the deputy, Agboola Ajayi for their support.

    He assured the people of the state of working harmoniously with the present administration in other to attract more developmental projects to the people.

    On the issue of June 12, Adetimehin lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for doing the needful.

    According to him,” I thanked President Buhari for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria. He has done the needful, the previous governments have failed in recognizing the actual day for democracy. June 12 is the best day to celebrate democracy in Nigeria.”

  • Buhari renews appointment of two medical directors

    President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the appointments of Dr. Jafaru Alunua Momoh, and Dr. Nwadinigwe Cajetan Uwatoronye as Chief Medical Director of National Hospital, Abuja and Medical Director, National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu, Enugu State, for the second and final term.

    The appointments take effect from 5thJuly 2018 and 30th May, 2018, respectively.

    Read Also: Lawmakers threaten Buhari

    In a statement signed by Mrs. Boade Akinola, Director, Media and Public Relations, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, in his congratulatory message urged them to justify the confidence reposed on them by improving on previous works.

    “I also hope that their reappointments would enable them work collaboratively with all stakeholders, ensuring harmony and continuous delivery of quality healthcare services to the populace” Adewole said.

  • Your threat is empty, Edo youths tell NASS

    The Edo Youth Volunteers for Progress (EYVP) has cautioned the National Assembly not to unnecessarily threaten President Muhammadu Buhari with impeachment over self-serving matters.

    It described the threat by the lawmakers to impeach Buhari as empty.

    The group said it would not hesitate to begin recall process against any Edo lawmaker that sign any impeachment notice meant for Buhari.

    National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Fred Okunmahie, told newsmen in Benin City that the lawmakers are only protecting their interest and not concern about the country.

    Read Also: Awosika mentors Edo youths on entrepreneurship

    Okunmahie said it was high time APC lawmakers used their majority to silence opposition PDP who wants power back through the back door.

    He said the conditions given by the lawmakers to Buhari were laughable to ordinary Nigerians.

    According to him, “How do they expect Buhari to stop harassment and humiliation of lawmakers that broke the law or accused breaking the law?

    “There is no proof by them that the anti-corruption war is selective since all those being prosecuted served in past administration.

    “We see it as an empty threat. The National Assembly members want to push their own interests. They want to push their way because of next year’s general election. We know the presidency will not be moved by the threat.”

  • No new revenue formula, no new minimum wages, says RMAFC

    …Workers’ Unions picket RMAFC

    Staff of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission ( RMAFC ), have warned that the proposed new minimum wage may not materialize if the revenue formula is not addressed first.

    In the early hours of Wednesday in Abuja staff of the RMAFC picketed the commission over poor funding and remuneration.

    According to the Chairman of the Nigerian Civil Service Union ( NCSU ), unit of RMAFC, Comrade Josiah Amanabo, who addressed journalists in Abuja said “there is a clamour from states to review the revenue formula. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, wants to hide under the guise that the revenue allocation formula is not ready, to delay the new minimum wage.

    “If there is no revenue allocation formula, there cannot be new minimum wage in September. RMAFC is the commission to carry out the revenue formula review. We don’t even have the funds to do this assignment. 

    “Nigerians might be thinking that the commission is not competent to carry out these functions, not knowing that it is a result of paucity of funds.

    “This is an urgent call to the President; if truly his government wants the commission to carry out its function within a short period of time, then, the provision of adequate funding is imperative.”

    “The RMAFC is not an appendage to the ministry of finance, but an independent and autonomous body; for that singular reason, it is expected of us to do our job. We have chartered accountants and other professionals from every field of endeavour in this institution, why giving our job to consultants to do?

    According to him, “we are being frustrated in the dispensing of our jobs due to poor funding and sometimes no funding at all.”

    Workers, Unions picket RMAFC
    Workers, Unions protesting in RMAFC office, Abuja
    Workers, Unions picket RMAFC
    Empty office of the RMAFC during the protest/shut down

    The protest and total shut down of the commission he said is a cry for the nation to see that the change mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration comes to fruition and that corruption is nipped in the bud.

    According to him, “consultancy has taken away our jobs. Also, the board has not been constituted. The union complained about how dilapidated its building is due to paucity of funds to carry out maintenance.”

    He lamented that the Ministry of Finance, was starving the institution of necessary funding, and has indirectly taken over the statutory responsibility of the institution, which is to monitor the accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the federation and to review from time to time the revenue formulae and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities. 

    According to him, “how can you monitor people who are more than you financially?; poor funding is at the heart of our cry. How can you monitor agencies such as DPR, FIRS, Customs, NNPC etc., who enjoy percentages and cost of collection every month of release? What we want is cost of monitoring. How can I dress in a tattered way to monitor people whose suits are finer? I need a dress code to do my job,” he said.

    Also, the chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria ( ASCSN ), unit of RMAFC, Mr. Martins Adeoye said: “Every revenue that goes into the federation account for distribution is shared by the three tiers of government.

    “However, it is only the federal government that is funding the commission through its budgetary provision. How about funding from states and local governments? They are also beneficiaries of the federation accounts.

    “We believe that they (states and LGs) should also assist the federal government in funding the commission. In so doing, we will have enough funds to carry out our operations.”

    He also explained that the lacuna in funding is what the workers unions aim to address by picketing and protesting.

