It’s Commonsense For Buhari To Avoid Frustrated PDP Lawmakers -Sagay

By Chuks Ekpeneru

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay has supported the decision of President Muhamadu Buhari to shun the invitation by members of the House of Representatives.

In an interview with Daily Independent, he said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers were waiting to boo and humiliate the President.

He also agreed with the position of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional powers to summon President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said “Well, my view is that I totally support the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. One, the President is not just executive Head of Government; he is also the Head of State. He represents the sovereignty of Nigeria, so he is not somebody you can give orders and say ‘come and address us, whether you like it or not!’. They don’t have the powers to do that. The provisions of the Constitution state clearly when he has to go to the National Assembly, and that is when he is presenting a budget”.

“They can afford to call Ministers, Comptroller General of Customs, Inspector-General of Police, Permanent-Secretaries to the National Assembly. These are people who are implementing various projects for which the National Assembly has voted money. But the President is the Head of State, higher than every other person in the country and a symbol of our statehood. They don’t have the powers to summon him”.

“Secondly, we all know that those PDP lawmakers are looking for every opportunity to boo and humiliate the President. They did it when he went to present the budget when Saraki was Senate President. They booed, shouted at him and embarrassed him but he showed so much personal composure, presented the budget and left with dignity”.

“Now they are frustrated and are looking for ways to humiliate the President again. So, from purely practical common sense and from pure constitutional law, there is no reason why the President should go there”.

“So, I agree with Malami on this even though I don’t agree with the reasons he gave. There is no constitutional provision that empowers the lawmakers to do that. The British parliament cannot summon the Queen to come and address them on any issue. So, let them just forget about it”.

“The best thing they can do is to organise themselves and allow the leadership of both chambers to go to Aso Villa to see the President and then he can tell them what he has to say on security. They will then come back and tell their colleagues what he said”.

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