By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday at its plenary stipulated that President Mohammadu Buhari should rework the security apparatus of the country and arrest the rampant insecurity  situation within six weeks or face impeachment.

This resolution followed security breaches and every day killing in the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, which is the seat of power.

The Senate which described the security situation as a matter of urgency asked the president to wake up from slumber and arrest the dire national insecurity situation in the country.

The Senate further charged him to take control of the country’s security as the Commander- in- Chief of the Armed Forces and or face immediate impeachment.

Angered by the troubling insecurity situation all through the country, the Senate Minority leader, Philip Aduda led opposition parties senators to stage a walkout from the chamber.

Rising from the Senate Addressing newsmen the angry lawmakers chanted “All we are saying is Buhari must go.”

Senator Aduda further disclosed that the senators went into a closed-door session, where they deliberated on various security issues.

“We also took cognizance that the Senate at various fora, at various times and various meetings recommended to the Federal Government, and suggested various steps aimed at curbing this issue of insecurity but we have realised that even Abuja is no more safe.

“So at the closed session we agreed that we will give the President an ultimatum, failure of which we will move to give an impeachment notice. This was our agreement at the Executive Session but when we came out the Senate President refused to inform the public of our resolution.

 “Since that didn’t happen, we have come here in protest to let Nigerians Know that we are with them. That we are worried so we staged a walkout from the chambers to register that the insecurity in Nigeria is out of hand and urgent steps need to be taken so that the issues are addressed immediately.

“We have come here to say that we have passed so many resolutions on security, we have given all the support and all the enabling appropriation that they need,” Aduda said.

Several Senators joined in the protest, some of whom include Senator Muhammed Bulkachuwa, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, Buhari’s Senator, Ahmmad Babba Kaita and others.

Though the protesting senators noted that a six weeks  ultimatum seemed too long in the face of runaway  insecurity situation in the country but that they had to start from somewhere.

The senators had tried to pass a motion on the six weeks ultimatum on the Senate Floor but were frustrated by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

It could be recalled that over the weekend terrorists who have infiltrated Abuja  ambushed the military’s elite Guard Brigade, killing an army captain, a Liutenant and scores of others in Bwari area of the FCT. The terrorists had earlier attacked the federal capital minimum security custodial  centre and freed all their members as well as launched a deadly attack on the president’s convoy in his hone state, Katsina during the Sallah celebrations.

Before the last weekend fatal onslaught on the members of the Guards Brigade, which protects the president, the Vice, their family members, residences and the seat of power, the terrorists had boldly declared that they would kidnap the president and the Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai and federal lawmakers.

Opposition Parties Senators Stage Walkout from Senate Chambers

Following what they saw as the Senate Presisent’s betrayal of a patriotic cause, Senators of the opposition parties on Wednesday at plenary stage a walkout, following the ruling out of order on a point of order raised by Minority leader Philip Aduda (PDP-FCT ) to discuss insecurity in Nigeria.

Aduda  had raised a point of order to draw the attention of President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan to bring to the public discussions  on issues of insecurity at a close session that lasted  two hours.

Lawan, however, interrupted, saying that it was against the Senate Rule to bring up any of such matter without his prior consultation.

Lawan, thereafter ruled the minority leader out of order, following which the Senators of the opposition parties staged a walkout chanting solidarity songs.

Aduda at a news conference in accompany of other opposition lawmakers said:“We went through a closed session to discuss issues as it relates to security in this country especially the happenings in Abuja and happenings all over the country.

“We agree that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property of citizens .

“And for us the minority caucus in the Senate we took into cognizance the fact the Senate had at various levels, at various times, convened various security meetings, issues were discussed.

“We did recommend to government various steps and measures aimed at curbing these issues on insecurity.

“We realise that even Abuja that we are in is longer safe.

“At the closed session we agreed that we will give the president an ultimatum to comply.

“This is what we agreed at in the closed session. So when we came out of the closed door session, we expected that the Senate President will brief the public on the issue that happened.

“However that did not happen,so we have come here in protest to brief you and to let you know that we are with Nigerians in this struggle.

“And that we are worried that no where is safe in Nigeria and as such,we have worked out of the chamber in protest that the security situation is deteriorating and that urgent steps need to be completely taken to ensure that these issues are curbed immediately.”(NAN) 

Lai Mohammed Dismisses Threats Lawmakers Threat

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, however, described as unnecessary the threat by some legislators to commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari over security challenges across the country.

Mohammed, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday in Abuja, said there was no need for such ultimatum, as government was doing all it could to address the security challenges in the country.

Some Senators from opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed frustration over the nation’s security problems, giving the president a six-week deadline to address the issue or face impeachment proceedings.

However, the minister, who lauded the senators for their patriotism and concern, said:

“I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow there’s going to be another Security Council meeting.

“So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always say, some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility,” he said.

According to him, the federal government is working round the clock, 24 hours, to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

The minister also described the reported threat by terrorists to kidnap the president as laughable and a mere propaganda.

“As to those who have issued threats to Mr President, I think it’s more of propaganda than anything. It’s laughable,” he said.

Mohammed also said that the council approved a memo by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, for a standard operation procedure on maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum seekers in Cameroon.

He said: “You all know that due to the insurgency in Cameroon, Nigeria has witnessed an influx of Cameroonian asylum seekers and there are basic standard procedures for you to be granted status as an asylum seeker.

“This is what the council considered and approved today. And basically is that anybody from Cameroon who is seeking asylum in Nigeria must first convince the authorities that he or she has actually renounced armed struggle, before you can even be considered as an asylum seeker.

“Also they are cases of some of them who have come even when they claim to have surrendered their arms, go back at times, to join the separatist movement in Cameroon.

“So, the procedure was explained and approved today that will evaluate the basic criteria to grant asylum.

“So, all we have done today is to establish the standard procedure to ensure that those who claim to be asylum seekers are actually not insurgents themselves that have come to destabilise Nigeria or people who will come and be launching attacks against their own country from the comfort of Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)