    Commenting on the cry of the staff to get substantive Chairman and Secretary of the commission, Mr. Martins said: “for our operations here, every state of the federation including the FCT is being represented by a commissioner and a chairman. There ideally should be 37 commissioners and a chairman. Over the last two years, the number of commissioners have dropped from 37 to about six (6) as we speak. How do you expect six commissioners to carry out the functions and activities of 37 states?”

    “The commission has an acting chairman after the tenure of the former chairman elapsed in 2015. We need a substantive chairman to take charge of the activities of the commission. We also want more commissioners to be appointed in the board,” he said.

    Also, Dr Rosetta Adiotomre, secretary ASCSN, said: “we are also calling on the state governors to expedite action to fund us because the ministry of finance is starving us of funds. We do not only work for the FG, but also for states and LGs.

    “We need the states to wake up to their responsibilities and fund the commission.”

    The overall demonstration and protest by the staff of RMAFC was peaceful; even the police unit deployed to the premises acceded to the fact that it was a peaceful demonstration.

    The workers and its union representatives later matched to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to table its demands in a document.

    The workers, in the document to the SGF declared their intents and implored the SGF to address issues of poor funding, constitution of the Board of the commission, filling of the vacant office of the Chairman and Secretary to the commission, appointment of more commissioners amongst others.

    The letter was signed by the Chairmen of the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU) and Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) – Comrade Josiah Amanabo and Comrade Martins Adeoye respectively.

    The protest which is slated for two days (today and tomorrow) maybe called off once their demands are met.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the RMAFC, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed, in responding to the protest in the commission said he had “no comment” to make regarding the protest and demands of the staff of the RMAFC.

  • Senators, Reps give Buhari conditions to avoid impeachment

    …cracks within NASS as North members vow to resist impeachment moves

    The fragile cordial relationship  between the Presidency and the National Assembly appears to have broken down irreparably on Tuesday, as a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives gave President Muhammadu Buhari a 12 – point resolution he must complied with to avoid being impeached.

    The two chambers of the National Assembly were resolute that President Buhari must stop interfering in its affairs or face impeachment procedure.

    The resolutions were adopted at what the lawmakers described as an emergency executive session on the state of the nation.

    An impeachment  move was made during a stormy joint session of the two chambers where an impeachment register was circulated but whose sponsorship  no lawmaker was ready to own up to, it was gathered.

    The Federal lawmakers at the volatile joint executive session held at the House of Representatives chamber said the President must be sincere in his fight against corruption and stop harassing his perceived enemies.

    The session was however described as ‘hot and contradictory’ by a member, who said he was uncomfortable with the threat of impeachment, adding that such threat will remain a threat.

    The move for the impeachment was sponsored by a vocal PDP member from Kogi state, it was gathered by the Nation.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was flanked by Speaker Yakubu Dogara reeled out a 12 point resolution which he said must be complied with by the President or risk being faced with the invocation of the powers of the National Assembly.

    No timeline was given for the compliance with the resolution.

    The resolutions include: “The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect life and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible Government.

    Read Also: Senators, Reps threaten to impeach Buhari

    “The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions including Legislators and Judiciary by the police and other security agencies must stop.

    ” There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.

    ” The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.

    “The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective and also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.

    “The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.

    “National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU,  ECOWAS,  CPA,  Parliament,  Pan African Parliament, EU,  UN,  US congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy.

    “Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign  of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections.

    “The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy

    “The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel.

    “Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote of   confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly.

    “We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerians and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.

    “Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to evoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today”.

    Immediately the session was over, Mohammed Gudaji  (APC, Jigawa) at a press briefing said the impeachment threat will not fall through.

    Signs that the move will fail according to Gudaji were revealed during the stormy session when an impeachment move through a register could not get enough signatures.

    He said lawmakers from the north will not support it because there were certain part of the resolutions that cannot carried immediately by the President.

    While he expressed his support for the resolutions but spoke against  an impeachment procedure against the President, Gudaji however said President Buhari needed to look inward and review the activities of his aides.

    He said some of the President’s aides that could not command any electoral relevance are 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 all the resolutions, all hell broke lose when the invocation of necessary constitutional provisions against President Buhari, if he failed to implement the resolutions was raised.

    He said, “I have never seen this kind of hot joint session.  What is the necessary legislative action, what is the necessary 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 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 their is no two-third. 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”.

    Signs that all was not well became apparent immediately the Senate reconvened for plenary and went into Executive Session around 11am.

    The closed session of the upper chamber ended around 12.30 pm.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, announced after the closed session that they discussed National Assembly and Senate issues in particular.

    He further said that they resolved to hold a joint Executive Session with members of the House of Representatives.

    Saraki mandated Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, to move a motion for the Senate to go to the House of Representatives chamber for the emergency joint Executive Session.

    Lawan did.

    The motion was seconded by Minority Leader, Godswill Apkabio.

    Members of the upper chamber were also said to have held a “strategic meeting” on Monday night to articulate issues for discussion.

    While the Executive Session in the House of Representatives lasted, activities in the National Assembly were held up.

    It was learnt that after the adoption of vote of confidence on Saraki and Dogara, some Senators and members of the House mounted presure on Saraki to immediately declare to run for the seat of the President of the country “because we need leadership”.

    National Assembly workers were observed milling around the lobby while a horde of security operatives swarmed the nooks and crannies of the Assembly complex.

    At the House of Representatives, Speaker Dogara told members that the business of the day would be expeditiously treated to enable them convoke an emergency joint executive session with the Senate.