Buhari’s regime is the most transparent in Nigeria - Ita Enang

-Presidential aide, Ita Enang, urges lawyers and all Nigerians to feel free to approach government functionaries on activities of government they are not clear about

- He dismisses reports that the executive is attempting to muzzle the legislature

- President Muhammadu Buhari displays his funny side again on Friday, June 15, when he played host to senior government officials from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

The senior special adviser to the president on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang, on Saturday, June 16, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was the most transparent.

Enang stated this when lawyers from Akwa Ibom, under the auspices of Akwa Ibom Lawyers Forum, visited him in Abuja.

He urged lawyers and all Nigerians to feel free to approach government functionaries on activities of government they were not clear about, rather than forming wrong opinions about government’s intentions, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The president’s aide said that as an important part of the society with ability to shape public opinion, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) should avoid the temptation of acting on unfounded information.

He advised NBA, lawyers and other Nigerians to always seek clarifications about government activities, saying the present administration was open to giving clarifications on its policies and activities.

“President Buhari’s government is the most transparent in Nigeria and he has put in all he can to serve the nation.

“The president and all of us working with him are the servants of the people and we are always ready to attend to concerns by Nigerians about the running of government.

“Nigerians should feel free to ask questions on what they do not understand rather than assuming and forming wrong opinions about workings of government,” he said.

On allegations that the executive was attempting to muzzle the legislature, Enang said that such allegations were unfounded.

“The Executive is not muzzling the Legislature. It is only asking the legislature to act within its constitutional powers and not get into executive realm, otherwise the executive will continue to resist.

“We have seen and read about three or four judgments in the last few weeks, saying the legislature does not have the powers to exercise most of the powers it has been exercising.

“For instance, indicting someone or asking someone to answer to criminal charges before them, are the things the executive keeps resisting because they are contrary to the law.

“These are the actions that some people misinterpret to mean that the executive is either not cooperating or it is muzzling the legislature.

“The executive is only asking the legislature to act within its powers and allow the judiciary to be the judge between them,” he explained.

On Buhari’s ambition to run for a second term in office, Enang said his good records were speaking for him.

According to him, the president’s record of achievement, integrity and love for country are bare for Nigerians to assess and do the needful in 2019.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari jokingly said the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) would 'abduct' the Senate Minority Whip, Philip Aduda, from the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The president made the comment when he played host to senior government officials from the FCT who came to pay him Sallah homage.

President Buhari who expressed delight at the turnout for the homage, jokingly said that perhaps for the 2019 elections, the ruling APC would try and "abduct" Aduda, who was among his visitors, from the opposition PDP.