We Do Not Support PMB’s Request For Emergency Powers – Civil Group

A civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, has said the reported request by President Buhari for emergency powers to handle the economy, is unnecessary.

On Monday, August 22, 2016, according to Reuters, a government source revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to ask the parliament for extra powers allowing him to take “emergency” decisions to revive the economy.

The group also said there are enough laws in the constitution for Buhari to revamp the economy.

A statement by its Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, reads: “Buhari’s administration has since September 2015 castrated the 1999 Constitution and illegally arrogated sweeping extra constitutional powers to itself in the governance of the country; upon which it now seeks for legislative legitimization through retroactive legislation or legislative cementation by way of executive sponsored bill.

“For the purpose of putting the records straight, we have critically and clinically studied all reasons and arguments made by the presidency upon which it is seeking for “emergency presidential powers,” whether for economic reasons or otherwise and have come to the empirical conclusion that the reasons and arguments are dictatorial, tyrannical, undemocratic and grossly unconstitutional.

Whatever bedevils Nigeria governance wise under the Buhari administration, is self invited and does not require the so called ’emergency presidential powers’ as a solution.

“There are a lot of laws on public economic management in Nigeria begging for executive attention. Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution is enough to take care of emergencies in Nigeria. Any emergency power so granted Mr. President, be it for ’emergency economic intervention’ or under any other guise will expressly conflict with the 1999 Constitution, which amounts to anarchy and lawlessness.”

Also an Igbo socio-political group, Igboekulie, in Anambra said since the government did not need emergency powers to fight Boko Haram, there is no need for it to request for emergency powers to improve the economy.

Igboekulie also commended Buhari’s fight against corruption and the progress made in the fight against Boko Haram.

The group said “He needs to replicate this capacity for the economy without any special powers. His existing powers are enough to get the job done within the ambit of due process and efficiency. We cannot continue to invoke ad hoc solutions to perennial national challenges. That is why we have remained where we should not be as a nation, despite our individual talents and endowments.”

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has however called on the Buhari led administration to take a lesson on economic policy from the Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.