President will not treat NASS like Obasanjo and Jonathan – Presidency

chika ebuzor

April 1, 2017 6:43 PM

The executive has however stretched forth an olive branch to the legislators to resolve the rising dispute.

President Muhammadu Buhari

The presidency has released a statement saying that President Buhari will not take any drastic measure against the National Assembly.

The legislative and executive arms have been flexing muscles, reportedly following the refusal of the Senate to confirm the appointment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss, Ibrahim Magu.

Senators also condemned the attitude of Buhari’s appointees when they are summoned to the Red Chambers.

The lawmakers, in a bid to make their point, refused to screen and confirm the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) sent to them by Buhari, until he sacks Magu.

Speaking on the issue, the Personal Assistant on Social Media to the President, Lauretta Onochie said "I understand when well-meaning Nigerians call on President Buhari to ‘descend’ on the National Assembly, the Senate in particular. After all, that’s what Presidents Jonathan and Obasanjo did.

“With all due respect, it would appear, and was very clear, even to the blind that what Nigeria had under President Obasanjo was democracy tinged with autocratic tendencies.

“President Buhari is a man of honour. He has vowed to give Nigerians a democratic leadership and he will not be pressured into breaking that vow.”

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According to Daily Post, she also said “This idea of wanting our President to break constitutional provisions that recognise separation of powers is nothing but a total cop out on the side of Nigerians. We must have democracy in a democratic setting.

“Nigerians did it in January of 2012. That was when we recovered the executive arm of our government. The elections of 2015 merely confirmed that Nigerians actually recovered their government.”

chika ebuzor