The Senate President, Dr.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.
Yakubu Dogara have described as “a desecration of the legislative sanctity”,
the on-going situation in Benue State in which eight out of the 30 members of
the State House of Assembly, with the support of the police, have commenced
impeachment process against Governor Samuel Ortom while 22 other members are
kept away from the Assembly complex.
In a statement jointly signed by
their media aides, Saraki and Dogara also called on President Muhammadu Buhari
to call the police to order and stop being used to achieve “selfish political
objectives.”
The National Assembly presiding
officers said, “We have monitored closely the development in Benue State in
which the impeached Speaker, Terkimbir Ikyange led seven other members to serve
impeachment notice on Gov. Samuel Ortom while the 22 other members who
constitute more than two-third majority have been prevented from having access
to the chamber.
“We believe this is illegality
and does not conform to parliamentary procedure on impeachment.
“We also note with surprise the
role of the Police in this undemocratic events in which the minority is seeking
to impeach a Governor against the position of the majority. We believe it is
the sacred institution of the legislature that is being desecrated and
rubbished in all these negative developments.”
Saraki and Dogara said also noted
that the crisis in Benue State House of Assembly has grave implication for the
nation’s democracy and represents a throw-back to the period of dictatorship in
Nigeria, showing how the Nigeria Police are being misused to achieve political
end.
The statement noted with dismay,
a recent statement in which the Presidency derisively referred to an era in the
past where a minority number of legislators was used to impeach Governors who
were unfriendly with the Federal Government.
“What we are seeing in Benue now
is a return to that inglorious era,” the statement said.
It added that the “unlawful and
unconstitutional move to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom by a minority” should be
condemned by all lovers of democracy, at home and abroad.
Saraki and Dogara called on
President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and prevent a break-down
of law and order.
They also called on friends of
Nigeria in the international community to lend their voice against the
perpetration of illegalities and actions that can subvert the country’s
democracy.
They equally noted that there is
already a tense atmosphere in Benue State following the recent killings, and
therefore condemned any action or move likely to exacerbate the security
situation in the North Central State.
“As leaders of the Federal
legislature, we are ready to work with our colleagues in both chambers of the
National Assembly to prevent any attempt to destroy any state legislature or
use it to derail democracy,” Saraki and Dogara submitted.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Nigerians are not happy with APC drama and this their injustice they are discouraging people in voting for them come 2019, is power by force? or is it by force to rule?
ReplyDelete