However, he said the lawmakers were blackmailed from impeaching the President.
The ex-Senate President said this in confirmation of the comment recently made by a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, that pleas were made to the National Assembly not to impeach Obasanjo.
Anyim, who is also a former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), spoke in Abuja on Monday at the second public lecture organised by National Assembly Legislative Digest, with the theme, ’20 Years of the National Assembly in the Fourth Republic: The Tasks Ahead of the Ninth National Assembly.’
He said, “I had to struggle to the very end, to hold on to the seat of the Senate President and administer the office to the best of my ability. At about the same period, there was also a change of Speaker in the House of Representatives, though in circumstances not similar and not as controversial as those of the Senate.
“The 5th Senate also witnessed a change of a presiding officer. I recently read a report in the media crediting Gen. Yakubu Gowon as stating how the body of former Heads of State persuaded the then leadership of the National Assembly not to impeach President Obasanjo.
“During our meeting with the former Heads of State, we shared one concern with them, that is that a situation where the impeachment of a presiding officer is regarded as democracy in action and, on the other hand, impeachment of a chief executive (president) is regarded as democracy under threat, was not acceptable.
“I wish to restate our view that impeachment of any elected officer in any arm of government, especially when it is contrived, is unhealthy for our democratic progress. Accordingly, I urge both arms of government to strive to avoid impeachment for whatever reason.”
from tribune
I just can't believe that this man was once a Senate President. Like, what did he do for the nation and the South East? I do not recognise his name at all. One of the things I have observed about our leaders is that they are not visionary at all. They only have short term thinking and goals. I am always marveled at Dubai and how far the have come. Apologies if I deviated from the original post.
ReplyDeleteRegards
You’re covered
Delete@Anon 10:21,
DeletePius Anyim, as the President of Senate, influenced the award of contract for the construction of Okigwe - Uturu - Abakiliki road. That was the first (and possibly the only) road ever constructed by the German road construction company - Julius Berger. This is one of his many achievements.