The lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has called on his colleagues in the National Assembly to support the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari in the interest of the nation.
Jibrin, who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, said it was embarrassing that President Buhari is gradually becoming the lone voice fighting and condemning corruption in strong terms, saying it is pertinent for the National Assembly as an institution to rise up to this challenge.
According to him, the National Assembly must not only be heard but must be seen at the fore front of the fight against corruption as this is one of the main reasons why Nigerians overwhelming elected President Buhari.
The lawmaker said, “We must do everything possible to repair our battered image as an institution and earn the trust of Nigerians. I advocate even deeper search light on members of NASS by the anti-corruption agencies. This will prevent corrupt and incompetent people from aspiring into the NASS.”
Jibrin went further to condemn the proposed immunity for principal officers of the National Assembly.
He stated that he would never support such move, as granting National Assembly members immunity would be a huge contradiction coming at a time when the bar in the fight against corruption was being raised and every public officer was expected to live a life in a way that clearly showed he or she had nothing to hide.
“The NASS is the heart of the country, the conscience of the nation and an institution that should be the biggest supplier of leaders to the country as seen in many advanced democracies. For God’s sake why do we need immunity? Why should we even be contemplating such or issues like changing impeachment procedure of presiding officers? in whose interest? We are elected officials. We must live above board.”
He also announced his intention to commence a series in the following days that will open up vital conversation on the National Assembly that will help our collective journey as a country.
“I shall not relent on this line of action. Once I believe in something and convinced that it is the right thing, I stay on course even if I am alone. We must learn to put Nigeria’s interest over all other interests because no interest is bigger than our collective interest and progress as Nigerians. We must all take a stand against corruption and join the president in this much needed fight against the scourge of our underdevelopment,” he added.
