Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) , Mr Abubakar Malami has advanced reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari would not honour the invitation of the House of Representatives to the National Assembly on his administration’s efforts in tackling security challenges facing the country.
It would be recall that the House of Representatives led by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila had extended an invitation to Buhari to explain to members of the House of Representatives measures being taken to address the increasing level of killings by Boko Haram insurgents especially in North East state of Borno.
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However, Malami, in a statement on Wednesday maintained that under the law, President Buhari is not mandated or under any legal obligation to disclose the nation’s security strategies by making public on the operational tactics and strategies of the Nigeria’s military forces.
According to him, there are contending issues bordering on national security and the subject matters relating to the modus operandi of Nigeria’s Armed Forces which ought to be matters of national security and should not be openly discussed.
Malami in statement signed by his spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu was quoted as saying: “Mr. President has enjoyed Constitutional privileges attached to the office of the President including exclusivity and confidentiality investiture in security operational matters, which remains sacrosanct.
“The National Assembly has no Constitutional Power to envisage or contemplate a situation where the President would be summoned by the National Assembly on the operational use of the Armed Forces.
“The right of the President to engage the National Assembly and appear before it is inherently discretionary in the President and not at the behest of the National Assembly.
“The management and control of the security sector is exclusively vested in the President by Section 218 (1) of the Constitution as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces including the power to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces.
“An invitation that seeks to put the operational use of the armed forces to a public interrogation is indeed taking the constitutional rights of law-making beyond bounds.
“As the Commander in Chief, the President has exclusivity on security and has confidentiality over security. These powers and rights he does not share.”
The statement added: “So, by summoning the President on national security operational matters, the House of Representative operated outside constitutional bounds.
“President’s exclusivity of constitutional confidentiality investiture within the context of the constitution remains sacrosanct.
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“President Muhamamdu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has recorded tremendous success in containing the hitherto incessant bombing, colossal killings, wanton destruction of lives and property that bedeviled the country before attaining the helm of affairs of the country in 2015.
“The confidentiality of strategies employed by the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not open for public exposure in view of security implications in probable undermining of the war against terror.
“The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari was instrumental to the reclaiming of over 14 Local Governments previously controlled by the Boko Haram in North-East is an open secret; the strategies for such achievement are not open for public expose.”
Recall that recently scores of farmers were killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. President Buhari in his reaction described the insurgents as who carried out the deadly act as “insane”.
The action which represented one of the most traumatizing attacks in recent times in the North East was condemned by many including the House of Representatives which moved to invite President Buhari to brief the Reps on the security strategy of his government.
The move came after a rancorous debate on the floor of the House leading to adjournment. However, the House reconvened after its recess and attempts by Speaker Gbajabiamila to allegedly block the motion was reportedly rebuffed by members who were insistent on inviting the president to address the House.
However, many Nigerians have condemned the House for the open invitation to the president, saying the House lacks understanding of the principles and application of the tenets of a presidential system of government.
However, President Buhari in a presidential statement issued on his behalf by Garba Shehu had also condemned the killings.
He said: “I condemn the killing of our hard-working farmers by terrorists in Borno state. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace.”
