From: Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin-Kebbi
Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has said that the widely reportedly face-off between the Presidency and the National Assembly, especially the Senate are normal, saying that such perceived frictions are mere constitutional interactions expected between the two arms of government, and not in any way a vindictive war with President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Doguwa stated this in an interview with Journalists in Birnin-Kebbi after he was conferred with a traditional title by Emir Arewa Kangiwa as “Dallatun Kangiwa.”
He argued that the federal lawmakers’ intentions were merely misconstrued.
His words, “What is happening between National Assembly and Presidency especially with the Senate is not a face-off as being reported. The legislature are not fighting the Executive. It is like an adage in my community that ‘if you want to earn the confidence of a blind man, while roasting his chicken, you must be singing so that the blind man would not have a thought that you are eating his chicken.’
“We are doing this to protect the Constitution and Nigerians. When we are appropriating, people should not say we are padding; when we are screening nominees, they should not say we are intimidating Presidency.”
Doguwa who said the National Assembly was not on vendetta with President Muhammadu Buhari administration continued, ” After all, Mr. President still has confidence of majorities of Nigerians and I will urge them to continue to support his administration especially in his efforts in fighting corruption “.
Earlier, some members of the House of Representatives from Northeast zones and north central who accompanied Doguwa to Kebbi State paid a courtesy visit to Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu at the Government House.
They included the Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Umar Buba Jibril, representing Kogi/Lokoja Federal constituency who represented Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
The Deputy Leader of the House, in his remark, said the House would ensure that traditional rulers are given Constitution roles due to their historical figure in the society.
According to Jibril, “It is high time we started going down the memory lane to actualise this dream. We pray that we shall achieved this and promote the traditional rulers to their real positions in the country”.