•Commence action against Buhari now, PDP charges N’Assembly

•Unlike PDP, our $1bn Boko Haram Fund not meant for 2019 Polls —APC


By Kingsley Omonobi, Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke ABUJA—The House of Representatives said, yesterday, that there would be trouble if President Muhammadu Buhari approves any money for arms procurement without approval by the National Assembly.

Chairman, House Committee on Army, Rimande Shawulu, who stated this yesterday, said the President lacks the constitutional powers to approve money for arms procurement without the mandate of the legislature, insisting that any such violation was bound to brew trouble between him and the National Assembly. The Senate had on Wednesday, taken a swipe at the Presidency, saying the President lacks the powers to give approval for such money without approval from the legislature. Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Ben Murray-Bruce, had said: “It has not been approved, it is simply the choice of words. The Presidency or the executive cannot spend a single kobo on such a mission unless the National Assembly approves that. “It is only when the Senate or National Assembly approves that the executive can go ahead to spend such money. The executive can only recommend and not to approve.” This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday tasked the National Assembly to commence appropriate constitutional legislative actions against President Buhari for gross misconduct over the matter. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday alleged that unlike the PDP, the fund is not meant to finance 2019 polls.

There’ll be trouble…
Shawulu, who represents Donga/Ussa/Takum/Special Area Constituency of Taraba State, said there would be serious trouble, if any money goes out for such purpose without approval from the legislature. He spoke to reporters in Abuja, on the sidelines of the Second Procurement Awareness Seminar, organised by the Directorate of Procurement, Army Headquarters. He said: “I can inform you that of recent, our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, gave approval for the purchase of more equipment for the military worth $1 billion, Dan-Ali was quoted to have said while responding to questions from newsmen on Wednesday at the State House. “The fact of the matter is that there are processes for money coming into the federation account and for the money being used. And the point we must note too is that a lot of times, pronouncements are policy statements and the policy statements are not just executed, it’s not as if, when the announcement was made, the federation account was debited. No, it doesn’t happen that way. “When the President says he’s going to spend money, there’s a process that is followed before the money is spent. So, I want you to understand that, it’s not as if money has gone out. “However, if money has gone out without parliamentary approval, that’s is a problem, it’s a very serious problem if money went out without parliamentary approval.” In his opening remarks on the occasion, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, said there was no gainsaying the fact that the operational capability of the Nigerian Army today depends on the availability of requisite hardware, highly trained personnel and other essential resources. According to him, in the past few years, the Nigerian Army “has no doubt taken robust steps and put in place policies in enhancing its procurement plans and processes, with a view to meeting its constitutional roles. Buratai said the theme for this year’s seminar” Optimizing the Operational Capabilities of the Nigerian Army through an Effective Procurement System”, was quite unique and significant, especially in view of the acute need to strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian Army towards meeting the present growing security challenges. “The security challenges facing our dear country manifest in the forms of terrorism, insurgency, separatist movements and banditry, among others,” he noted. He charged participants to reflect on the theme, bearing in mind the opportunities to enhance the Nigerian Army’s capabilities, building upon ongoing successes in view of operational commitments and improving procurement methods as well as processes in line with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007.” “This seminar, therefore, provides a veritable platform for us to familiarize and educate ourselves sufficiently on the procurement matters that would enable the Nigerian Army compete successfully in the opportunities that arise from the implementation of the national budget, Buratai added. Director of Procurement, Army Headquarters, Brigadier General ET Essien, in his welcome address, said the seminar was convened in line with the Nigerian Army training directive 2018. The objective of the seminar, he explained, was to develop the capacity of the Nigerian Army personnel on procurement procedures in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, PPA 2007.

PDP tasks NASS
Meanwhile, reacting to the development yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, tasked the National Assembly to commence appropriate constitutional legislative actions against President Buhari for alleged gross misconduct. The party also called on Nigerians to reject and resist the renewed attempt by the Presidency to help itself with the huge sums of money, alleging that the $1 billion was meant to finance President Buhari’s interests in the APC national convention and 2019 Presidential campaign. In a statement by its image maker, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said its investigations revealed that the Presidency deliberately avoided the National Assembly to avoid legislative scrutiny and accountability, thus paving way for the diversion of the fund “for selfish partisan purposes.” The statement read: “It is a notorious fact that the Presidency and the APC have been plotting to loot this $I billion from our heavily depleted Excess Crude Account, ECA), since last year, using the guise of fight against insurgency. “This is the same Buhari administration that has been boasting of having technically defeated the insurgents. This is also an administration that is not known to have exhausted subsisting budgetary allocations for defence. “Nigerians are thoroughly disappointed that President Buhari; the same African Union (AU) ‘anti-corruption champion’, who swore to be above board and to protect the constitution and our laws, will allow himself to fall for the temptation of resorting to ways and means which are totally at variance with the laws and all democratic tenets. “Democracy thrives on constitutional processes of separation of powers, due diligence and transparency and not on totalitarian tendencies. “We urge the National Assembly to look into the constitution and impose appropriate legislative instruments against Mr. President, if any part of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) has been breached by this unilateral decision.” The party also faulted government’s efforts at taming insurgency, saying there was more to it than the public was being made to believe. “It has since come to light that the Buhari administration is using the fight against insurgency as a conduit to siphon funds, as evidenced in the alleged looting of the N18 billion Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, funds.”

