TWO days after the Senate accused the Presidency of plotting to forcefully effect leadership change in the upper legislative chamber, the lawmakers, yesterday, slammed President Muhammadu Buhari, describing
his style of leadership as too autocratic.
The outburst followed a suit, filed against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekwerenmadu by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules in 2015.
The Red Chamber, which fingered President Buhari as being behind its travail since inauguration, warned that its good relationship with the executive arms of government should not be taken for granted.
The Senate mandated its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to within two days, summon the AGF to explain reasons for initiating legal action against Saraki and his deputy, over alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules.
This is even as Red Chamber unanimously declared that its 2015 Standing Rules were not forged.
In a resolution following a motion brought under matter of urgent public importance by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), the Senate accused the Buhari administration of attempting to change the leadership of the Senate through the back door with a view to muzzling the legislative arm of government.
It warned that it may be compelled to withdraw its support to the government if the interference was not stopped.
Ekweremadu, who presided warned that “those who use their public office today to persecute others must realise that there is no condition that is permanent.”
Melaye had in his argument urged the Buhari-led Federal Government to focus on dealing with issues of national importance, rather than muz-zling the National Assembly. While restating that the Senate Rule 2015 was not forged, that it remains the authentic rule of the Senate, Melaye declared: “Two day before our resumption, we were invited to the National Assembly for documentation. I was given a copy of the constitution and the rules of the Senate.
“These documents are the same documents we have used in this Senate to receive the budget of Mr. President. If the rule is fake, then the budget we have received is also fake and illegal. I want to also remind the executive that this same rule is what we quoted when we responded to a communication from
Mr. President to have a joint session with the President of South Africa.
“This same rule is what we used in the screening of all the ministers including the AGF. This same rule, if it is fake, the position of AGF as the Minister of Justice is also illegal. I also want to say Mr. President, this same rule is what we used in the screening of Service Chiefs on the floor of this chamber. This same rule is what we used in the screening of the FIRS chairman.”
Seconding the motion, Chairman, Senate commit- tee on Gas, Senator Bassey Akpan, said he was handed a copy of the Constitution and 2015 Standing Orders during accreditation. He expressed concern that the leadership of the senate was accused of forging it when they had not been elected as presiding officers as at then.
Supporting the motion, Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Commission (NDDC), Peter Nwoboshi, said there was laid down procedure for correcting anything in the Senate Order.
Isah Misau (APC, Bauchi Central), described the current development as injustice being done to the judiciary. He insisted that it was on the basis of the standing orders that he was given the privilege by the Senate to ask Malami to take a bow and go when he came to Senate for confirmation as minister.
Chairman, Senate Commit- tee on Services, Ibrahim Gobir, said he was completely in support of the motion.
According to him, the standing orders is authentic and should not be used as a move to distabilise the senate.
Daily SUN
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