House Of Reps Accuses Buhari Of Violating Constitution
Linus Okorie, a member of House of
Representatives from Ebonyi state, has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari
and his All Progressives Congress (APC) for having violated the
constitutional provision on all their appointments.
He has advised country’s leader and his ruling party to respect the federal character principle as preserved in Section 14 (3) of the constitution of Nigeria.
The legislator stated that with specific interest the appointments of the APC legislators minimizing the federal character principle.
Okorie was concerned that especially, Femi Gbajaibimila whom he said before now acted as an erudite opposition legislator and perceived by many as a typical respecter of the rule of law and constitutional provisions was heading the crusade to upturn the main document of the country.
He said: “His (Gbajabimila’s) current personal ambitions cannot justifiably account for such a dramatic somersault that seeks to turn Nigeria’s constitution on its head merely to justify a position which is clearly against the spirit and letter of the constitution.”
The lawmaker warned that without any of piece of doubt, the principle of federal character prescribed in the constitution was now under threat in the current dispensation, saying that several appointments already made by President Buhari did not reproduce federal character.
Meanwhile, Okorie urged that it would be in the best interest of Nigeria and its constitution if the president redressed the mistake in the course of subsequent appointments.
He faulted Gbajabiamila’s view that the House of Reps was not an agency of the federal government and that its principal officers’ posts were elective and not by appointment.
“Clearly, this cannot be interpreted to exclude the National Assembly principal officers’ positions. All of us, including my respected colleague, Gbajabiamila, have a duty not to encourage or allow the constitution to be desecrated or abused by people who are desperate for power,” the legislator said.
While many Nigerians are eagerly awaited the list of President Buhari’s ministers, Nigeria’s leader has so far appointed only 10 personnel.
It also should be noted that some groups accused Buhari of favouring the northern parts of the country in his appointments.
However, the presidency disregard these reports, saying that country’s leader has national agenda and none others.
He has advised country’s leader and his ruling party to respect the federal character principle as preserved in Section 14 (3) of the constitution of Nigeria.
The legislator stated that with specific interest the appointments of the APC legislators minimizing the federal character principle.
Okorie was concerned that especially, Femi Gbajaibimila whom he said before now acted as an erudite opposition legislator and perceived by many as a typical respecter of the rule of law and constitutional provisions was heading the crusade to upturn the main document of the country.
He said: “His (Gbajabimila’s) current personal ambitions cannot justifiably account for such a dramatic somersault that seeks to turn Nigeria’s constitution on its head merely to justify a position which is clearly against the spirit and letter of the constitution.”
The lawmaker warned that without any of piece of doubt, the principle of federal character prescribed in the constitution was now under threat in the current dispensation, saying that several appointments already made by President Buhari did not reproduce federal character.
Meanwhile, Okorie urged that it would be in the best interest of Nigeria and its constitution if the president redressed the mistake in the course of subsequent appointments.
He faulted Gbajabiamila’s view that the House of Reps was not an agency of the federal government and that its principal officers’ posts were elective and not by appointment.
“Clearly, this cannot be interpreted to exclude the National Assembly principal officers’ positions. All of us, including my respected colleague, Gbajabiamila, have a duty not to encourage or allow the constitution to be desecrated or abused by people who are desperate for power,” the legislator said.
While many Nigerians are eagerly awaited the list of President Buhari’s ministers, Nigeria’s leader has so far appointed only 10 personnel.
It also should be noted that some groups accused Buhari of favouring the northern parts of the country in his appointments.
However, the presidency disregard these reports, saying that country’s leader has national agenda and none others.
