President Muhammadu Buhari met separately today behind closed doors, with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.
The President first met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara around noon behind closed door. The details of the meeting was not disclosed.
When Speaker Dogara came out of the meeting, which lasted for about an hour, he told journalists that it’s a routine meeting. He added that the impasse between the Legislature and the Executive is normal in democracy and should not be taken seriously.
The President later met with the Senate President, Bukola Sariki for about 40 minutes. Again, behind closed doors.
Saraki told journalists that the relationship between the two arms of government was cordial. “The relationship is very cordial, you cannot examine (the National Assembly) by one or two issues. That is the point I’m making. You cannot examine (the relationship) based on NDDC or examine it based on EFCC.
“We have other issues like the Ministerial (names) we are going to work on and the amnesty we will soon work on. We have the budget that is more important, we have INEC, we have PIB, we have so many things and I think it is a mixture of all that that should guide us.
“So, don’t let us overheat the polity.’’
On the six months suspension of Sen. Ali Ndume by the Senate, Saraki said he had no power to recall him as being advocated by some individuals and groups.
Earlier, the two Presidential Aides for National Assembly Matters for the Senate and House of Representatives, Sen. Ita Enang and Kawu Sumaila, respectively, were sighted going into the president’s office.
The National Assembly and Presidency have been animosity and rancour over some issues including the non-confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as EFCC chairman, problems with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali, (RTD), SGF Babachir Lawal and the refusal to consider and approve the list of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners
