The bad relationship between the Bukola Saraki led Nigerian Senate and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari worsened on Tuesday when Senators embarked on a confrontation course by giving Mr. Buhari an ultimatum of two weeks to sack the embattled Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
The senators frowned at his retention by the president despite the rejection of his nomination by the lawmakers.
Now the lawmakers have made his sack a condition precedent before the consideration of a letter from the Presidency requesting legislative approval for the nomination of 27 Nigerians as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Several senators, at the plenary on Tuesday, spoke against the consideration, insisting that the process be abandoned until Magu was removed.
The Senators are of the opinion that Magu’s rejection by the legislature meant that he could not remain the Acting Chairman of EFCC.
Senator Peter Nwabaoshi, urged the lawmakers to consider the example of the United States of America where, recently, the National Security Adviser was sent to the Senate but due to his belief in Russia, he was disqualified.
He said, “Recently in this Senate, we have dealt with the issue of confirmation but where are we today? The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, went to the press and said that the Senate merely confirms. This is unexpected of somebody who had lectured Constitutional Law in the university; a Professor of Law; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and, of course, the chairman of such a big body to say that the legislature merely confirms; that is, the legislature has no power.
“Here are we again today, now being given a list to confirm and we ‘merely confirm.’ Look at the list here, we have eight of them here out of 27 for reappointment, which means they are acting already; they are already working and they are still in position.
“Prof. Sagay will cite, again, Section 171 of the Constitution. You can imagine the kind of advice that this kind of persons are giving to Mr. President. They are telling Mr. President to disregard and disrespect the institution the legislature.
“Let us not take such a precedence. We cannot destroy our democracy because certain persons or individuals feel that it is only their belief or what they want is what will happen in this country. This country does not belong to them; this country belongs to the Nigerian people. The Nigerian people have elected us; they have given the power to look into those names sent to us for confirmation; to look into their credentials.”
Nwabaoshi urged his colleagues not to ignore Sagay’s choice of words on the legislature.
“My position on this matter is that since our confirmation is ‘merely,’ let us suspend it until we know whether we have the power as given to us by the Constitution to look into confirmation matters or any other status.”
The Senate has been at loggerheads with the Presidency over the SGF, Babachir David Lawal, who was indicted by lawmakers over his role in the grass cutting scandal but was cleared of any wrongdoing by the president.
Not to mention the disrespect shown to the upper house by another Buhari appointee, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Hameed Ali, who has refused to appear before the Senate as summoned, and in uniform too. Senators need some clarifications from him over a controversial policy on import duties of used vehicles.
The genesis of the trouble between the two arms of government could be traced to what Senators saw as the humiliation of the Senate President, Mr. Saraki, who was dragged before the code of conduct tribunal on charges bothering on false assets declaration.
He and his deputy, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu also faced charges for forgery of Senate Rules, preferred against them by Buhari’s government.
Since then the relationship between the two has only been that of convenience, considering the fact that they must work together.
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