IGP’s disrespect for Senate proof Nigeria is drifting towards totalitarianism – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, for shunning the Senate’s invitation for a third time.

The party said that the action is a signal that Nigeria is drifting towards totalitarianism and wondered why the IGP has not been reprimanded by President Muhammadu Buhari, as the chief security officer of the nation.

The Senate claimed that the invitation was sequel to the worsening security situation in the nation as well as the ‘disgraceful’ treatment being meted out to Senator Dino Melaye by the Nigerian Police.

But following the refusal to the IGP to honour the invitation for the third time, the PDP in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that Idirs’ action was a deliberate assault on “our democratic process”.

PDP said, “It is instructive to state that never in our democratic history as a people and a nation, has a service chief or an inspector general of police treated the National Assembly with as much dishonor and disdain like the current IGP.

“All over the world, the legislature is a bastion of democracy and our constitution, in recognition of this, provides a special place for our National Assembly, as the representatives of the people, to serve as a check on the executive arm.

“We therefore condemn this offensive on our democracy by IGP Idris as well as the deliberate insult being heaped on each of our legislators by appointees of President Buhari.

READ ALSO: Buhari allowing killings by ‘tribesmen’ to frighten Christians —IPOB

“We invite Nigerians to note that totalitarianism does not begin in a day. It starts from a deliberate disrespect to statutes, laws and institutions that engender democracy and rule of law.

“Consequently, the PDP, as a party, urges the President of the Senate and senators to protect the institution of the legislature and our democracy by not limiting their action only to finding Mr. Ibrahim Idris as ‘unfit’ to hold public office.

“The PDP, therefore, charges the Senate to take the next step within their legislative instrument and powers to restore the respect and dignity which the generality of Nigerians and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) bestow on them”, the opposition party stated.

 

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