Reps summon Buhari, urge explanations on insecurity within 48 hours

The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked President
Muhammadu Buhari to appear before it and address Nigerians on the
spate of insecurity across the country.

The House said failure by the President to explain the issues
raised by the legislative house would confirm the opinion of
Nigerians that the administration had failed in its responsibility
to protect lives and property.

This is part of the resolutions passed at the Plenary when the
lawmakers unanimously adopted a motion moved by the lawmaker
representing Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency in Benue
State, Mr. Mark Gbillah.

The motion was titled, ‘Resurgence of the Incessant and Annual
Massacre of Innocent Nigerians Across the Country by Alleged
Bandits and Killer Herdsmen, the Gradual Occupation of Affected
Communities by these Attackers and the Lack of Adequate
Rehabilitation and Relief Materials.’

Adopting the motion, which was not debated, the lawmakers
resolved to “request that the President and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces address the House and the entire nation within 48
hours.”

Buhari is expected to make a series of explanations to
Nigerians.

They are, “His inability and the inability of his administration
since inception to declare the killer herdsmen as terrorists to
enable commensurate action against them by the Armed Forces.

“The inability of the of the Armed Forces under his watch to
stop the recurring death of scores of innocent Nigerians annually
from systemic attacks by killer herdsmen and alleged bandits, and
the gradual occupation of the affected communities by these
herdsmen despite countless assurances and statements by him,
promising to stop these attacks.”

Others are, “The inability of NEMA under his watch to
immediately provide relief materials and rehabilitation of affected
communities in line with their statutory mandate, in spite of the
N10bn he announced had been provided in this regard and what
immediate intervention his administration intends to provide to
affected communities and how soon.”

The lawmakers resolved that they would “conclude along with
other Nigerians, if the President fails to respond to the
aforementioned queries within 48 hours, that he and his
administration are incapable of permanently curtailing the
incessant killing of innocent Nigerians by killer herdsmen and the
occupation of their land, and have failed in their primary,
constitutional responsibility of ensuring the security and welfare
of the citizens of Nigeria.”

The House further resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to
interface with the Presidency regarding the queries, while it would
engage with the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Chief of
Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs; Chairman and Executive
Vice-Chairman of NCC, related state governments and relevant
stakeholders.