President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to address the House of
Representatives on the state of insecurity in the country, as requested
by the lawmakers.
According to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable
Femi Gbajabiamila, a date has been agreed on and it will be communicated
soon.
He stated this on Wednesday, noting that the president is more concerned
than most on the insecurity of the nation and will speak to the Nigerian
people through their representatives soon.
“He was ever so ready to listen as is typical of Mr President, the usual
democrat that he is and what we basically sought was to convey the
resolution of the House and to fix a date which we did not fix out of
respect for Mr President and his very tight schedule. We have agreed on
a date and he will meet with the House to address the situation,”
Gbajabiamila said.
“I think he is more concerned than me or you that’s all I can say. You
know they say uneasy lies the head. We will leave everything till he
comes to the House, so let me not pre-empt. The DS is here, the leader
is hereto bear me witness. He (Buhari) is fully committed to security,
live and property of Nigerians”.
The decision to summon President Buhari was taken at Tuesday’s plenary
when the House considered a motion moved by members from Borno State on
the recent massacre of 43 rice farmers in the state by Boko Haram
insurgents.
The debate had earlier turned rowdy after the Speaker appealed that it
would be inappropriate to invite the president to disclose the actions
being taken towards handling the security situation in the country.
The Speaker had described it as counter-productive. But the House then
went into an executive session to resolve the matter.
After the executive session which was held behind closed doors, the
House resumed and Representative Ahmed Jaha who was one of the sponsors,
moved an amendment to invite the President to brief on the security
situation in the country.
His amendment was seconded and unanimously adopted.