By Henry Umoru

DISTURBED by what the National Assembly crisis portended for the polity the  Executive Director of  a pressure group,  Friends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative (FGAI), George Oji has called for a thorough Investigation into the alleged case of forgery of the Senate Standing Rules and quick resolution of the crisis

Speaking for the FGAI, which is a parliamentary advocacy, monitoring and lobby group, Oji said there is need for thorough investigation of alleged case of forgery in view of the petition written by the “Senate Unity Forum,” to the Inspector General of Police calling for an investigation into the circumstances of the emergence of the “Senate Standing Orders 2015,” which was used in the election that led to the emergence of Senator Ekweremadu as the Deputy President of the Senate as well as  the explanations provided by Senator Ike Ekweremadu that every new senate must operate with a new rule in compliance with Section 64 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended to justify the emergence of the new rule book.

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His words: “Consequently, we appeal to the Senate to conduct thorough investigations to ascertain the circumstances that led to the surreptitious emergence of the new rule book, particularly whether it was done in accordance with order 110 of the Senate standing order 2011.

“We urge that there should not be any sacred cow in the investigation process. The investigation should also be concluded quickly and on time too.

“We demand that anyone found culpable, remotely or directly in the unlawful printing of the said new Senate rule should be made to face the music; be prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction in the country, as there is no immunity against prosecution provided for any lawmaker in the nation’s constitution. The probe is not all about Ekweremadu or indeed any other individual senator. It is all about honour, integrity and character.

“It is our position that as elected representatives of the people, members of the National Assembly must be like Caesar wife; they must live above board; not engage in any form of criminal activities, much more, forgery.

“Also, Friends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative urges quick and timely resolution of the current crisis of leadership in the two arms of the National Assembly, so that the lawmakers would settle-in quickly, to commence the real business of lawmaking for which the Nigerian electorate have invested so much time and resources.

“It is our further position that Nigerians voted the present crop of lawmakers into office as part of the larger change mantra, represented by President Muhammed Buhari, which means that Nigerians expect the legislators to join hands with the President to make laws that would change our old ways of governance.’’