A controversy has erupted over the authenticity of a purported directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, proclaiming the opening of the 9th National Assembly next Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Sources at the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Mohammed Sani-Omolori, confirmed to Huhuonline.com that the document that has been circulating was actually received from the presidency. But the former Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, feigned ignorance of the document, and promised to confirm its authenticity.
According to the document obtained by Huhuonline.com, President Buhari directed the 9th legislature to commence sitting from next Tuesday June 11. The one-page document, titled: “Proclamation for The Holding of The First Session Of The 9th National Assembly,” bearing the president’s seal, and signature was dated May 30, 2019.
The President was quoted in the document as asserting that he was proclaiming the 9th Assembly in line with the powers vested in him by virtue of Section 64(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).
The document stated inter alia: “Whereas it is provided in Section 64(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that the person elected as president shall have power to issue a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the National Assembly immediately after his being sworn-in.
The president stated: “Now, therefore, I, Muhammadu Buhari, President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers bestowed upon me by Section 64 (3) aforesaid and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, hereby proclaim that the first session of the Ninth (9th) National Assembly shall hold at 10:00am on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019 in the National Assembly, Abuja. Given under my hand and the public seal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Abuja, this 30th day of May, 2019.”
Meanwhile, some House members-elect of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties such as Young Peoples Party (YPP), Social Democratic Movement (SDM) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) met yesterday to drum up support for the election of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker of the 9th House ahead of the inauguration on Tuesday. The meeting, held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, saw Gbaja canvassing for the support of the main opposition PDP and other legislators-elect.
Also, the Caucus meeting of the PDP senators and House members-elect initially scheduled for Monday, was rescheduled for Friday, ostensibly to allow for many of the lawmakers to attend as sizeable number of the fresh legislators had not arrived Abuja.
