Sunday 10 June 2018
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AssemblyWatch From the Red Chamber With
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE
N
igeria is a land of unending drama. A day without drama in the ‘Federal Republic of Drama’ is like a day without the sun. The face-off between the National Assembly and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, assumed a new dimension last week when the police invited Senate President Bukola Saraki over his role in the April 5 banks robbery in Offa, Kwara State, that killed 33 persons including pregnant women and 12 police officers. In what is fast becoming a fashion, the National Assembly rose from a joint closed door session and resolved to ‘impeach’ President Muhammadu Buhari if he fails to address incessant kill-
When will National Assembly stop being a toothless bulldog? ings across the country, persecution of perceived political enemies and growing rate of unemployment across the country. In veiled reference to the rift between the federal legislature and the police boss, both legislative chambers resolved that President Buhari must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees, even as they insisted that the President must be ready to sanction those that carry out acts that endanger the country’s democracy. Although some persons may view these resolutions as a game changer ahead of the 2019 general elections, I strongly believe the Eighth National Assembly has not only lost its relevance in the scheme of things but has become a toothless bulldog. In my May 13, 2018 article titled: “As we await Senate’s funeral”, I pointed out that National Assembly members were only interested in issues that would feather their nests and not their constituents. They pretend to be with the masses when the Executive arm of government takes certain actions only to chicken out at the end. For instance, the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on President Buhari’s payment of $496 million to the United States
Government for the purchase of twelve Tucano military aircraft without National Assembly approval has been swept under the carpet. This should have been submitted in the first week of May. What happened to the report of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs on the alleged harassment of the Chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, Matthew Urhoghide, for asking his colleagues to invoke Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution against the President? In the same vein, the report of the Aliyu Wamakko-led Committee mandated to investigate the allegation of $25 billion contract scandal levelled against the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu is yet to see the light of the day. The nine-man panel was inaugurated since October 2017. In April, both Senate and House of Representatives also summoned President Buhari over incessant killings and nationwide insecurity. But two months after, the President is yet to appear before both chambers. I can list other instances but suffice it to say that when you only talk of impeachment to win public sympathy and end up doing nothing, nobody takes you serious. You
become a toothless bulldog. This is what has become of the Eighth National Assembly right now. And this partly explains why an appointee of the President will shun Senate’s summon on three occasions. On a lighter note, IGP Idris has become the butt of a joke in most gatherings, following the viral video in which he fumbled midway and mentioned ‘transmission’ several times while reading a prepared speech at a recent event in Kano State. President Buhari’s letter to the Senate last week on the ‘Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts (Amendment) Bill 2018’ turned out to be a comic relief of some sort when Saraki mimicked Idris by repeating the words ‘transmission’. The letter titled: “Transmission of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Amendment Bill 2018”, which was read out by Saraki, became a subject of laughter among senators when Saraki mentioned the first word ‘Transmission’. The Senate President feigned a serious face to re-read the letter and paused when he got to the word, ‘Transmission’, leading to uncontrollable laughter by his colleagues. Also at an event organised by Situation Room - a coalition of over
National Assembly’s subtle move to take Buhari aback
I
t’s cheering to report that the House of Representatives and National Assembly has completed the 180 days legislative days, in compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The latter days of the third year of the 8th Assembly under the leadership of the Senate President, Senator Bukola and Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives however came with unprecedented hullaballoo and rancour with the Executive arm which heated the entire polity. This is coming barely eight months to the 2019 general elections. But I perceive the days ahead aren’t going to be like before! Like any other Nigerians, Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari may consider the steps taken by the National Assembly and his supposed supports for granted! Commentaries from various social media platforms weren’t helping matters as well. For those close to Mr. President, they must have gone to bed and start jubilating that the National Assembly has one on recess, and encourage Mr. President to breathe a sigh of relief of using the next few days to settle down and prepare for the National Convention of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC). I imagine what will be going on in the minds of President Buhari, Saraki and Speaker Dogara when they eventually converge next week Friday. But I’ve taken time to reflect on the outcome and gravity of the outcome of the heated joint session held on Tuesday,
5th June, 2018, where the lawmakers issued 12 point resolution, including the threat notice to evoke Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions. The resolutions include: issuing marching orders to security agencies to immediately curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect life and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible Government; end systematic harassment and humiliation of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions including Legislators and Judiciary by the police and other security agencies; strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees; sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective, also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them; protect the sanctity of the National Assembly and preserved the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in Legislative business as well as prosecution of those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace. They also vow that the President will be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy; ensure that democratic elections are competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation particularly ahead of the forthcoming 2019 elections; and take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and
poverty in Nigeria especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel. While both chambers of the National Assembly passed a vote of confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly, the reaffirmed the earlier resolution of ‘vote of no confidence’ on the Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim “who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerian and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.” As a reflection of the fairy tales during the military junta of which many Nigerians and their families are still counting the cost, the lawmakers resolved to liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, Parliament, Pan African Parliament, EU, UN, US Congress and UK Parliament to secure Nigeria’s democracy as well as synergize closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy. Of course, all these parties fought hard to combat the military junta. Examining critically the above listed issues, partial provisions of Chapter IV, Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which stipulate what could constitute ‘Notice of any allegation’ has been fulfilled in principle. All it takes is to transmit the document/resolutions
to Mr. President and get the acknowledgement copy for the record. This will form part of the evidence to be tendered at the Court when the joker is to be dangled on the day of reckoning! Perusing the process of impeaching of a Nigerian President as encapsulated in section 143 and 144 of the Constitution (as amended), all the needed do is to mop the signature of at least one-third of the 469 members from both chambers, thereby fulfilling the provisions of Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution. The only condition left is for the panel to be constituted and file the report thereafter. The next line of action is for the Chief Justice of Nigeria, at the request of the President of the Senate appoint a Panel of seven persons who in ‘his opinion’ are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provide in this section. The President whose conduct is being investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in person and be represented before the Panel by legal practitioners of his own choice. Section 143(9-10) further provides that “Where the report of the Panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within fourteen days of the receipt of the report at the House the National Assembly shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of each House of the National Assembly supported by not less than two-thirds majority of
70 civil society organisations - in Abuja last week, Idris also became a subject of another joke when INEC National Commissioner, Solomon Soyebi, was explaining to participants that the Commission had developed a technology that would enable it to transmit election results electronically direct from polling units to its states’ headquarters. The moment he mentioned the word ‘transmission’, the hall burst into laughter. Initially, Soyebi was confused but immediately he caught the drift of what was happening, with some participants warning him to be careful, he retorted, “It’s not that transmission we are talking about but we have started transmitting our results from the polling units to a central server.....” His failed attempt to distinguish his ‘transmission’ from that of Idris’ evoked uncontrollable laughter among guests. No doubt, this joke will fizzle out with time just like the ‘Oga at the top’ scenario. The latest is the use of the word, ‘Iberiberism’ which Imo State, Rochas Okorocha claims is in the dictionary. But I am yet to find it. Nigerians are renowned for their sense of humour, hence we moved four places up from 95th to 91st happiest people in the 2017 United Nations World Happiness Report.
From the Green House With
KEHINDE AKINTOLA all its members, the report of the Panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report. No proceedings or determination of the Panel or of the National Assembly or any matter relating thereto shall be entertained or questioned in any Court. To finally nail Mr. President, section 144 (1a & b) simply provides that: “The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office, if - (a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all the members of the executive council of the Federation it is declared that the President or Vice-President is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and (b) the declaration is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”