Buhari’s Invitation: Reps Deny Apologising To Presidency

A combination of file photos of President Muhammadu Buhari and lawmakers at the House of Representatives chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

The House of Representatives has denied apologising to President Muhammadu Buhari for inviting him to brief the nation on the security challenges in the country.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Benjamin Kalu, made the position of the House known in a statement on Sunday.

“It has come to the knowledge of the House that few sections of the media reported that the House apologised to the Presidency over the resolution of the House which arose from the motion sponsored by members from Borno State, requesting for the invitation of the President to brief the nation on the state of insecurity in the country.

“The President or the Presidency as the case may be, never sought for an apology from the House of Representatives for carrying out her constitutional responsibility to the Nigerian electorate,” he said.

Kalu’s statement was in reaction to a purported report that the lawmakers had apologised to the President for inviting him.

This comes on the heels of an invitation extended to President Buhari by the House to brief them on the security situation in the country.

The lawmakers had invited him following the killing of over 40 farmers by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

Two days before he was expected to appear before the lawmakers, President Buhari said he would honour the invitation but did not show up.

Thereafter, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for the impeachment of the President but the House distanced itself from it.

Reacting to the claim that the House apologised to the President, Kalu insisted that nothing of such happened.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the House never apologised to anyone for exercising her constitutional mandate and the 9th Assembly of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, will not do anything to desecrate or destroy the critical institution of democracy – the Legislature.

“We strongly believe that President Muhammadu Buhari subscribes to these democratic ethos and ideals as well,” he said.