Jonathan to senators: Focus on national issues not impeachment

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday told
senators behind the Jonathan-Must-Go impeachment
project that there were issues of national importance that
needed their attention rather than the plot against him.
Jonathan’s advice was contained in a reaction by his
Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin
Okupe, who fired back at the senators said to be compiling
signatures and impeachable offences against the President.
“It is our view that there are at present, serious
fundamental issues of national importance such as winning
the war against terrorism and stabilising the economy in
the face of dwindling oil revenue which require the full
attention, commitment and swift action of distinguished
members of the Senate,” Okupe said.
Arrowheads of the impeachment plot against Jonathan in
the Senate on Tuesday told journalists in Abuja that 65
senators had already signed to remove the President and
that they would formally present a request to commence the
impeachment proceedings on December 16.
The senators said they would have tabled their request this
week but for the adjournment in the Senate. The upper
federal legislative chamber had suspended plenary till
December 16 for members to participate in the ongoing
primaries of the parties.
Okupe’s full statement read, “The Senate in the last four
years has conducted its legislative functions and responded
to issues that are of great national importance with
commendable political sagacity.
“In this same period, the Senate has functioned as a
stabilising force within the polity employing much political
maturity that is required to guide and protect our nascent
democracy.
“However, confrontation and strong disagreements are not
uncommon phenomenon in Executive-Legislative
relationship world-wide.
“The recent purported attempt by some senators to prepare
impeachable offences against the President, as reported in
some section of the media, is seen by us in this light.
“We strongly trust and believe in the leadership of the
present Senate and the unwavering patriotism and
commitment that have been shown by the distinguished
members and we trust that ultimately it is this tendency
towards true nationalism that will prevail in the Senate.
“It is our view that there are at present, serious
fundamental issues of national importance such as winning
the war against terrorism and stabilising the economy in
the face of dwindling oil revenue which require the full
attention, commitment and swift action of distinguished
members of the Senate.
“We are of the opinion that all matters political can and
will be resolved politically in the overall interest of our
democracy and the wellbeing of our people.”
One of the arrowheads of the impeachment move in the
Senate, Senator Alkali Jajere, had told journalists on
Tuesday that there was no going back on the project.
He had said, “As of today, the required signatures to
initiate the impeachment process had been obtained. The
Senate has adjourned to December 16, so by that date the
impeachment motion will be presented on the floor of the
Senate.
“As of last week, 63 of us had signed up for the
impeachment; my signature was the fourth but I can
confirm to you that we have 63 signatures but after the
session today two people had called and told me that they
want to sign.
“One of them is an All Progressives Congress senator
who was away doing campaign because he is contesting the
governorship election of his state. The other person is a
Peoples Democratic Party senator.
“Before the end of today I can assure you that the list
will swell up to 70. It is on the impeachment day that we
need two-thirds of the members to carry out the exercise
but we need only one-third, which we already have, to
initiate the process. It is just a matter of one day sitting.
We will just push it before the two chambers.”
Jajere said he signed the impeachment motion because of
his conviction that there were impeachable offences against
Jonathan and that the process had been started early in
the year but was truncated.