Senators initiate move to impeach Jonathan.

Nigeria Senate
Some Peoples Democratic Party’s senators
on Monday started impeachment moves
against President Goodluck Jonathan over
what they described as the high level of
impunity and corruption allegedly being
condoned by his administration.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed
that the PDP senators had started compiling
impeachable offences against the President.
An All Progressives Congress member of the
Senate, who confided the development in our
correspondent on the condition of anonymity,
explained that his aggrieved PDP colleagues
in the upper chamber had started reaching
out to the opposition senators.
He said, “I was personally consulted this
evening over the issue and I also cross-
checked from my colleagues who also told
me that they had been contacted.
“The grouse of the lawmakers, according to
the person that contacted me, was that
Jonathan’s handling of the last week
Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly
by the police was carelessly handled by the
Jonathan administration.
“From the look of things, the proceedings will
start on Tuesday because some signatures
had been collected already.”
Another senator from the PDP, who also
craved anonymity, also confirmed the
development to our correspondent stating
that it was certain that the President was not
capable of superintending over a free and fair
election in 2015.
He said, “Our President is not in charge. We
have seen that he had allowed the governors
to hijack powers from him. He is just like a
puppet and the earlier we act fast, the better
for us.”
Meanwhile, opposition members in the Senate
have threatened to raise the issue of the last
Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly
by the security operatives, when the Senate
resumes plenary today (Tuesday).
The spokesperson for the group, who is also
the member representing Ekiti Central on the
platform of the APC, Senator Babafemi
Ojudu, gave the hint in a telephone interview
with our correspondent in Abuja.
Ojudu said his colleagues were very annoyed
with the ways they were maltreated and
molested by the policemen, who were
deployed in the National Assembly on the
orders of the Inspector – General of Police.
He said majority of his members were of the
opinion that the IGP should not be allowed to
enter into the chambers, but should be asked
to resign for allegedly ridiculing the federal
lawmakers who had done nothing wrong
other than going to carry out their lawful
legislative activities.
He said, “We (APC Senators) are holding a
crucial meeting this (Monday) night to take a
final decision on the matter because
majority of us are really angry. Some are even
of the opinion that we should demand the
resignation or sacking of the IGP.
“I can assure you that the issue of the
National Assembly invasion by the police
would be raised when we resume sitting
tomorrow (Tuesday ), but we are going to
take a single position on the matter at our
meeting tonight,” he added.
However, the Chairman, Senate Committee
on Information, Media and Public Affairs,
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, had in an interview
with our correspondent, on Saturday,
maintained that the Senate would not be
thrown into any chaotic situation over the
Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly
complex by security operatives.
He had admitted that the IGP would appear
before the Senate but assured the public that
the matter would be handled with maturity.
He had said, “The Senate will discuss the
invasion of the National Assembly by security
operatives when it reconvenes on Tuesday.
Already we have invited the Inspector –
General of Police to find out who gave the
order for the harassment of federal lawmakers
last Thursday.
“So, I do not anticipate any form of stormy
session during our sitting next Tuesday. I can
assure you that the Senate is made up of
gentlemen and women who are very senior
citizens of the Nigerian society.
“Therefore, you cannot expect the Senate to
act, except in a decorous manner.”
Abaribe also said that the Senate would still
go ahead with deliberations on the
emergency rule in the three north-eastern
states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe contrary
to insinuations that the matter had ended
since the period of emergency had lapsed.
He said, “We had invited the service chiefs
and we will find out from them, the update on
the insurgency situation in the north-eastern
states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe so that
we can address the issue of the state of
emergency requested by President Goodluck
Jonathan.”

*Punch.