Reps to summon Buhari over worsening security situation

Irked by the worsening security situation plaguing the country especially last weekend’s massacre of hapless farmers in a rice farm in Borno State by insurgents, the House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to address lawmakers on situation.

Earlier, plenary at the House of Representatives turned rowdy on Tuesday as members were sharply divided over a motion seeking to invite Buhari to appear before the lawmakers to explain the rising spate of insecurity in the country.

The House was considering a motion moved by members from Borno State on the dastardly act in their state.

Part of the prayers was to invite Buhari to appear on the floor of the House and address the lawmakers in plenary.

Efforts by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and Chairman, House Committee on Air Force, Shehu Koko, among others, to have the prayer dropped proved abortive.

Gbajabiamila’s plea that a state of emergency be adopted instead was also rebuffed.

The speaker was forced to ask that the lawmakers have an executive (closed-door) session.

Emerging from the closed-door session, Gbajabiamila asked one of the sponsors of the motion, Ahmad Jaha, to make an amendment to the motion.

Jaha prayed the House to invite the president as proposed in the original motion.

The Speaker put the amended motion to a voice vote and it was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.