Senators were yesterday divided along regional lines over an alleged exclusion of the South-East region in the National Defence Council and the National Security Council.
While senators from the South-East zone led by Sen Victor Umeh (APGA, Anambra) said their region was “deliberately” left out of the defense architecture, their northern counterparts rejected the claim.
In his motion, Umeh said from the defense minister to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff to the Inspector-General of Police, none is from the South-East zone.
He said both the defense and security councils are constitutional provisions and that federal character should be ensured in appointing members to the councils.
Thus, he urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reconstitute the two councils to comply with federal character.
Sen Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia) supported the motion saying the issue had been raised on several occasions and that he led some senators to meet with the president on the matter but to no avail.
However, Deputy Senate Leader, Sen Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi) said the motion should be rejected as it would be an indictment on the Senate since the Red Chamber had approved the members of the two councils without any such matter raised.
“The entire names on the list presented by Senator Umeh were brought here. The Senate approved them, and there are representatives from every part of Nigeria (in the Senate). We saw the list and approved it. Let’s not politicize the issue of security.”
Also, Sen Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano) said Umeh should apologize for misleading the Senate by saying nobody from the South-East is a member of the two councils when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, is a member.
At the end of the heated debate, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the observations made were noted. He did not move for the adoption of the prayers in the motion, implying that it has been rejected. With Daily Trust
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