Unlike PDP, our $1bn Boko Haram Fund not meant for 2019 Polls —APC
Reacting, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, issued a sharp rebuke of the PDP over allegations by the latter that the presidential approval of $1 billion to fight insurgency is a ploy to use public resources to prosecute the 2019 general elections for the former. Spokesman of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who reacted to the allegation in a text message to Vanguard said; “There is no such plan. But it is easy for PDP to make this kind of wild allegation because they know that was how they got the money to fund their elections in 2015. It is what they were adept at doing; diverting money meant for security to fund their party.”


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/reps-1bn-arms-procurement-therell-trouble-buhari-approves-1bn-without-nass/

This man has proven to be unfit for Democratic rule. Same BH that has been defeated now want to gulp 1Bn USD and deserves amnesty on another hand. This is the height of contradiction.

Buhari is a curse to Nigeria, same as his supporters

bubu.. ur wahala too much

Nothing will happen, this serving senators don't even know why they are there at the first place.

Seriously this sounds like desperation from the presidency, why the rush to get that huge amount if not for dubious reasons, i thought they said they want to give boko haram amnesty, what fight do they want to fight if not to win the coming election

yarimo:
Nothing will happen, this serving senators don't even know why they are there at the first place.

What is wrong with you?, why do you always attack personalities instead of the message passed?, even if you want to support bubu, be logical with credible reasoning for once

CodeTemplar:
This man has proven to be unfit for Democratic rule. Same BH that has been defeated now want to gulp 1m USD and deserves amnesty on another hand. This is the height of contradiction.

1B USD actually.

Empty threat. Senate cant do anything, who is Reps?

I see dollars raining in some places soon

financial terrorist

hi

hi

Trouble because they have not been settled!

TIF PEOPLE!

yarimo:
Nothing will happen, this serving senators don't even know why they are there at the first place.

You need serious help urgently.

yarimo:
Nothing will happen, this serving senators don't even know why they are there at the first place.

Ur own zombiesm ehh. I swear u deserve better massacre!

The one billion dollars has already been shared in advance as we speak





I just feel for jobless graduates when they hear all these kind of news while searching for jobs and they are broke


Its a sad sh!thole

Nnamdi KANU 6th February 2014

“As they campaign vigorously for elections, you would think, they are coming to grow the economy, enthrone justice, breed unity and tolerance, love for one another.

No, they are coming to enthrone Hausa Fulani supremacy, to reposition the security agencies by sacking all competent hands and replace them with their kinsmen in order to drive their ethnic domination of the south,

the Fulani herdsmen will be armed and encouraged to slaughter us with impurity and their masters will protect them.

They are coming to ensure that my people are enslaved forever. Those who do not believe me will soon see it happen before their eyes”
#Nnamdi Kanu, 6th Feb. 2014.

Modified :
Will they loot the money Yes... Many.

Will they buy arms from this money answer is Yes.

To Protect and fight who?

To protect COWS, FULANI HERDSMEN AND BOKOHARAM LEADERS.

To fight who and who never forget PHYTON dance in a hurry..

THERE WAS A COUNTRY CALLED NIGERIA!

Government of "baba ijebu"


No due process

Bunch of. MUGUSSSSS

CodeTemplar:
This man has proven to be unfit for Democratic rule. Same BH that has been defeated now want to gulp 1m USD and deserves amnesty on another hand. This is the height of contradiction.

Mumu. money is for all security challenges, not just BH, so stop talking BS

good one
https://www.facebook.com/ADPNigeria/

When boko boys have been degraded, technically defeated and totally defeated and can no longer lunch military style attacks, why approval of US$1b to buy arms? Something is fishy.

arsenal33:


Mumu. money is for all security challenges, not just BH, so stop talking BS

Which other security challenge. what about budget ?

1b USD for extra budget. you must be joking. besides herdsmen are mere criminals.

Which kind arms?

Buhari and co don dey look for way to chop money since.

First dem wan use rebuilding the North East, Niger Delta no gree.

Dem don come with buying arms to defeat the technically defeated Boko Haram.

Na the same Technically defeated Boko Haram dem dey release from prison just for them to rejoin Boko Haram



When South of Nija go get sense?

"Unlike PDP, our $1bn Boko Haram Fund not meant for 2019 Polls —APC"

So why Now? Or you forgot there is BH since 2015 you took over?

bjayx:
Buhari is a curse to Nigeria, same as his supporters

u damn right...come 2019 let's Atikulate.. vote abubakar atiku to change d change

Instead of diverting all these monies to individual accounts, they should share the money, even if it's 2m Naira to each family in that country. Nigeria doesn't have up to 1bn families and I tell u insecurity will stop.

I've said my own!
This is my opinion, I didn't abuse any person so don't abuse me!

I don't understand what the problem is with some people. Buhari never said he would spend the USD1billion without NA approval. Femi Adesina even went on air and clarified that the executive was already seeking legislative approval through the SSA to the President on the NA. So what then is the issue? Some idiots have even gone as far as calling him a tyrant and despot for spending money without approval, even inspite of all the clarifications! I'm beginning to think this anti Buhari movement is trying desperately hard to paint a white man black in order to demonize him. These people hate the fact that their money pipe is drying up and are doing everything possible to fight back for their money pipe.