Commotion in the house as Perm Sec refused to honour Saraki’s invitation
The crisis between the Senate and the All Progressive Congress has been extended to the Presidency. This was revealed when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastacia Nwaobia, allegedly ignored Senate’s invitation.
The Senate had invited Mrs Nwaobia to appear before the Senate on 8th of July, but she did not welcome the invitation. She insisted that her supervisors has to approve the invitation before she could honor it. A source revealed that, based on civil service procedures, an invitation has to be approved by the Head of Service of the Federation before any permanent secretary can honour such invitation. Mrs. Nwaobia however replied the Senate through a text message stating why she could not honor the invitation, as her supervisor had not given his approval.
The Senators loyal to the Senate President said that, the alleged ‘non-acceptance’ of the invitation by the Permanent Secretary was influenced by the current crisis rock the Senate leadership and the All Progressive Congress leadership. The argued that the Senate has the constitutional right to invite Mrs. Nwaobi, and that her inability to honor the invitation is a deliberate violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They therefore urged the Presidency not carry the crisis in the party to the Senate. And that it should allow civil servants to do their jobs.
Meanwhile, the Senators loyal to Senator Lawan had supported Nwaobia’s action. They said that Saraki and his loyalist had not only violated the Constitution of Nigeria to emerge the Senate President, but they had also murdered it. So they have no right to accuse any other person of committing the same offence.
Senator Kabir Marafa, who spoke on behalf of the Lawan group said, since Saraki was not crucified when he violated the rule of ranking when he announced Senators Ali Ndume and Bala Na’ Allah as senate leader and deputy leader respectively, knowing fully well that Senators Ahmed Lawan and Bukar Abba Ibrahim, were seniors to Ndume and Na’Allah. They are also guilty of similar offence, if not higher offence, so they have no power to accuse another person of committing the same offence.
