ABUJA – President Mohammadu Buhari has forwarded a letter to the Senate, notifying it of his ten-day medical vacation to London, United Kingdom, just as the senators yesterday condemned the killing of a women in Kano, over alleged blasphemy.
According to the letter addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, and read by the Deputy Senate President, Ike EKweremadu, who presided over the plenary yesterday, President Buhari said “In compliance with section 145(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, I wish to inform the distinguished Senate that I will be away on a short medical vacation from 6th – 16th of June 2016, and while I am away, the Vice President will perform the functions of my office”.
In another development, the Senate, following a motion raised by Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East), over the killing of a Christian woman, Bridget Agbahime, resident in Kano, the Senate urged the federal government to arrest those involved in the crime and bring full justice on them.
Recall that the victim was on Thursday last week lynched to death by some Muslim youths over alleged blasphemy against their religion, an action that had attracted condemnations from various quarters including the Presidency since then.
Anyanwu, while raising the motion, said the killing was uncalled for and a clear barbaric violation of the principle of sanctity of human life.
He however stressed that the culprits should not be only arrested but prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekwerenmadu, who presided over plenary charged the inspector General of Police and other relevant agencies of government to ensure the culprits are prosecuted, saying “government must ensure protection of lives and properties of all Nigerians at all time in whatever circumstances”.
“Let me on behalf of the Senate express our condolences to the family and to the people of your constituency, the entire Imo State and indeed the entire Nigerians.
“This is because every soul matters to us as Nigerians. The rate of killing in Nigeria is becoming very embarrassing. We must do everything as leaders to protect lives and properties of the citizens of this country: every life matters to us so we cannot continue on the path of diminishing human life.
“It is the responsibility of security agencies to ensure that every Nigerian is protected wherever he lives.To ensure that this doesn’t happen again, every effort must be made to fish out those responsible so that they will face the full wrath of the law”, he added.
