Politics
Senate ready to cooperate with Buhari’s peace committee to end rift
Nigerian Senate has expressed readiness to embrace President Muhammadu Buhari’s committee, whose mandate is to ensure that peace and cohesion return between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sabi Abdullahi, stated this on Thursday in a chat with newsmen, adding that the Senate welcomes with open arms the move targeted at bringing an end to the clash presently rocking the executive and the legislature.
During the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, Buhari had set up a cabinet committee to be headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with the mandate to ensure peace and unity return between the two arms of government.
The rift between the executive and the legislature worsened after the Senate refused to approve the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) sent to it by Buhari, insisting that acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr Ibrahim Magu must be dropped.
Read also: History will never forgive Buhari for his inaction – Jibrin
Reacting on the committee set up by Buhari and other issues arising from the rift, Abdullahi said, “We have heard about the initiative by President Muhammadu Buhari in setting up a Presidential Committee on Executive-Legislature Relations to be headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
“It is a good step in the right direction. The Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly in general, is ready to cooperate with the group and work with them to resolve all grey areas standing on the way of the smooth working relationship needed to deepen our fledgling democracy and ensure good governance for the benefits of Nigerians.
“On the RECs, all the Senate said was that if we have passed some resolutions and they were rubbished, why are we passing another? The Senate simply asked the President of the Senate to liaise with the President of the country to know what had happened to the passed resolution.”
According to Abdulahi, the decision by the Senate to reject Magu should not be seen as the cause of the rift.
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JOHNSON PETER
March 31, 2017 at 11:46 am
Someone still need to discipline the Senate and curb their excessiveness as well. I don’t support this peace move. Buhari is too gentle a person.
yanju omotodun
March 31, 2017 at 12:58 pm
This is democracy. Buhari must respect the lawmakers and find their favoured eyes if not, they will annihilate his government.
seyi jelili
March 31, 2017 at 3:33 pm
President Buhari is not the Buhari of military era. He is unlike Obasanjo who use military tactics to govern Nigeria during his civilian life. I never knew Buhari could be this gentle with Bukola and the Senate.
Animashaun Ayodeji
March 31, 2017 at 5:46 pm
They may attempt to solve their differences but, very soon, they will start having fresh clashes again. The legislative arm and the executive arm cannot be permananet friends, it is a taboo
Anita Kingsley
March 31, 2017 at 5:48 pm
This means senate will drop its decision on Ali and Magu. Buhari is a wise man, Ali and Magu will be used to settle the problems between senate and the executives
Agbor Chris
March 31, 2017 at 5:50 pm
They think we are fools, this is exactly what they are trying to arrive at. If they achieve it the general public will have to speak in one voice, Ali and Magu must go!
Oise Oikelomen
April 2, 2017 at 1:53 pm
PMB should have done this before now, in a less direct manner even. He should have found ways to parley with the NASS to avoid the childish face-off stalling National progress right now. Good move, though a bit belated. Plus, going forward, PMB himself should be more directly involved in dealing with NASS. His attitude towards them seem to be one of indifference most of the time. That in itself is undemocratic.