A member of House of Representatives, representing Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa federal constituency, Hon. Shina Peller has described the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Assembly, as diversionary and unnecessary.
The lawmaker in an interview with newsmen said efforts should have been concentrated on legislative procedure to effect possible changes in the prosecution of the war against terror.
He said the level of insecurity in the nation, particularly in the North-East called for united front and consensus resolutions to foster lasting peace and not what he called “a resort to power play between the legislature and the executive arms of the government.”
Peller opined that instead of arguing over the need for the President to appear in person to address a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representative members, the lawmakers should have concentrated on using its legislative power in the areas of needed legislation in fighting the war.
“Instead of resorting to distraction on arguing over why the President should come or not come, why did we not concentrate on the possible legislative solutions on making effective changes in the procedure of prosecuting the war against Boko Haram?
“The popular demands range from the call for the change of the service Chiefs to deployment of mercenary fighters to prosecute the war, I believe the legislature still has the power to pick on the best alternatives as the representatives of the people.
“Rigmarolling on whether the President should appear before the joint session was a distraction from the reality on ground.
On the outcome of the #EndSARS protest, the lawmaker hinted that demand for police reform could not have been achieved immediately as insisted upon by the protesters, as he said it would involve a lot of processes that contained budgeting and appropriation.