I can’t wait for nation’s ‘worst Senate’ to go – Sagay

Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), yesterday took the Senate to the cleaners, saying he could not wait for the current Senate, which according to him, is the worst since 1999, to go next year.
He faulted the lawmakers’ resolve asking the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to personally appear before them, insisting such position smacks of personal vendetta against the IGP. The PACAC boss accused the body of abdicating its responsibilities by refusing to pass the 2018 budget almost halfway into the year. According to him, the upper chamber lacks the moral justification to declare the IGP as unfit and incompetent to hold public office.
He said: “You know I have never been impressed by this Senate. It’s probably the worst we have ever had since the return to civilian rule. They are more concerned about exercising vain authority and power than in actually doing anything substantive for the country. “These are people – the whole Senate – who would adjourn sitting and go to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in solidarity with their President. For everyday they go, the work of legislation is suspended. And they owe a duty to this country to make the laws for the order, peace and good government of Nigeria.
“Each time they abandon their legislative duties, they’re in fact committing a breach of their obligation, apart from the fact that doing that sort of thing is infantile.” ‘Senate’s position laughable’ Meanwhile, the Police Force has described the Senate’s declaration of the IGP Idris as incompetent and unfit to hold public office, as laughable.
The police also said the Senate lacks power to invite the IGP, adding that the lawmakers had taken the matter personal. The Commissioner of Police in charge of Legal Unit, David Igbodo, stated these when he appeared on a television programme yesterday morning. He said: “I don’t think the Senate of Nigeria has the constitutional power to declare the IGP unfit to hold the office. On what basis are they declaring him unfit to hold office? Did the IGP go to them for confirmation of appointment or what is it? “What you call a face-off between both parties is not a face-off .
The IGP was invited on the April 25 to appear on April 26. Unfortunately, the IGP was with the President in Bauchi and he delegated a DIG.
“The IGP has the power under the constitution and under the Police Act to delegate his line officers to represent him on official function. This is an official matter and not personal. The DIG was rejected by the Senate even though the brief they requested for was given to the DIG by the IGP to brief the National Assembly