…Threatens To Impeach Buhari
Despite the N2.41trillion defence and security budget, terrorists have continued to unleash terror on Nigerian Citizens.
They maimed and killed Nigerians, including security personnel with little or no challenge from the security agencies to justify the amount collected.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed disclosed during the budget breakdown that out of the N17.12 trillion Budget for the 2022 current fiscal year, a total of N2.41 trillion, representing 15% of the entire budgetary projections, was earmarked for security and defence.
Just yesterday, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan told the security agencies in the country to be alert and do more to stop the heightening spate of insecurity across states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) perpetrated by terrorists.
This was even as he charged political leaders to be alive to their responsibility of ensuring the protection of lives of citizens.
Lawan, while addressing lawmakers shortly before the upper chamber adjourned for its annual recess, bemoaned the incessant killing and maiming of Nigerians by terrorists.
He assured that the National Assembly would provide the needed support to the military to ensure the restoration of security to affected parts of the country.
He said, “I am particularly concerned like all of us here, through our various interactions, including a very important closed session we had today.
“We (Federal Government) have to be alert and alive to our responsibility, particularly to secure and protect the lives of our citizen.
“The security situation has been a very difficult and challenging one, but, recently, there has been an increase of attacks, killings and maiming of our citizens.
“As part of this administration, we will always provide the kind of support at our military and other security agencies require.
“We have done that before through appropriation and approval of supplementary budget of 2022, where over N900 billion was given as additional funding to our security agencies.
“We know that it may not be enough, but that is significant, and we expect our security agencies to do far better than they are doing at the moment.
“As political leaders, we must have it in mind that we are responsible to the citizens.”
The Senate President, informed lawmakers that they might be called upon during recess to attend to national emergencies should the need arise.
Earlier, the Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda (FCT), 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.”
The Senate President, while delivering a ruling on Aduda’s point of order, faulted the lawmaker 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.”
In a swift response to the impeachment threat, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the President, Malam Garba Shehu in a statement, described the impeachment attempt as ridiculous.
The statement read in part: ”The performative and babyish antics of those senators staging a walk out notwithstanding, Senate President Ahmad Lawan’s refusal on Wednesday to entertain the ridiculous motion to impeach our President was quite appropriate and correct.
”Rather than making a mockery out of voters by trying to imitate what they see in America, the opposition would be well advised that their time would be better spent tackling the pressing issues Nigerians face, such as the current global cost of living crisis.
”Their continued failure to do so goes some way to explaining why they remain in opposition.
”In contrast, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is committed to finding lasting solutions to the emerging security threats, including those left behind by the PDP in the South-South, the Northeast and throughout the federation.
”In the last 24 hours, two more Chibok girls were freed, in addition to the three brought home last week.
”These kinds of headline grabbing stunts for which the opposition is now well known serve no one, least of all their constituents.
”We would respectfully remind them that it is those same constituents that they were elected to serve, and are paid to do so with public money.
”We would welcome their collaboration in our efforts to solve the problems Nigerians face on a daily basis. No one is asking them to waste their time attempting to impeach a democratically elected President at the end of his second term – certainly not their constituents.
”They should ask themselves: do they want to be in government or do they want to be in the headlines? If they want to be in government they should start acting like it and stop undermining Nigerian voters.”
