Senators clash over Buhari

Senators, on Thursday, clashed on the floor of the Red Chamber, following a statement made by Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Abaribe, while condemning comments credited to Muhammadu Buhari that armed militia groups from Libya were responsible for killings in the country, said the president is “incompetent.”

Abaribe further condemned Buhari and questioned why lawmakers and Nigerians still indulge Buhari. He said the president does not deserve to be called a Commander-in-Chief, since he has failed to protect Nigerians.

He said: “This chamber has discussed the killings in Nigeria. I recall that on the matter of herdsmen and farmers’ clashes, two explanations were given by highly ranked security. The inspector general of Police said that these killings were as a result of laws being passed by states. Secondly, the defense minister said these killings were as a result of the blockage of grazing routes. And we continued to look at all these explanations.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), in London, the Commander-in-Chief and president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari said that these killings were as a result of the people who were trained by Muammar Gaddafi, implying that these people who are doing the killings in Nigeria are invaders from outside of Nigeria. If so, it validates my last point that when a commander-in-chief says he cannot take care of invaders, why is he still a Commander-in-Chief?

“Why do we still continue to indulge this president that goes along to tell everybody outside this country that his totally incompetent? It is obvious…”

Relying on Order 53 of the Senate Standing Rules, Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan insisted that President Buhari deserves the respect and courtesy of the Senate. He condemned what he described as the bitter politics of the opposition in the Senate.

Read also: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege gets 6-month suspension

Lawan said: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the leader of this country and deserves the respect and courtesy of this chamber and those of us in it. I was once a member of the opposition and I do not recall ever calling the then President or insult him.

“This is our institution. If we do not conduct ourselves with respect, nobody will. I want to ask my colleague to immediately withdraw his statement and apologies to this chamber.”

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, taking sides with Lawan, cautioned Abaribe. “We can make our points without using words that are offensive. Please be guided accordingly,” Saraki cautioned.

Responding, Abaribe said he was within what is permissible under the law. He claimed that what President Buhari said could not be better interpreted. He apologised thereafter.

“I am very well guided by you but there are words that there are no alternatives to. What I did was to interpret the words by Mr. President in London. If any word I used is misunderstood by anyone, I apologise. What I am saying is simple. The heads of security in Nigeria made several explanations for the killings of our people. It shows that there is a disconnect,” he said.

By Ehisuan Odia…

 

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