The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has come under attack for faulting the categorisation of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and its proscription by governors of South East states.
The Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Addo Doguwa, in his reaction to Saraki’s statement, said the position of the Senate President only shows that he is a controversial leader.
It would be recalled that Senator Saraki halted the declaration by the Nigerian military that IPOB is a terrorist organisation, adding that it was unconstitutional and that its proscription did not follow due process.
The Senate President said in a statement on Monday: “I also wish to state that the announcement of the proscription of the group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra by the governors of the South-East states and the categorisation of the group as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Nigerian military are unconstitutional and do not follow due process.”
“Our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect. I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process.
“This will go a long way in demonstrating to the world at large that we are a country that operates by laid down process under every circumstance. So, those who have been hammering on this point should maintain their cool.”
However, while reacting to the statement, Ado-Doguwa, condemned Saraki, saying the Senate President’s declaration was “a mere political statement” that portrayed him as “a controversial leader.”
He said: “I am sure the Senate President was only expressing his personal opinion, which I further believe was not a good one in the given circumstances. The Nigerian Armed forces in my opinion are doing their best professionally and in the best interest of a united Nigeria. Even the south-eastern state governors have declared the activities of Kanu’s IPOB as illegal and therefore proscribed. He (Senate President) can’t cry more than the bereaved.
“For me, the recent comment made by the Senate President on this matter was a mere political statement that would only portray him as a controversial leader. Considering the attacks meted out to innocent Nigerians by the IPOB group in the South-East and indeed the nationalistic conduct of the northern governors and the prompt action they took to stop possible reprisals in the North, the Senate President’s statement was to say the least unnecessary.”
