Wike Faults AGF Malami For Buhari’s House Of Reps Snub

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has slammed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami for turning the House of Representatives invitation to President Muhammadu Buhari into a legal issue.

Naija News reports that President Buhari snubbed a scheduled appearance before lawmakers on the security challenges rocking the country last Thursday.

APC governors had during the National Executive Council of the party prevailed on the president not to appear before the National Assembly.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, also stated that the constitution gives the president exclusive rights over security and cannot be summoned by lawmakers.

He described the invitation to the president as unconstitutional, adding that it was the right of Buhari to engage the National Assembly or not.

Speaking to Channels Television,  Wike said the Minister has put Buhari’s reputation in line rather than protecting the president’s integrity.

According to the Rivers Governor, Buhari should have honoured the invitation after seeing the level of insecurity leading to deaths, particularly in Borno State and other parts of the country.

The Governor stated that it would have been wise for Buhari to go there with a brief to address the lawmakers as he does not think members of the House of Reps would have engaged the president in a question and answer session.

Wike stated that the president had earlier agreed to honour the invite, so he should have kept to his word.

He said: “There is insecurity. People are dying. You don’t go by a legal approach to solve that problem. If Mr. President had given the assurance, saying my integrity is at stake, therefore I will go, that decision was not taken without talking first to his inner cabinet.”

“It’s not a question and answers session. You go with a brief to address the congress. To say, see where it was when we came, see where we are today. Yes, we have not achieved what we thought, but what we require from everyone is cooperation.

“For me, I think this is not the period to be legalistic. This is the period every Nigerian should be concerned about what is happening.

“Just this morning (Friday), I heard that 16 people were killed on Abuja-Kaduna road yesterday. Look at the loss of life in Borno State.

“Senate has said look, Mr. President, relieve all Service Chiefs, which means they are concerned about the security situation in the country.”