The Nigeria National Assembly has threatened to impeach the President over what it called insecurity, selective fight on corruption and harassment of perceived political opponents by security operatives, headed by the Inspector General of Police, Idris.
The lawmakers in a joint session today (Tuesday), chaired by both Senator Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara, frowned at the way and manner its members are being harassed by the Nigerian Police, and the inability of the President to put to an end the continued killings in the country.
They also pointed to the fact that the President has looked the other way, while the Police intimidate lawmakers.
The latest move is as a result of the summons issued by the Nigerian Police asking the Senate President to appear to their intelligence unit over an Alleged role in the Offa bank robbery. This according to the Police, from the confessional statement given by the arrested suspects implicated the Senate President as being their sponsor. Other items recovered from the suspects, also were said to have pointed to that fact.
It was also alleged that the security details of both Speaker Dogara and that of the Senate President were withdrawn by the Police after they issued a letter to the Senate President to appear before it for questioning.
In what looked more like a retaliatory move and show of strength, National Assembly called for a joint sitting. At the joint session, the lawmakers reached 12 resolutions, which touched on insecurity, the refusal of the Inspector General of Police to appear before the Senate, harassment of members of the National Assembly and what they called the selective trial of opposition on corruption and perceived political opponents by President Buhari.
They called on the president to act on their resolutions or they will be left with no choice to evoke their constitutional powers, which in this case, is Impeachment. Though no time frame was given as to all these, the National Assembly seems to have had enough of the alleged prosecution from the executive arm of government. The resolutions reads:
1. The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to 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.
2. The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions including Legislators and Judiciary by the police and other security agencies must stop.
3. There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.
4. The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.
5. The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.
6. The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.
7a. National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, Parliament, Pan African Parliament, EU, UN, US congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy.
b. Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections.
8. The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy
9. The President must 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.
10. Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote of confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly.
11. We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police 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.
12. Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to evoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today.