Osinbajo under pressure, moves to settle rift with NASS, check cabal

Feelers emanating from the presidency indicate that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is frantic to resolve the rift between the executive and the National Assembly.

There were reports late Sunday night that the acting president called for a meeting with the Senate President Bukola Saraki to seek out ways to resolve the crisis.

This is even as sources within the presidency say the cabal has latched on to recent developments to escalate the rift between both arms of government in attempts to put Osinbajo in check.

The rift blew open over the nomination of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when Osinbajo implied that the stamp of the legislature was not needed to retain Magu at the anti-graft commission.

He voiced his support of a submission by a rights activist, and lawyer, Femi Falana that the presidency does not need the Senate to retain Magu.

The Senate had twice rejected the nomination of Magu who is in acting capacity at the EFCC based in security reports from the Department of State Security (DSS) and asked that he be removed from the seat.

However, the presidency refused the Senate resolution, an action which prompted the federal legislators to declare that they would not screen or approve any nominations for appointment from the executive.

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This declaration and the deepening rift had seemingly jolted the acting president, who is said to be making overtures to the Senate to resolve the issues involved.

Even as both the Senate, and presidency sources claim the meeting was initiated by their principal, it was obvious that the acting president is bent of ensuring that the cabal, which seemed to have extended its influence to the National Assembly does not derail his function as acting president.
Sources assert that the submission of the Senate that it would no longer entertain nominations for appointment by the presidency or approvals for external loans is a plot by the cabal to frustrate Osinbajo.

There are also claims that the senators and members of the House of Representatives are planning to bring forward their annual recess, as part of plans to frustrate Osinbajo and teach him a lesson.

“If the National Assembly goes on recess without confirming those nominees or the President getting National Assembly approval for those strategic loans needed for key infrastructure projects, Osinbajo is not likely to succeed?” a source who spoke in confidence said.

There were also reports that leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also met over the crisis between the both arms of government to seek a resolution, and are likely to speak on it soon.

 

 

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