ABUJA – Senate of the Federal Republic will today, discus the merits and demerits of Saturday outburst by retired Major General Theophilus Danjuma on Nigeria economy.
The former Minister of Defence had decried seeming hopelessness of the country’s internal security and urged the citizens to take up arms and defend themselves from herdsmen attack.
Bringing the matter before the Senate, Yusuf Abubakar (Taraba Central) noted that such weighty declarations from a weighty and very well informed elder-statesman could only be ignored to the detriment of the nation.
The Taraba born senator came under Order 43 of the Senate Standing rules noting that the ex Minister former Chief of Army Staff, had accused the armed forces of colluding with armed bandits to kill Nigerians.
He expressed concern that this is a serious comments which should not be wished away especially by the Senate, as itis coming from an elder-statesman.
To this end, Se. Abubakar requested that he be allowed to bring a formal motion before the senate today (Wed., 28/03/18) on the matter.
“On Saturday, during the convocation ceremony of Taraba state University, my elder-statesman, T. Y. Danjuma, raised a fundamental and sensitive issue and said that military are colluding with militants to kill Nigerians.
“During which he called that Nigerians should take up arms and defend themselves, I therefore seeking the leave of the senate to allow me come to senate tomorrow with a substantive motion on the matter”, he said.
However, when the question was put, presiding Senate President Bukola Saraki, ruled in the affirmative.
To this end, the senate will today, debate the alleged call for self defense by General T. Y. Danjuma and determine the security implications it may have on Nigeria and Taraba state in particular.
Recall that after the call by T. Y. Danjuma, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commended the comment as a true reflection of the true security situation in Nigeria, while the All Progressive Congress (APC) chided the Taraba born General, saying the statement was not only inciting but an invitation to anarchy.
The Nigerian military has equally described the comment as most unfortunate, calling for caution, even as it threatens to deal ruthlessly with all trouble makers.
Meanwhile, the Senate has mandated its committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe alleged sharing of $50,000 to senators and US$30,000 to House of Representatives members by governors and and persons in the Presidential Villa, for the purpose of frustrating moves in the National Assembly to override the veto of President Buhari on election sequence Bill.
This followed a motion by Sen. Peter Nwobochi (Delta North), in which he claimed that following the report on the alleged bribery scandal in the National Assembly, his constituents have been calling him to question over the issue.
He stressed that since he joined the Senate, he has not seen such money.
Also, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), contribution on the matter, said the allegation is very weighty, hence the senate ethics committee should be mandated to investigate the issue under one week and report back to the senate to enable them understand what happened and take decisive action.
To this end, the senate resolved that its committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo), should investigate the allegation and report back to the senate in one week.
