The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has dismissed the threat by some legislators to commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari over security challenges bedeviling the country.
Mohammed, while fielding questions from State House correspondents after Wednesday Federal Executive Council (FEC), described the threats as unnecessary, saying there is no need for such ultimatum, as government is doing all it can to address the security challenges in the country.
It was reported that some Senators from opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had expressed frustration about the nation’s security challenges, giving the president a six-week deadline to address the issue or face impeachment proceedings.
The minister, who lauded the senators for their patriotism and concern, said the president was aware of all the issues and hinted that there would be another Security Council meeting on Thirsday.
“So, it is not a matter the President is taking lightly and, like I’ll always say, some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here.
“But we’re as concerned as you are; we’re not going to abandon our responsibility.”
Mohammed said the Federal Government is working round the clock, (24 hours), to ensure that the situation is brought under control.
He described the reported threat by terrorists to kidnap the President as laughable and a mere propaganda.
He also said that the council approved a memo by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for a standard operation procedure on maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum seekers in Cameroon.
“You all know that due to the insurgency in Cameroon, Nigeria has witnessed an influx of Cameroonian asylum seekers and there are basic standard procedures for you to be granted status as an asylum seeker.
“This is what the council considered and approved today.
“Basically, anybody from Cameroon who is seeking asylum in Nigeria must first convince the authorities that he or she has actually renounced armed struggle before you can even be considered as an asylum seeker.
“Also they are cases of some of them who have come, even when they claim to have surrendered their arms, go back at times to join the separatist movement in Cameroon.
“So, the procedure was explained and approved today that will evaluate the basic criteria to grant asylum in Nigeria,” Mohammed said.