Some members of the National Assembly have allegedly started collecting signatures to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over the withdrawal of funds
Some members of the National Assembly have allegedly started collecting signatures to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over the withdrawal of funds from the national treasury for the purchase of the Tucano Aircraft from the United States Government without the legislative approval. The 12 Super Tucano aircraft ordered from the United States would be delivered in 2020.
Most of the lawmakers, who spoke on the withdrawal and spending pointed out that the President had breached Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution, while a few disagreed. An unnamed source said, “As I speak to you, signatures of those who want to impeach Mr President are being collected in both chambers of the national assembly. The lawmakers are very angry and are ready to nail this act once and for all. Don’t forget that this is not the first time that the president would disregard the legislature in taking key decisions, the matter has been referred to the committees in both chambers and they will advise them on the way forward as regards the anticipatory approval.”
But based on the illegality of Mr. President’s action, they have started gathering signatures for his impeachment in both chambers. Buhari was supposed to, since September 2017 to consult with the leadership of the national assembly leadership over this issue but he did not do so. Last year, a congress delegation met with the leadership of the national assembly based on Trump’s request to sell the aircraft to Nigeria but our president decided to do things his own way.”
The President had said he anticipated that the lawmakers would approve the withdrawal. In the letter, the president had said he took the action because the US gave Nigeria a deadline for payment. But Hon. Chinda said “There is nowhere in our law that talked about anticipatory approval. We cannot sit down and allow this to take place. It is an impeachable offence. There is no infraction that is worse than this. Let us not continue to sleep. I propose that we commence the impeachment of Mr President.”
Chinda was also reported to be among those coordinating the collection of signatures in the lower legislative chamber, while some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are doing the same at the senate.
