- Following the tussle between the Nigerian Senate and the presidency, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called for the Nigerian Senate to be scraped
- The group said the Senate has become a threat to Nigeria democracy and must be do away with
Professor Ishaq Akintola, the director of MURIC in a statement obtained by NAIJ.com on Friday, March 31, said the Nigerians Senate is misusing its power and terrorising Nigerians.
Akintola said the Eight Senate is terrorising Nigeria and working towards dictatorship if it is not shut down immediately, Daily Post reports.
MURIC said Nigerians have to shut down the Senate before it shuts down the government.
The statement reads: “Though it has been denied, the threat allegedly made by Senate to shut down government appears real. Senate’s body language indicates it is all out for war with the executive.
“It is parliamentary rascality at its worst. We can no longer trust the eighth Senate. It is capable of doing anything. The Nigerian people must strike while the iron is hot. We must shut down Senate before it shuts down government.
“First, the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was rejected twice by Senate. Nigerians were quick to conclude that the senators were unwilling to stomach a man who would not make concessions to lawmakers particularly since many of them have pending cases of fraud.
“In the second instance, Senate suddenly bared its fangs and summoned Hammed Ali. The red chamber insisted that the customs chief must appear in customs uniform. It was later revealed that a bullet proof SUV car illegally brought into the country was at the root of the matter.
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“Thirdly, Professor Itse Sagay, a respected constitutional lawyer was summoned by Senate for criticizing its actions. This is indubitable evidence of Senate’s determination to silence critics. Very soon they will start serving summons on journalists and poor market women.
“The Nigerian Senate has also been ruthless in dealing with dissenting voice within the hallowed chamber. Senator Ali Ndume was suspended for six months merely for voicing opposition to Senate’s recklessness. This is another red signal.
“A few powerful senators are perpetrating oligarchic dictatorship in the red chamber. Nigerians must rise before this powerful but self-serving oligarchy descends on other patriotic and progressive senators in their midst.
“This Senate will not tolerate free speech. It is out to strangulate the democratic process. Senate is gunning for parliamentary totalitarian dictatorship. It must be stopped before it is too late.
“A fourth example has occurred in Senate’s refusal to screen people nominated as commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Yet screening of nominees is the statutory responsibility of lawmakers. Does Senate want carpenters and taxi drivers to come forward to perform this legislative duty?
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“How then do we explain a situation whereby senators refuse to perform their duties? We hope we are communicating with Nigerians and we hope the masses can read between the lines. Senate appears to be telling the executive arm: ‘Play ball or …’ There is no other word to use for this than ‘arm twisting’.
“We want Nigerians to compare Senate’s ruthlessness in dealing with both external (Professor Itse Sagay) and internal critics (Senator Ali Ndume) to the red-carpet treatment it gave the senate president on the imported car scandal and the kid’s-glove treatment it gave Senator Dino Melaye on Dinogate.
“The Nigerian Senate has declared war on the Nigerian people. Nigerians must wake up from their deep slumber before it is too late.”
Meanwhile, Prof. Aloysius Okolie has lashed out at Senator Ali Ndume saying he deserves to be suspended by the Senate for trying to blackmail it.
Ndume was suspended by the Senate for six months after he called for investigation into allegations that that Senator Dino Melaye did not graduate from Ahmadu Bello University and Senate president, Bukola Saraki was involved in the purchase of a bullet-proof vehicle.
