The House of Representatives has invited President Muhammadu Buhari, to brief it on the security situation in the country, especially the recent killing of scores of rice farmers in Borno state, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Prior to the resolution, it was tensed atmosphere in the House over disagreement on whether the President should be invited.
Members were on opposing sides over the suggestion, with the session almost turned rowdy, forcing Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila to call for an immediate closed door session “so that the issue can be resolved”.
A motion was introduced on the floor under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Ahmed Satomi on behalf of nine other of his colleagues from Borno state, on the need to condemn and investigate the insane killing of unarmed farmers in Jere local government of the state on Saturday.
Drama however started, when one of the co-sponsors, Hon.
Usman Jaha, raised a point of order under matters of privileges, drawing Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila’s attention to that fact that one of the key prayers of the motion was not read out while it was being presented by Satomi.
“We, all the members from Borno State sat together and agreed that all the prayers of the motion must remain as they are. We all agreed that Mr. President should be invited to come explain the security situation in the country, especially the North East,” the lawmaker insisted.
But replying him, Gbajabiamila said the call for declaration of state of emergency on security issues as moved by his colleague earlier was sufficient enough to “allow far reaching measures to be taken”, appealing to Jaha to let the matter rest.
“We were discussing a security matter, and the channels through which such matters are discussed, does not involve inviting the President to come and disclose security strategies. That will be counterproductive”, the Speaker noted.
Tension began to mount when Jaha however insisted that unless it was the collective opinion of the 10 members from Borno State, who jointly sponsored the motion to step down the prayer, Buhari should be invited.
Stepping in Majority leader of the House, Hon. Ado Doguwa, toed the line of the Speaker, but was barely allowed to make his point amidst shouts of “no”, “no”, “no”.
Chairman of the committee on Air Force, Hon. Shehu Koko, was given the same treatment when he attempted to explain that there was no need to invite the president, as he was shouted down the more, when he said “Mr. President is doing his best”.
With the session turning rowdy, Gbajabiamila said, “Let me say this; I’m a little disappointed with the shouts of no. Let’s go into an executive session and resolve this matter.”
Back from the closed door session which lasted for about 30 minutes, Jaha was called on by the Speaker to move his amendment, and the lawmaker said the House should invite Mr President to come and explain the security situation, and the motion was unanimously adopted through voice votes.
Beside the call for the President to be invited, sponsors of the motion also prayed the House to “Condemn the killing of unarmed civilian farmers at Zabarmari village, Jere Local Government near Maiduguri, in Borno State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents”, as well as observe a minute silence in honour of the victims of the incident, who lost their lives.
