Senators stage walkout during plenary over worsening insecurity, as Lawan thwarts impeachment of Buhari

Senators, Wednesday, staged a walkout during plenary over worsening insecurity in the country, following the senate president, Ahmad Lawan’s refusal to hear a motion aimed at debating the security situation across states in Nigeria.

The senators further issued a six-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the issue or face impeachment.

The senators drawn from across many party lines, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the newly formed New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), walked out on plenary after the senate president ruled out debate over the worsening insecurity situation in the country, as earlier agreed by all the lawmakers during a closed-door meeting before commencement of the day’s business.

Addressing journalists at the Senate Press Corps (SPC) Centre, after the walkout, the Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda, said they have resolved to give President Buhari a six weeks ultimatum within which to end the insecurity in the country or face impeachment.

The senators who reportedly walk out on plenary were heard chanting ‘Buhari must go’, as they trooped out of the senate chambers.

“It is obvious that Abuja, the seat of the Federal government is no longer safe, as you all can see.

“We went into a closed-door session on the state of insecurity in Abuja and took cognisance that Nigeria is no longer safe.

“Senate has recommended various measures and discovered that even Abuja is no longer safe.

“We agreed in the closed session that we will give President Muhammadu Buhari an ultimatum, but the Senate President Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan didn’t want us to raise the issue.

“However, we have issued six weeks for President Buhari to resolve insecurity or be impeached.

“We walked out of Chambers in protest.”

According to Senator Aduda, the various recommendations by the lawmakers have been made but security challenges have not abated, which he added, now compels them commence impeachment proceedings against President Buhari now.

Aduda who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said the ultimatum to Buhari was for him to resolve the heightened insecurity in the country or face impeachment.

It was learnt that at the commencement of the plenary on Tuesday, the lawmakers had questioned the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on why the issue of insecurity was not in the Order Paper.

The aggrieved senators further expressed anger that Lawan refused to abide by their resolution after reverting to plenary after the closed-door session.

They insisted they had during their closed-door session which lasted for two hours agreed that they should debate the issue of insecurity and give Buhari an impeachable ultimatum notice.

This week alone, terrorists have wreaked havoc on satellite communities of the federal Capital Territory, and even as close as Abuja, the seat of political power.

On Sunday, over 16 soldiers attached to the Brigade of Guards were presumably killed in an ambush while responding to a distress call from the Nigerian Law School in Bwari. Over three died on the spot, including the unit’s commander.

A day later, the Federal Unity College also in Bwari was forced to shut down after terrorists attacked two close villages sharing perimeter with the school. The development also prompted the FCT authorities to also shut down all public primary and secondary schools for fear of attack by the terrorists.

Other attacks by the terrorists occurred in nearby Kaduna State, as well as in Ondo State, just this week.