TheCable

Toby Okechukwu, deputy minority leader of the house of representatives, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is “fiddling” with propaganda while the country is “burning”.

Okechukwu said this in reaction to a statement by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

Malami said the national assembly has no constitutional power to summon President Muhammadu Buhari.

Last week, the house summoned the president over the rising insecurity in the country. The commander-in-chief is scheduled to appear before the parliament on Thursday.

“Without making undue to efforts to win an argument, section 89 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended clearly empowers the senate or the house of representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of the constitution to procure evidence, written or oral and to ‘summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place,” the lawmaker said.

“Therefore the attempt to pressurise Mr. President not to appear clearly shows that some highly placed political actors in the ruling party are placing politics over the protection of lives of Nigerians.

“The APC is evidently fiddling with propaganda and politics while Nigeria burns.

“It is evident from APC’s position as made public by the AGF that the safety of Nigerian citizens would take a back sit in the next few days, while the argument over who is right or wrong unfortunately takes the front seat.”

Okechukwu said the president should “rise above the legalese and political fray” and show leadership in putting an end to insecurity in the country.