The presidency has assured that the alleged rift between the legislative and executive arm of government was blown out of proportion and that a peace talk process has been initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari to smoothen the relationship between both arms of government.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had set up a committee chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to look into how to resolve the rift.
A competent source in the Presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity with The Punch on Monday confirmed that talks had started, describing the Osinbajo panel as a standing committee.
The source explained that the Vice-President had met with leaders of the National Assembly even personally, adding that Buhari had also met with them.
He stated, “The Federal Executive Council has something like a standing committee devoted to interacting with the National Assembly.
“That committee has all former members of the National Assembly as members and the Vice-President is the chair.
“That was the committee the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, talked about.
“Now, since the FEC meeting, where this matter came up, there have been several interactions between both arms of government including meetings with Mr. President and National Assembly leadership. “The Vice-President has hosted the National Assembly leaders too, including when some of them came for one-on-one meeting.
“The point is that at any point, interactions are going on and very robust too between the Presidency and the National Assembly.”
The source expressed the hope that the grey areas would soon be sorted out.
He added that while the Presidency had made its position known on the issue of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, further talks could still hold.
“On Magu, the Presidency is very clear and the views are already public. And yes, there will be more opportunities for even more interactions between the two arms of government on Magu and other pertinent issues,” the source said.
