- Walk out of plenary
- Buhari is tired, he should be asked to go back to his village – Rep Minority Leader
President Muhammadu Buhari has been given six weeks to solve the various security challenges facing the country or face impeachment. The Senate Minority Caucus read the riot act on Wednesday after staging a walkout of plenary.
Leader of the caucus and Senate minority leader, Philip Aduda who addressed journalists said the security crisis in the country has reached a crescendo and President Buhari as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forced need to take decisive action or step down from office.
Speaking on what led to their staging a walkout, Aduda said “we went into a close session to discuss issues as they relate to security in this country, especially the happenings in Abuja and the entire country and we agreed that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property of the citizens.
“We the Minority Caucus in the Senate also took into cognizance the fact that the Senate at various times convened various security meetings where serious security issues were discussed and made recommendations to government on measures aimed at curbing this issue of insecurity. We discovered that Abuja where we live is no longer safe. All of you will agree with us.
“At the close session, we agreed that we will give the president an ultimatum, failing which we will move immediately to issue impeachment notice. This we agreed at our executive (close session).
“So, when we came out of the close session, we expected the Senate President to brief the public on what has happened, but this did not happen.
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“We have come here in protest to brief you and to let you know that we are with Nigeria in this struggle and that were are worried that nowhere is safe in Nigeria and as such we walked out of the plenary because the security situation in Nigeria is deteriorating and urgent steps must be taken immediately to ensure this is curbed”.
He said the president has six weeks ultimatum “precisely within which this insecurity should be resolved and for our resolutions to be implemented. We have passed many resolutions on security and given all the support needed in terms of appropriation to no avail”.
Earlier at the resumption of plenary after about 80 minutes closed door session, Aduda protested the worsening security situation in Nigeria.
Rising under a point of order not cited, he requested the chamber to give a six-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issue of insecurity or face impeachment.
Aduda in his words, said, “Mr President, you may wish to recall that during the closed session we discussed the issues as they relate to security in the country and all the issues around it.
“[And] we had also discussed that we are going to come back to plenary to discuss the efforts that have been made so far on the issue of security in the country, after which we give an ultimatum to the President that he resolves this issue, otherwise we give an impeachment notice.”
But he was ruled out of order by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan who faulted the minority leader for failing to put forward his request in accordance with the upper chamber’s rules which regulates its proceedings.
Lawan in his ruling said, “Minority leader, when you’re going to come under a point of order, first, you’re supposed to cite the order.
“Secondly, you’re supposed to discuss with me what you’re going to raise on the floor. You didn’t.
“Thirdly, we have already passed that stage. So, at this moment, I really don’t know what the point of order is, as such it falls flat on its face.”
Meanwhile, the minority caucus in the House of Representatives may make the same move as the House Minority Leader said the caucus will look into the issue.
When cornered at an event later in the day, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said “I have just heard now that in the Senate, they have moved for Mr president’s impeachment. I have just been given the notice and we in the house are going to review it.
“I will make our position known quickly as soon as possible. Because a man says he’s tired, why should you still keep him there? He’s tired. He should be asked to go back to his village. That is the best thing. And I can authoritatively tell that Mr President does not even know what is going on.”
