The Presidency, yesterday, pleaded with the leadership of the National Assembly to reconvene in view of urgent matters that may affect the running of Nigeria and those affecting Nigerians.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, disclosed this at a media parley in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that both arms of the National Assembly adjourned sittings on May 24, for the next two months, and are expected to resume on September 25.
President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, announced the adjournment at plenary following a motion on the siege to his residence and that of his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by security operatives.
And ahead of the adjournment of both the Upper and Lower Chambers, some members elected on the All Progressives Congress’ platform, announced their defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Since the adjournment, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan and some of his APC colleagues, had made strident calls on members to reconvene in the national interest.
Similarly, some lawmakers, including Senator Abu Ibrahim, are threatening to reconvene sitting ahead of the adjourned date.
Pending issues before NASS On the table for consideration before the lawmakers are the approval of a supplementary budget to fund the 2018 budget and the 2019 general elections.
The virements would enable the Independent National Electoral Commission begin preparation for next year’s polls.
Also pending are several key appointments for the EFCC, ICPC, deputy CBN Governor and AMCON among others.
Enang pleads But renewing the appeal yesterday, Senator Enang begged members to urgently resume session to treat some issues that could shape the nation’s existence and people’s wellbeing.
Enang said although the Senate had lined up those matters before the adjournment, there was need for them to resume because of the urgency required for the approval.
“We are appealing to Senate leadership and all caucuses of the National Assembly to see this as a clarion call for the good of the nation.
“As the Liason Officer between NASS and the federal government, I know it is not the intention of the lawmakers to make Nigerians suffer.
“The NASS vacation is usually planned to coincide with school vacations so that members can spend time with their children.
However, this is an election year and the budget has just been appended to hence the urgent need to give approval for Supplementary funds for it.
“We are not compelling them, we are appealing to them.
As a liaison officer between the Presidency and the NASS, my duty is to make sure that both arms stay together and work in harmony,” he said.
On some lawmakers’ defections, the former lawmaker said it had nothing to do with the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the issues were personal and domestic to the political actors.
According to him, the defections are perennial and usually happen in election years where politicians look for platforms to achieve their aspirations.
He said: “In all the defections, they have maintained that they do not have problems with the Federal Government.
‘There is too much competition within the major political parties.
Politicians study the platforms and would not want to be where they may not get the tickets, especially for those seeking re-election.
Some need automatic tickets, but their parties may say no.
“Defections are not a sign of anything to worry about in a political party.
None of the defectors is complaining about executive treatment of their people, but about winning nominations for tickets outside.” Ignore them -APC Meanwhile, the APC has said the defection of Saraki, Sokoto state governor Aminu Tambuwal, and his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom, among others, won’t affect the re-election of President Buhari in 2019.
Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr.
Yekini Nabena, gave the assurance in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
According to him, the defecting politicians lacked the political sagacity to affect the goodwill of the President in terms of grassroots support of the electorate, saying the defectors are now paperweight politicians.
He said the re-election of the president “is a done deal on the grounds that the massive votes from the North-west and the Southwest, which are intact for the President, remain the game changer during the 2019 presidential election.
“I can tell you authoritatively that the defections will not affect the President’s re-election.
It is a public knowledge that Saraki’s popularity is limited to Kwara.
He does not have any power to determine what happens in Kogi or other North-central states where the President still enjoys substantial support.
“Please note that Saraki’s popularity is limited to Kwara alone.
He has to contend with latest agitation with certain people who are now questioning what he has done for the state in the last 15 years.
“You will recall that when the deadliest Offa robbery took place, there was no single Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in the state to confront the robbers.
That shows lack of development in the state.
“When you talk of Tambuwal, you all know that he is not in control of Sokoto state.
His godfather, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, whose structure he used to become governor, is still with us.
You have seen what happened when Wamakko visited Sokoto on Saturday.
“For emphasis, in Sokoto, we have the deputy governor; we have 2 senators, 9 members of the House of Representatives, 12 out of the 30 State House of Assembly members and the massive supporters in the state.
“For Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, you know that the man is facing crisis of acceptance.
He has to contend with those who have been working to ensure that PDP is still a strong party in the state.
I’m talking of former Governor Gabriel Suswam.
He will also prove that Senator George Akume is not a household name in Benue.
Time will tell who controls Benue in due course.
“Regarding other defecting lawmakers, most of them must get the tickets to run first while it is certain most of them will not win their re-elections as other dynamic candidates are eager to replace them for positive development of the country.”