Jeers, Cheers As Buhari Presents 2019 Budget Proposal To National Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presenting the 2019 budget proposal to the National Assembly amid cheers and jeers.

Wednesday’s budget presentation is markedly different from previous ones as it started with a rowdy session and the President’s speech is being repeatedly interrupted by cheers and jears.

It all started with his arrival.

As the President, who arrived at the National assembly around 12:40 pm, walked into the chamber, he was received with both cheers and jeers.

While his supporters praised him, opposition lawmakers booed him and sang freedom songs.

After pausing for the National Anthem,  the chamber became rowdy again as several lawmakers began booing him.

Advertisement

It took the intervention of the Senate President before the session began. But the situation is being repeated throughout the President’s speech, especially whenever he mentions an achievement by his government or its intentions and targets.

As the President mentioned each achievement by his government, they chorused, ‘No!’.

In a bid to defend the President, the All Progressives Congress lawmakers raised their voices to drown the scoffing opposition.

When the President said, “We have weathered the storms and made progress on every front,” the opposition lawmakers screamed, “Nooooo! Boooo!”

There was also uproar after the president said that the economy has recovered from the recession.

Noticeably irked by the tantrums and palpable disquiet in the House, President Buhari said to the parliamentarians “The world is watching us and we are supposed to be above this.”

Advertisement

This, however, did not quite the uproar, as the lawmakers continued to jeer and cheer even after the President had ended his presentation.

The session came to a close with protests in words and songs, even as Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was hushed and his remarks brought to an abrupt end.