The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the chairman of the
Presidential Advisory
Committee against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay,
to stop making utterances that could be interpreted as an attack on the
National Assembly.
In a statement by Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, APC said
as a professor of law, Sagay should know better than denigrate the
institutions of democracy.
“In furtherance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) efforts to
resolve the rift between the executive and the national assembly, the
APC urges all government appointees to stop making statements that may
further worsen the relationship between the two arms of government and
derail the party’s effort to make peace,” the statement read.
“Specifically, the party urges Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), chairman of
the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) to
exercise restraint and desist from making utterances that may be
misconstrued as an attack on the institution of the national assembly.
“The party acknowledges the fatherly role being played by the
President, H.E Muhammadu Buhari to resolve outstanding issues with the
national assembly, by setting up a high-level committee led by the Vice
President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“We believe the comments attributed to Prof. Sagay are uncalled for,
regrettable and could further complicate the relationship between these
vital arms of government.
“Our expectation would be that as a Law Professor of repute, Prof.
Sagay would appreciate the need to not denigrate the institutions of
democracy, be it the executive, legislature or judiciary.
“Moreover, as an appointee of Mr. President, we should expect the
learned professor to key into his principal’s temper and help him to
make friends that would make his job easier and not make enemies of
people who, by virtue of the position they occupy under our law, are
critical to the running of government and the nurturing of our
democracy.”
APC also told Sagay, that the Senate has every right to summon him, after he claimed the lawmakers lacked the power to do so.
“The
party specifically objects to the professor’s call on the senate to
withdraw invitation extended to him. As someone appointed by our
government, we find this kind of posturing unacceptable and potentially
injurious to the peace efforts by the party,” the statement added.
“The party wishes to reiterate its earlier position admonishing all
elected or appointed officials of our government to desist from
utterances that may endanger efforts to build harmonious relationship
between the two arms of government. Prof. Sagay should not operate
outside this admonition.
“The party expresses happiness with the meeting it had with the
senate caucus on Tuesday and is confident that all the issues raised
will be addressed. It also urges the national assembly to further
intensify its efforts to ensure timely passage of the 2017 national
budget.”
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