Emergency Powers: Presidency wants to cripple NASS - Sen Anyanwu
Ahead of the September 13 resumption date of the two chambers of the National Assembly, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) has described the Emergency Powers Bill being proposed by the executive as an attempt by some mischievous politicians to kill the institution of the National Assembly.
Anyanwu, who was fielding questions from journalists in Abuja yesterday, said that passing such bill into law would only go a long way to confer absolute powers on the president, a development which in turn would enthrone full blown dictatorship.
According to the lawmaker who belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, President Muhammadu Buhari, presently wields sufficient powers and does not require those associated with the functions and duties of the National Assembly to turn around the economic fortunes of the country.
He added that the President’s request amounts to an attempt to usurp the responsibility of the apex legislative body.
He said: Well, first I haven’t seen any bill to that effect, but let me say that I’m for any bill that will enhance the economy of the country. At the same time, any bill that will give absolute power to the President, which by the way he already has, is deadly because with the kind of democracy we practice in Nigeria, I believe he already wields enough powers to do what he is doing.
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