Say the move is patriotic and timely
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has given its backing to last week?s threat by the House of Representatives to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan over poor budget implementation.
The group said in a statement it found the move ?patriotic, germane and timely.?
The threat came short of a full House resolution on Thursday, after lawmakers cashed in on a proposal by Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, asking that impeachment articles be drawn up against the President if budget implementation, which has suffered in the past years, remained abysmal by September.
The proposal was not passed on technical grounds however, but it drew huge support from the lawmakers who applauded Gbajabiamila for the move.
Lawmakers have repeatedly criticized national budget implementation that usually hovers between 30 and 50 percent.
Current performance of the budget, less than seven months to the end of the year stands at about 30 percent, according to the House Appropriation committee chairman, John Enoh.
The CNPP said the House should not back down on the threat but should go ahead and present the president with the options of fully implementing the 2012 Appropriation Budget by September or facing impeachment.
?For over the years the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Federal Government of Nigeria has in spite of unprecedented Oil Revenue failed to advance the welfare of Nigerians, hence the Boko Haram insurgent, kidnapping and other social vices? the group said in statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu.
?We are at a loss how the gross unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure and decadence of social services can be addressed without implementation of the Budget.?
Any such action would demand the concurrence of the senate to pull through. However, the upper chamber has been less critical of the President.
