The Spokesman of the 9th House Of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has reacted to the report that the House has apologized to President Muhammadu Buhari over invitation.
Abacityblog.com reported that lawmaker from Borno State had moved a motion summoning the President to appear before the House and give an update on insecurity. The motion came on the heels of the killings of over 43 farmers in Borno by members of the Boko Haram sect.
Responding to the invitation, the Presidency said the House lack powers to summon the President. Citing that it’s a violation of the constitution for the lower chamber to invite the President.
However, there was a media report that the House has apologised to the President. The reports also alleged that the House also apologised to the Presidency following the invitation of the President to brief the nation over insecurity in the country.
The reports were published in media platforms (Not Abacityblog.com). Responding to the reports, the Reps spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said media professionals should uphold the ethics of the profession and not spreading unconfirmed stories.
The Statement noted that the House never apologised to President Buhari and has no reasons to apologise since it didn’t go beyond its constitutional rights.
“It has come to the knowledge of the House that few sections of the media reported that the House apologized to the Presidency over the resolution of the House which arouse from the motion sponsored by members from Borno State, requesting the invitation of the President to brief the nation on the state of the insecurity in the country.
“The President of the Presidency as the case may be, never sought for an apology from the House of Representatives for carrying out her constitutional responsibility to the Nigerian electorate. Where then did the media get the report that the House as an Institution apologized to anyone? Media professionals are advised to uphold the ethics of the profession.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the House never apologized to anyone for exercising her constitutional mandate and the 9th Assembly of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila will not do anything to desecrate or destroy the critical institution of democracy – the Legislature. We strongly believed that President Muhammadu Buhari subscribes to these Democratic ethos and the ideals as well.
