PDP Senators: We are not Plotting Buhari’s Impeachment

Senators on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
on Tuesday  denied reports that they were planning to
commence impeachment moves against President
Muhammadu Buhari.
The senators, in a statement jointly signed by leaders of PDP
caucus which include Senate Minority Leader, Godswill
Akpabio, Minority Whip, Philip Aduda and Deputy Minority
Whip, ‘Biodun Olujimi, described any claim of impeachment
plot against President Buhari as “false, baseless and
unfounded.”
The denial came against the background of a letter from a
former Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony
Anenih, advising the Chairman, National Caretaker Committee
of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, to “dissuade the PDP
Caucus in the National Assembly from participating in the
alleged ‘ill advised’ adventure of removing President
Muhammadu Buhari from office.”
But the PDP senators debunked the allegation insisting that
there was nowhere the issue of impeachment against the
president was ever discussed among PDP senators. They
urged Nigerians to ignore such rumour as it was capable of
creating disaffection in the polity.
The senators further said they were more pre-occupied with
enormous challenges confronting the economy, pointing out
that the comment of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi
Adeosun, while briefing senators last Thursday that the
economy was in “technical recession” was of more concern to
them, hence, the need to join hands with the executive to
revive the economy.
The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to
state categorically that the said impeachment plot is false,
baseless and unfounded. The PDP Senate Caucus had neither
discussed nor participated in any discussion or congregation
on the issue of impeaching and/or serving notice of
impeachment on President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. Hence,
we advise Nigerians generally to be cautious in spinning and/
or peddling rumours capable of heating up the polity.
“By the admission of the Hon. Minister of Finance of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria when she appeared before the
Senate on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at plenary, the Nigerian
economy is technically in recession. Therefore, this is no time
for politicking. Rather we should all join hands together to
address the problems of unemployment, hunger, poverty and
insecurity currently ravaging our country.
“The downturn in the economy is of more concern to us as
PDP senators who are known patriots. Nigerians are passing
through very difficult times and our immediate concern is how
to assist in proffering solutions to the economic crises that
we are presently faced with.
“Before the Senate proceeded on a six-week recess on
Thursday, July 21, 2016 there was no such item as
impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on the
agenda of the PDP Senate Caucus or that of the Senate of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The senators pledged to co-operate with their counterparts in
the All Progressives Congress (APC) to make laws that would
elevate the living standard of all Nigerians.
Anenih had, in a four-page letter to Makarfi, dated July 15,
2016, warned against the removal of Buhari. He said he was
persuaded that the time was neither right nor the reasons
compelling enough to contemplate the impeachment of the
President.
In the letter, titled: “The PDP Caucus in the National Assembly
and the threat to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari”, he
urged Makarfi to personally lead the process of consultation
with PDP members in the National Assembly, with a view to
getting them to play a patriotic, rather than partisan role, at
this time of national economic and social uncertainty.