From ChidiAsonye, Umuahia
Mixed reactions continue to trail the recent call by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South Senatorial Zone and Minority Leader of the Senate for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over high rising killings by terrorists in some parts of the country.
Senator Abaribe while contributing to a debate on the deteriorating security situation in the country on the floor of the Senate recently, alleged that the President Buhari led administration has failed to proffer solution to the high rate of insecurity across the country, calling for the president’s resignation.
But in a sharp reaction, the Abia State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, DonatusNwankpa lashed out on the Senator as he insisted that the ex-Abia deputy governor lacked the moral standing to call for the resignation of President Buhari.
Nwankpa recalled Senator Abaribe’s brand of politics, alleging that the federal lawmaker institutionalized violence in Abia politics while serving as the deputy governor.
His words, “Senator Abaribe lacks morals to make that comment. Abaribe brought violence into Abia politics. He introduced arm race, as a form of election in his Abia South Senatorial zone when he ran for the Senate.
Everybody that knows Abaribe in politics knows that he is never born into civility. So, for him to call on the President to relinquish his office is irresponsible.”
According to the party stalwart Abaribe was representing Abia South when the dreaded killer and armed-robber, nicknamed Osisikanwu, was a menace and he didn’t resign as Senator noting that he is representing a zone that is so much involved into criminality, and he has not made any categorical statement relating to it.
His further words, “Does he have any record of performances that can make him comment on other people’s performances. The answer is zero. Because, they said, he who must go to equity must go with clean hands. Abaribe’s style of politics is characterized by banditry and thuggery. Check his political records, you will see it.”
Making his contributions, a Second republic lawmaker and elder statesman, Chief JoefferyOnyemaobi, urged the federal lawmaker to toe the path of law in demanding the President’s resignation.
Onyemaobi said, “Abaribe is the Minority leader in the Senate. He is playing his role as an opposition leader. I see nothing wrong with that. Senator Abaribe’s call is akin to passing a vote of no confidence in the government, until that is done by the parliament, it will not take effect.”
He had noted that in a presidential system, the process of removing the President is contained in the Constitution and until the parliament forms 2/3 majority and insisted that the Minority leader has not taken any step to remove the President that is not performing yet.
On his part, Mr.NwakaInem, a businessman urged the Buhari-led administration to redouble it’s efforts in the fight against insecurity in the land but insisted that there is nothing spectacular about that call just as he also recalled that the same Buhari made a similar call during former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s administration when the country was experiencing a rise in insecurity which was prompted by the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
“So, if the same situation made Buhari and fellow members of his party then to call for Jonathan’s exit, nothing stops any other person to ask him to resign because he (Buhari) has made a similar call. But, is natural if you are doing a job, and expected results are not coming up, people who are being affected directly or indirectly are likely to ask you to either brace up on the assignment or you allow another person to do the job. I think, there is nothing special about the call. The most important thing is for the President to be on top of his own game to make sure that lives are protected at all times and anywhere in the country.”
Also reacting, former Presidential candidate of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), during the 2019 general election, Chief Sam Eke, described Abaribe’s action as highly belated, asserting that a motion should have been moved firstly on the floor of the red chamber in removing President Buhari.
The Abia-born political activist, opined, “Abaribe’s call is even too belated to my liking. The call should have come earlier than now. And at the same time, I am not expecting a call from somebody like Abaribe and I’m expecting a motion to be moved on the floor for an impeachment process of Mr. President.”
