Lockdown: Buhari lack powers to declare restriction without NASS approval – Dino Melaye

Former Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Dino Melaye lent his voice, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari lacks constitutional powers to declare lockdown without approval from the National Assembly.
Speaking through his verified tweeter handle, the controversial former lawmakee condemned Buhari for not seeking approval the declaration of stay at home order.

While addressing the nation in a live broadcast on Sunday, President Buhari announced that Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Abuja will be on a lock down for 14 days due to the spread of Corona virus starting from 11pm today.

Melaye said he is an advocate of the restriction as a measure to curbing the Coronavirus spread, but frowned at the manner at which the President disseminated the information without the approval of the national assembly.

Melaye said “You will recall that I had a broadcast one week ago asking for the lockdown of Abuja and Lagos, this buttresses the fact that I support measures to contain the Coronavirus pandemic but it must be done in accordance with the law. Nigeria is practicing constitutional Democracy.”

Nigerians had clamoured for the president to be more proactive in his approach and lead from the front lines as they had not heard from Buhari since the scourge of COVID 19 in Nigeria.

Though there were regular briefings from the Health minister and Lagos state governor, they wanted to hear their president.

On Saturday there was a trend on Twitter, #ImamOfPeace where a fellow claiming to be a Islamic cleric lampooned the president for not being visible to Nigerians in the time of the crisis.

In president Buhari’s speech he addressed lots of issues, but the part about the lockdown generated the most feedback, maybe because the nature of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State as regards the Nigerian economy.