Balarabe Musa counsels Buhari on democracy

Owing to the current crisis rocking two arms in the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Balarabe Musa, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to step in and resolve the ongoing executive-legislative face-off lagged on immunity clause.

Balarabe Musa, made the call while speaking during a Television interview, stating that this is to avoid anarchy in the land.

According to the elder statesman, “I think the way forward for Nigeria is first for the President who is the most responsible representative in the country to go into this matter and solve this crisis.

“He has the moral authority and the legal mandate to go into this matter and solve it amicably.”

He warned about the likelihood of the legislature not cooperating with such effort by the President but urged him to try. “The public will judge,” he admonished.

The former Kaduna state Governor also noted that no legislation in the world provides immunity for its presiding officers.

Mr Balarabe Musa agreed with this and condemned the plan to extend the immunity provision to the Senate President and his deputy as ill-timed.

Mr Musa, however, described as also unhealthy for the country, the allegation of illegality levelled against the two principal officers of the National Assembly.

It would be recall that there were attempts by some lawmakers to alter Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution in order to extend immunity to the Senate President and his deputy which thereafter led to a rowdy session at the first plenary after resumption from the Eid-el-Fitr break.

The motion was sponsored by the Minority Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor but was vehemently opposed by the Majority Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, who said that the timing of the bill is wrong, insisting that Nigerians will not support it.