The Nation Newspaper has reported that Unconfirmed Presidential Proclamation document of the Ninth National Assembly suddenly surfaced on Monday in Abuja.
The Proclamation document dated May 30, 2019, purportedly signed by President Muhammadu Buhari slated Tuesday, June 11, 2019, as the date for the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.
The document also with a Presidential seal, went viral on social media.
Although sources at the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori, confirmed the receipt of the letter for the Proclamation of the Ninth National Assembly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang, claimed ignorance of the document.
Enang promised to establish the authenticity or otherwise of the document and revert back to reporters.
The Presidential Aide was yet to revert back by the time of writing the story.
Another Presidential aide also contacted asked reporters to get in touch with Enang for confirmation.
The letter tagged “President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Proclamation for the holding of the 1st session of the 9th National Assembly” read:
“Whereas it is provided in Section 64(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that the person elected as President shall have power to issue a Proclamation for the holding of the first session of the National Assembly immediately after his being sworn-in.
“Now, therefore, I Muhammadu Buhari, President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers bestowed upon me by Section 64 (3) aforesaid and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, hereby proclaim me in that behalf, hereby proclaim that the first session of the Ninth (9th) National Assembly shall hold at 10:00am on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019 in the National Assembly, Abuja.
“Given under my hand and the public seal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Abuja, this 30th day of May, 2019.
Muhammadu Buhari”
A senator condemned what he described as “hide and seek game” the Presidency was allegedly playing with the proclamation of the Ninth National Assembly.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator who does not want to be quoted noted that “there appear to be some ulterior motives to the whole scenario of the proclamation.”
He said, “It is a public notice meant to alert National Assembly members-elect that they will be inaugurated on a particular stated day. Why this unholy secrecy just few days to the expected inauguration. It is not a fire service thing. We are watching.”
Meanwhile Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators, Senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives of the party scheduled to meet in Abuja yesterday.
It is expected the party members will take position of the election of the presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly.
The PDP members who are in minority in the two chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives are not expected to field any candidate for the position of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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