To set up committee on NASS security.
Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday gave the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris 24 hours to locate and return the Senate Mace, which was snatched in commando style.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance by the Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila in the wake of the daring snatching by suspected thugs during a Senate session.
The Green Chamber also condemned what it described as an attack on Democracy and resolved to constitute a committee to change the security architecture of the National Assembly.
The House leader while moving the motion noted that even though it was an issue that came up in the Senate, it affects the legislature as a whole, adding that In any democracy, the legislature remains the most vital organ.
” I don’t think this can happen in the Villa or the judiciary. They took the mace and ran away, that is sacrilegious.”
The lawmakers then took a 30 minutes adjournment in solidarity with the Senate. They all crossed to the Senate to commiserate with them.
At the resumed sitting, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu- Ukeje in her contribution noted that apart from snatching the mace, the men who were armed pulled out guns and attempted to abduct two sitting senator.
“This is a totally different, we are now under attack.
Whoever did it were not a bunch of rag-tag thugs. We should realise that over time, our institution has been under attack. In the press we’re the most vilified. If we lose the parliament, our democracy is lost Time has come when Nigerians should imagine what the country would be like if we don’t gather here. Nigerians will lose more,” she said.
Tobi Okechukwu, Chairman House committee on Works said the incident in the Senate borders on treason.
” For me it is treason. This institution is under attack by what happened in the Senate. A Crime has been committed here today and the House of Representatives should show solidarity. We cannot keep quiet the Minority may have its say, but the majority will have its way. We were told that two senators were to be kidnapped . We cannot tolerate it. We have condemned the act and we must see it to the end
Mojeed Alabi noted thaton Wednesday should be a day of mourning by lovers of democracy. According to him, bickering may usually happen between lawmakers in the Chamber. “This is the first time I would be hear of external forces coming to the chambers of the National Assembly and snatching the mace while the Senators are in session.
Aliyu Madaki, APC Kano said what happened in the Senate was indicative of the situation in the country. “What happened today is very sad To think that armed bandits could invade the Senate and take the mace away “There is no security anywhere in Nigeria,” he submitted. The lawmaker noted that he is always apprehensive even when he is traveling to his constituency in Kano. ” I can’t travel to Kano with my eyes closed,” he said.
Sunday Karimi PDP Kogi said the people who snatched the mace were professionals adding that they attempted to kidnap two senators and successfully went away with the mace. “It was a failed coup de tat” he said. “All that happened today is not different from what is happening out there, Kidnapping, armed robbery etc, things are falling apart, the centre cannot hold. Any attempt to silent the parliament is an attempt to silence democracy
Hassan Saleh noted that it’s important to instruct the Inspector- General to return the mace within. 24 hours and also moved for a change of guard.
Ahman Pategi ( Kwara APC) insisted that the people that snatched the mace were not thugs or push- overs. He drew a connection between the incidence and the Senate resolution of Tuesday inviting the CBN governor and finance minister for spending $400 million on Military helicopter.
Sunday Karimi also interjected by reminding lawmakers how the Federal government spent N1.4 trillion on fuel imports “without telling anybody.” The Federal Executive Council he said has turned itself into a contract awarding body.
Rasak Atunwa. Chairman House Committee on Justice, said that the fact that the men came armed indicated that that came to inflict maximum damage. The Department of State Services, he said, has no intelligence. He said they are stymied of politics.
Orker Jev, Chairman House Committee on Rules and Business said: “I smell a big rat. This is a big conspiracy. It’s not ordinary. It’s an attack on democracy and It must be investigated. According to him, even the security men are insecure.
Muhammad Monguno , Chairman House Committee on Agricultural Services, ,said with the prevailing insecurity in the country,
“Nigeria is displaying the symptom of sliding into a fail state.”
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