National Assembly declares full war against Buhari

The fragile peace between the Legislative and the Executive arms of the Nigerian government seems to have finally collapsed as members of the National Assembly rose from a hurriedly arranged joint session, declaring full battle against the executive.

The new move is coming on the heels of criminal prosecution of some members of the National Assembly, said to have been orchestrated by leadership of the executive arm.

Top on the list of latest resolution of the National Assembly against the executive was a decision to suspend any further actions on communications from the executive until previous resolutions of the legislature, especially, that seeking the sack of Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was respected.

Read also: Buhari London treatment expenses can’t be released, Court rules 

Members of NASS resolved also to invoke its full powers of the legislature against the executive if the vote of no confidence passed against the IGP was not enforced by the executive.

Resolutions reached by the joint session before it adjourned indefinitely include:

• Security agencies must be given a marching order to curtail the killings across the country and protect lives of innocent Nigerians.
• The harassment and humiliation by the executive or perceived political opponent by the police must be put to an end.
• The executive must ensure a strict adherence to the rule of law.
• The president must be held accountable for the actions of his appointee.
• Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption.
• Sanctity of the National Assembly must be protected and pursue those who invaded the National Assembly and hijacked the mace.
• National Assembly will liaise with the ECOWAS parliament, EU, UN, Civil Society Organizations to save the country’s democracy.
• Curtail the growing state of unemployment.
• Pass Vote of no Confidence on the IGP.
• Pass Vote of Confidence on the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House Yakubu Dogara.
• And if nothing is done, the National Assembly will not hesitate to invoke its powers on the Executive

The National Assembly has had a running battle with the Executive since the All Progressives Congress-led government was inaugurated in May 2015.

Specifically, the executive is seen to have used its powers and the purported war on corruption, to cajole and cow members of the legislature.

Ripples Nigeria learnt that members of the legislature, especially, ex-governors who were seen as outspoken, had been silenced by the executive using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the arrowhead of its corruption war.

Executive power has also been fingered in the travails of such senators like Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani, who have been linked with murder and other criminal activities by the Police.

However, a source close to the Executive disclosed that the leadership of the executive has lost respect for the legislature and treats it with disdain following what he said was the refusal of NASS to respect agreements.

According to our source, NASS leadership had entered into agreements with the Executive over the cost of the 2017 budget but that NASS reneged.

The source said that both parties had agreed that shortfall in the 2017 budget could be repaired with virements after the budget had been passed and signed into law by the President.

However, it was learnt that when the request was made by the executive for the virements to be effected, the National Assembly leadership reneged. This Ripples Nigeria gathered, angered the Executive which vowed to cut its pound of flesh when the opportunity presents itself.

The opportunity came when NASS passed a vote of no confidence on the IGP, Idris, and asked that he be removed for failure to address unrestrained killings of Nigerians by murderous Fulani herdsmen.

According to the source “the executive just ignored them as wasting their time”.

The source also said that when NASS delayed in the passage of the 2018 budget “the ministers complained to the President, but he told them to ignore them (NASS) that when they are tired of keeping the budget, they will pass it”.

Our source added that “they (NASS) realized that the President would not come begging them to pass the budget and no minister was ready to beg them. At that point, they were tired and passed it”.

However, Nigerians believe that the executive action on members of NASS as displayed by the Police, demonstrates rising intolerance of dissention by the executive which breeds a regime of tyranny.

Recall that in early May, leaderships of people of Southern Nigeria had met with leadership of the National Assembly and pleaded with it to defend the country’s constitution and democracy by working to stop the growing regime of dictatorship being foisted on the country by the APC leadership.

They also urged NASS to take steps to end the reign of terror by the murderous Fulani herdsmen gangs which act in ways to suggest that it had support of the government.

The National Assembly at that event, had promised to take necessary action to defend democracy and peoples’ rights.

By Femi Qudus…

 

 

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