The national assembly rose from its joint executive session on Tuesday with a threat to invoke its full constitutional powers and impeach President Muhammadu Buhari should he fail to address 11 critical issues.
The senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki who read the resolutions reached at the meeting stated that the lawmakers would not hesitate to move against the president if he failed to comply.
Saraki said the lawmakers had resolved that:
“The security agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect lives and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible government.
“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.
“There must be strict adherence to the rule of law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.
“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.
“The government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective, and also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.
“The sanctity of the national assembly should be protected and preserved by the federal government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business, but prosecute those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.
“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 (a).
“Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation, particularly as we approach the 2019 elections (b).
“The national assembly will work closely with civil society organisations, trade unions and non-governmental organisations to further deepen and protect our democracy.
“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 dollars per barrel.
“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.
“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 Nigerians and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President. (b) The inspector-general of police has outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.”
“The national assembly will not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today (Tuesday),” said the lawmakers.
But Mr. Muhammad Gudaji opposed the impeachment threat and described it as a “smoke screen” vowed to mobilise his colleagues and other Nigerians against any attempt to sack Buhari.
However he said he supported any call for sanctions or sack of federal appointees who undermine the legislature or fail to act with a view to curbing incessant killing of Nigerians,
“I am in total support of the resolution that upheld vote of no confidence on the inspector general of police and even his sack. And I also support the one that condemned the killings of innocent Nigerians.
He declared: “But the one I don’t support is the one they are saying that they want to issue impeachment notice by invoking the constitution. I will do everything possible to make sure it doesn’t happen.
“We have the number to make sure that nothing like that happens in this place, because that’s not the solution to the problem as I’m sure that the President is not the one sending the inspector general of police to summon the senate president.
“How can the inspector general of police be summoning a whole senate president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when so many people are dying and everyone is worried?
