The House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to make public the identity of the National Assembly member alleged to be sponsoring terrorism.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in his independence Day address, said high-profile individuals, including a member of the national assembly, are those financing secessionist agitators like IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and Yoruba Nation leader, Sunday Igboho.
He added that “decisive actions” will be taken against secessionist agitators and their sponsors, who threaten the country’s national security.
The house resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion of Privilege sponsored by Hon. Ben Igbakpa.
Igbakpa expressed grave concern over the weighty allegation against a serving member of the 9th Assembly.
Igbakpa rising under 6 Rule 2 of the House Standing Order, observed that Section 17(a) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017, confers the constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking as enshrined in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on the House.
Igbakpa said: “As reported by media houses across the world, President Buhari in his Independence Day speech told the world that one of us is sponsoring terrorism.
“IPOB by what it’s to the face of the law today is a terrorist organisation even when we have our reservations because the laws of the land and courts have spoken.
“Mr Speaker, that means that 469 members of this National Assembly are crime suspects. On that fateful day, I went to Akure to be part of the burial ceremony of our colleague, Hon. Expensive.
“On Saturday, I had to honour an invitation to Ghana for a wedding, Mr Speaker; it will amaze you what I faced in the hands of Ghanaian officials.
“They detained me for about four hours, that they are trying to confirm something, I stayed at the airport for four hours, missed the wedding I went for, and at the end of the day, one of them walked up to me saying sorry sir there’s an announcement in Nigeria that a member of Parliament is sponsoring terrorism and we are put on red alert to ensure that no member of Parliament comes here to hide or cause trouble.
“I had to come back home dejected. They have been calling me all over the world; my friends have been telling me, who among you is that person is sponsoring terrorism.
“The right thing for a father to do is to name and shame any child bringing about division. But Mr President didn’t shame that person or name them; instead, he called 469 members.
“Because of the fact that we’ve always cooperated and the fact that Nigeria has a lot to deal with, so I’m appealing, if not the right thing to do is to invoke section 28 of the constitution they can tell us who among us is sponsoring terrorism.
“All of us here are prime suspects. I appeal that the leadership of the House should liaise with their counterparts in the Senate to try and see the President so that he can tell us who’s sponsoring terrorism amongst us.
“The President should also go ahead and prosecute and convict that person.”
