[ 2011-06-29 ]

Senate President, David Mark

Nigeria's Senate summons Security Chiefs over Boko Haram
The Senate Tuesday expressed worries over the June
16 bomb blast at the Police Headquarterson Abuja
and resolved to summon the nation’s security
chiefs to get details of the remote and immediate
causes of the dastardly act.

Those expected at the meeting which date has not
been decided include the Inspector General of
Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim; Director General of the
State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Ita Ekpeyong
and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen.
Owoeye Azazi.

This followed the passage of a motion sponsored by
Senator Eta Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom).

In the motion, which came under a point of order,
Enang urged his colleagues to condemn in its
entirety the bomb blast and others that have led
to the death of scores of people across the
country.

He also urged the Senate to commiserate with the
families of the victims of the bomb blast.

Enang further urged the Senate to raise an
investigative committee to unravel the root cause
of the terror act.

The second prayer was however rejected while the
third was amended.

Seconding Enang’s motion, Senator Ayogu Eze
(PDP, Enugu) said in dealing with the issue of
incessant bomb blasts in the country, especially
the recent Force Headquarters' blast for which the
Boko Haram group has claimed responsibility, all
efforts must be made to look into the grouse of
the Islamist organiseation that could have
triggered their action. He also stressed the need
to overhaul the security apparatus of the nation.

In his contribution to the debate, Senator Ehigie
Uzamere (ACN, Edo) called the attention of his
colleagues to the fact that a committee had
already been set up to look into the incident.

On his part, Senator Aweisu Kuta (PDP, Niger) said
it was improper for the Inspector General of
Police to come out openly to tell the nation that
he was going to deal with a group, knowing well
that the force he is heading is ill-equipped to do
so.

Taking the floor, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (ACN,
Osun) said the June 16 incident was a clarion call
on the nation to wake up from its slumber as far
as security is concerned.

Adeyeye said: “The fact that the Inspector
General of Police cannot boast of his own security
means that nobody can boast of any security in the
country”, stressing that “this chamber should
look at the problem as it is not a problem that
can be left in the hands of the executive
alone.”

Others who spoke in favour of the motion included
Senators Abdullahi Adamu (PDP, Nasarawa), Abdul
Ningi (PDP, Bauchi), Nkechi Nwogu (PDP, Abia) as
well as Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

However, Senator Datti Baba Ahmed (CPC, Kaduna)
opposed the motion on the ground that most of its
prayers are untenable.

For instance, he said it is not the constitutional
duty of the Senate to commiserate with the
families of the victims of the blast.

Baba-Ahmed also faulted the motion’s prayer to
set up a committee of inquiry into the blast,
saying the issue involved is a highly sensitive
security issue, which should be handled strictly
by security agencies.

At the end of the exhaustive debate, Senate
President put the motion to vote and two of the
prayers were carried.

Source - Thisdayonline.com

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