NASS, presidency differences getting messier with impeachment threats, fresh conditions
Recent developments between the presidency and National Assembly is about to take a worrying dimension as the joint session of both arms of the legislature, held behind closed doors presided over by Senate President Bukola Saraki is considering commencing impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.
The new posture started Tuesday with a fresh vote of confidence in Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and another poser that if Buhari fails to meet their demands, they would invoke powers conferred on them by the 1999 constitution as amended.
Presenting the resolutions taken after the over three-hour emergency parley, Saraki averred that the president would only be spared if he puts in place measures to safeguard the life and property of citizens, and the country’s democracy.
Key aspects of the new ultimatum required the president to give marching orders to security agencies to curtail the killings of innocent Nigerians. It called for an end to harassment and humiliation of perceived political opponents by the police.
NASS said the executive must ensure strict adherence to the rule of law, while the president must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees.
Besides, federal lawmakers noted that the executives must show sincerity in its fight against corruption, protect the sanctity of the National Assembly, and prosecute the persons who recently invaded the legislative premises and made away with the Senate’s mace.
Other positions of the joint session include that they would liaise with the ECOWAS parliament, the E.U., U.N. and civil society organisations to save the country’s democracy.
The National Assembly Committee of the Whole also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stem the growing state of unemployment in the country, and passed a vote of no confidence in Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who has linked Saraki to the April robbery on four banks in Offa, Kwara State.
It would be recalled that Senate President had mid last month shortly after the Offa attack, revealed a leaked plot to frame him up as sponsor of the gang which was denied swiftly by the Police only to revert weekend.
