National Action Against Terrorism, NAAT organisation whose aim has been to monitor issues and events around any form of terrorism in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries has given Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader of House of Reps up till Tuesday, the 27th of April, 2021 to represent his call for Pantami’s sack or resignation through a motion for a debate or abandon it.

The group while insisting that neither Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila nor House Spokesperson, Hon. Benjamin Kalu stops Elumelu from presenting his motion contrary to his claims said if Elumelu does not present the bill, it will approach other serious advocates of zero terrorism to table as expected before the House.

The group in a statement on Monday says, Hon. Elumelu failed to use the window of coming via a motion for a debate on the view he earlier presented.

The group also describes as a misrepresentation of facts in the media claims by Hon. Elumelu that his motion was shut down, insisting that he was yet to bring a motion. "He made no effort to correct the wrong narratives in the press as expected from a principal officer of the House. This was while the Speaker was erroneously bashed by the public for attempting to guide him accurately" the group says.

It also added, "These wrong narratives created room for Hon Jaha to come under privilege for clarification of the House that no motion was shut down, which was so clarified without an objection. Instead of Hon. Nkem Abonta an experienced member asked the minority leader to come via a motion to avoid the ridiculing of the House by the public.

"A formal press release was made by the Spokesman assuring Nigerians in clear terms, without ambiguities, that the Speaker did not act on a frolic of his own but in line with the House rules. The Spokesperson of the minority caucus rejected this press release, demanding an apology from the House Spokesperson, who in turn, rejected the demand.

"Our intelligence gathered; a certain group was paid to drag the name of the Spokesperson of the House for doing his job as the mouthpiece of the House."

NAAT also accused Hon. Elumelu of politicizing the issue of terrorism to gain cheap popularity.

"Hon. Elumelu, the minority leader should stop politicizing this important national issue. Undue publicity and desire for popularity has driven him away from the core content of the call for the resignation or sack of Pantami. He has instead, started chasing shadows by engaging bloggers to commence a smear campaign against the Spokesperson of the House for doing his job.

"Concerned Citizens Against Terrorism (CCAT), a platform he created last night is not existent anywhere but was merely set up to cause mischief and disaffection in the House of Representatives and among Nigerians. The bloggers funded to carry out this smear campaign are willing to testify to the committee on ethics and privileges at the appropriate time.

"Declaring the Spokesperson of the House, Hon Benjamin Kalu as “implicitly supporting and promoting terrorism”, when his Press release was explicitly clear on the position of the House against terrorism is a petty politics which a legislator at Hon. Elumelu’s height should not be playing because of the attendant consequences on his political career once the evidence is tabled before the House and Nigerians.

"Hon. Benjamin Kalu does not speak for himself but for the House of Representatives and he is protected in carrying out his job. Personalising his work because one is affected by his mere declaration of the resolution of the House is against the spirit of parliamentary practice.

Source: https://abntv.com.ng/2021/04/group-gives-hon-elumelu-ultimatum-to-present-motion-seeking-pantamis-resignation-or/

Cc; Dominique, lalasticlala, Mynd44, Seun, OAM4J

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