Permit me, Mr. President, to once again draw your attention to the ongoing efforts by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to squash the summons on her by the House of Representatives committee probing her alleged use of N10billion to fly private jets. She has approached the courts twice in the last one month to bar the House of Representatives from investigating the allegation. This sort of larger-than-Nigeria posture negates all known democratic principles.
Also permit me to add that her action is unbecoming of a public officer. Her attempt to judicially arm-twist the House of Representatives and by extension the National Assembly from carrying out their constitutionally granted duty is an unpardonable disrespect to the hallowed chambers and all Nigerians who voted for the lawmakers as their representatives and an embarrassment to any government.
It is worthy of note that Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution give the National Assembly powers to summon any person in Nigeria to appear before it. Therefore, they have the right to invite anybody 24/7 so long as there are germane issues to be unraveled in the national interest. Also note Mr. President, that Diezani appears to be the first minister in the current democratic dispensation to drag the National Assembly to court for seeking to carry out their constitutional mandate.
Many ministers have appeared before the National Assembly. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has honored several summons by both chambers of the National Assembly to clarify issues. Yet she did not go to court to stop the invitation. Stella Oduah, before she was sacked by your government also appeared a number of times before the legislature. Why should Diezani's case be different, if she has nothing to hide?
Mr. President, Nigerians are watching and waiting to see how you will deal with this executive rascality by one of your ministers. Will you act to discourage or encourage this utter disregard for the institution of the National Assembly by a minister nominated by you and cleared for appointment by the National Assembly? She must not be allowed further latitude to over-heat the polity and seek to consciously pitch the legislature against the executive.
Further note that her continuous prorogation of her invitation by the House of Representatives is not only a bad example in a democracy but a bad precedent if allowed to take root. Approaching the court to squelch a lawful summon by the National Assembly is a direct and contemptuous breach of Section 88 and 89 of the Constitution which empowers both chambers of the National Assembly or their constituted committees not only to investigate any matter with respect to which it has powers to make laws, but to summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence when ever it becomes imperative to protect our common patrimony.
Mr. President, is Diezani saying that other ministers and public officials should henceforth engage in this sort of executive rascality by always seeking frivolous injunctions from the judiciary to disobey the National Assembly, desecrate our Constitution and pervert our justice system? Permit me, Mr. President, to use this opportunity to urge the judiciary to be mindful of their actions and inactions in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country because one day, they will have to give account to Nigerians. The judiciary must not be seen to support evil and insubordination by government officials who now appear larger-than-the-country they were appointed to serve.
I sincerely hope that Mr. President will call Diezani to order and preserve the esteem of the executive in the eyes of the legislature. I sincerely hope Mr. President would not validate the perception of some critics that it is only the Ijaw Woman that can do this and go scud free because of the support she is enjoying from the government. Otherwise, no serious government would tolerate this from any of its employees.
I expect you Mr. President to act soon as Nigerians are waiting to see your decision on this matter.
I expect you Mr. President to act soon as Nigerians are waiting to see your decision on this matter.
Thanks.
Signed Comrade Timi Frank
Signed Comrade Timi Frank
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