The Senate has distanced itself from the summons extended to President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before it to discuss the country’s security situation.
The president had on Monday, promised to attend the joint session of the National Assembly through his aide, Lauretta Onochie:
Sadly, 2 days later and following the observation by the country’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice that the National Assembly had no constitutional rights to summon the President, Onochie retracted.
On its part, the National Executive Council of the ruling APC, on Tuesday also insists that the President does not need to appear before the lawmakers.
In another development, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru (APC – Osun Central), said that the upper legislative chamber never summoned the President.
Basiru said that the Senate would not want to be enmeshed in a controversy regarding any summons served on the nation’s number 1 citizen.
According to him, “I’m the spokesperson of the Senate, There was no resolution of the Senate that the President should come and address it on the issue of national security.
“I expect that every enquiry as to the summoning and coming of the President should be directed to the House of Representatives.
“We operate a bi-camera legislature. That’s why our rules and procedures are different and that is why also we need concurrence from the two Houses on passing of legislation.
“On this matter, there has to been an issue of a joint resolution. What you have is resolution of the House of Representatives.
“And I believe, the house of Representatives should be able to tell why the resolution was passed and what will happen to that resolution.
“As far as the Senate is concerned, we have not summoned the President and we don’t want to get ourselves involved in any controversy as to whether the President will appear or not.
“To the best of my knowledge I’m not aware of any planned joint session of the National Assembly tomorrow (10th of December).”
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