NASS crisis: Leadership tussle is shameful — Emir

THE Emir of Lafia Alhaji Mustapha Agwai II has described as unfortunate the leadership crisis rocking the two chambers of the National Assembly, describing it as shameful.

The monarch also chastised members of the National Assembly for allegedly allowing personal interest and ambition to becloud the their sense of nationality and told them to learn how to consider the overall interest of the country before their individual interest.

The Emir who was speaking when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara paid him a condolence visit in Nasarawa reminded the lawmakers that it was God who gives power to people.

According to him, "Nigerians are watching events in the National Assembly with keen interest which is why leaders must put their personal national interest over and above individual interest."

He said he strongly believe that God made Dogara Speaker because he has the capacity to lead saying, “God will never have made you Speaker if you do not have the capacity to lead the House.

The Emir said Nigerians toiled, sacrificing their comforts in order to effect leadership change in the country with lots of expectations but that the crisis over leadership positions is both disheartening and unfortunate.

He said, “The things we are seeing happening in the two chambers of the National Assembly are not encouraging,”

Continuing he said, people sacrificed even their lives for the present crop of leaders to be elected with the expectation that they will deliver on the mandates given to them and provide good leadership.

He said it will be disappointing if fail to learn from history and provide solutions to the many problems bedeviling the country.

“Recent events in the National Assembly are shameful. When will the crisis and struggle for power be over? People can’t wait anymore for change to take place.

“You have asked us to pray for peace in our land and for all leaders, we are also appealing to you our leaders to put your individual ambitions and interests aside because it is God who gives power to people.”

Speaking earlier, Dogara called on the Emir not to relent in praying to God over the security challenges bedeviling the country especially the North East region.

He said God will not send angels from heaven to solve Nigeria’s problems which is why the people must intensify prayers for God to guide the present crop of leaders.

The Speaker in company of other lawmakers were in Lafia to condole with Hon. Abubakar Sarki Dahiru representing Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency over the death of his father.