A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Akinola Olujinmi (SAN), has warned the National Assembly against overriding President Muhammadu Buahri over his refusal to assent to the Electoral Bill.
Olujinmi, who gave the warning in an exclusive chat with Blueprint Weekend on Friday, said: “Talking objectively with regards to what the constitution provides, there is no doubt that the National Assembly is vested with powers to override the president’s veto of any bill
submitted for his assent.
“That is talking in terms of what we have in the Constitution. But in the exercise of that power, it must be made clear that it is not a thing the National Assembly should resort to arbitrarily. This is because it is the power given to the National Assembly to be exercised
in the pursuit of peace and good order of the country.”
Continuing, he said: “So, if Mr. President has a reason to withhold assent, I think the best thing for both parties to examine those reasons and find amicable resolution. I will expect the president to ask the National Assembly members to look together at what are his observations or objections to what they are proposing and see how they can come to the middle of the road position.
“We should have at the back of our mind that the interest of the majority of Nigerians is what should propel whatever action that either the President or the National Assembly is pursuing. We should not be grandstanding and say: Yes, we have this power and yes, we are going to invoke it. It does not help the country and that is what they should consider.
“You see, we must see issue with clear maturity and based on what we see happening in other countries of the world. It pays nobody to create a situation that would tomorrow spell embarrassment not only to us but also to the future of our children.”
