The refusal of President Buhari to appear before the National Assembly today still ripples from various quarters of Nigeria polity.
The member representing Ahoada-East/Abua/Odual Federal Constituency, Rivers State, Solomon Bob while reacting to the development on Thursday described the snubbing of the Joint Session of the National Assembly by President Muhamadu Buhari as of a clear case questioning the existence of the legislature.
Read Also: National Assembly Can’t Summon President Buhari – Malami
Mr. Bob raised a point of order on privilege during the House session, demanding answers from the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on why the President who was scheduled to appear before the joint session of the House did not honour the invitation.
The President was supposed to appear before the House after an invitation was extended to him following a resolution of the House to invite him to address the House on issues bordering on insecurity bedeviling Nigeria.
The invitation was as of that time accepted by the President following a statement by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who on Wednesday Dec. 2, after meeting Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, disclosed that Buhari has agreed to appear before the House.
But in a twist of events, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami on Wednesday in a press statement said the House had no right to summon the President. However, Mr Bob, while reacting to the development, cited order 8, rule 6, and said the privilege of the House has been breached, adding that President Buhari flagrantly disregarded the resolution of the House.
He said: ‘Last week we passed a resolution, bordering on security. I read in the newspaper that the president agreed to come. However, the events following the resolution has shown that the resolution has been flagrantly disregarded. If this House should pass a resolution, and it is disregarded, then it questions our existence here. Our very existence here is being questioned.
‘The Speaker should address us. Maybe there has been a back channel, we need to know. Nigerians are watching, the world is watching, watching what we will do. This action is capable of showing that the House is of no significance.’
Ruling on the point of order, the Speaker said his motion has been noted, adding that the House is ‘waiting for official communication from the President.’
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK