WITH the implementation of the nation’s 2012 budget hitting 65 per cent, controversy over the plot to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan by the House of Representatives assumed another dimension on Monday, when a former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor P.Z Azinighan, advocated the need for the lower chamber to devote more time to quality representation, rather than “unholy plot” to sack the president.

He said the lawmakers should desist from coercing the president to do their biddings by working on the need to provide quality representation to Nigerians, so as to justify the votes of the electorates.

Azinighan, who made this known in press statement, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, contended that “the House must not portray itself as a blood hound to arm-twist the executive to do its bidding through impeachment threats, but must, at all times, conduct itself as a symbol of the nation’s conscience, truth and the collective aspirations of all Nigerians.

“Members of the House do not represent themselves only, but over 150 million Nigerians in their various constituencies.”

The former NDDC boss, who admitted that any deliberation in the House on the proper implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act should be applauded, however, said the “motion threatening impeachment against the president for not achieving 100 per cent implementation of the budget by September, raises fundamental questions on the quality of representation offered Nigerians. It also underscores the need for capacity building for legislators in our country.” 

The statement further read that “it is common knowledge that Nigeria’s budget is based on revenue which is generated mainly from daily earnings from crude oil for 12 months; from January to December. As at September, revenues for three months of the year, October, November and December will not have been earned.

“At best, revenue performance will have been 75 per cent. How can any president achieve 100 per cent budget implementation in September? There is nowhere in this world that such a feat can be achieved,” Azinighan asked. 

He then charged the House leadership to call some of its members to order, adding that “the National Assembly has a joint responsibility with the executive arm of government to ensure proper implementation of the national budget through the oversight function performed by its various committees.”

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Impeachment threat
written by Kingsley Teibogiren, August 21, 2012

Thank my Pastor and respected elder statesman. Some of the house members think they are responsible to themselves. They owe us the masses explanation on how the spends our constituency funds given to them over the years.Most of them simply see the constituency fund as their pocket money without recourse to the masses who are the real owners. They should not forget that 80% of them have nothing to show forth for why they are elected as our reps. They need to be recalled. as for some, they are just bench warmers supporting others views. e.g. Hon. Nicholas Mutu of the Bomadi/Patani fed.constituency.we are waiting for them.

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written by Kingsley Teibogiren, August 21, 2012

Thanks once again P.Z.Aginighan for ur outstanding contributions to Ijaw Nation while u were NDDC Actg MD.we know ur worth for the few days u were there. Godbless u for this piece of exposition on the national house.

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