Some Senators have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs and appoint new ones.
They made the call on Wednesday, as the Lawmakers deliberated on a motion on the national security challenges, and the need to restructure the nation’s Security architecture.
The Lawmakers set aside the whole of Wednesday, to discuss the issue. This they said, was due to the increasing rate of insecurity across the country.
The debate lasted for over 4-hours, as over 50 Lawmakers took turned to make their contributions.
Top among the contributions was a call to the President to dismiss the Service Chiefs and appoint news ones, on grounds that they have served long enough, and are bereft of ideas to tackle the insecurity.
Most of them also emphasised the need for State Police to be established.
Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers) said that at the time the Service Chiefs were appointed, things were not this bad.
“They have done their bits, and their tenures have expired. They are illegally occupying the seat. It will be good for the government to allow the Security Chiefs to go, and bring in new people to add vigour to the fight against insecurity”, she said.
She also urged the Lawmakers and other elites, to stop using Police as private Security.
“We are complaining about the Police not being enough. I think all of us and Nigerians should actually stop using Police as private Security. Let the Police people go out and do their jobs.”
Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos) urged the Senate to revisit and review the recommendations made from the Security Summit in 2018, and implement them.
The Lawmaker called for an amendment of the Constitution to allow for State Police. This is even as he commended the South-West Governors on the Amotekun Initiative, which he said will create jobs.
Elisha Abbo (PDP, Adamawa) stated that Nigeria has “never had it this bad” in the history of insecurity.
Like his colleagues, he said that the Security Chiefs have done their best, “but have run out of ideas.”
“There is grumbling within the Military. Yesterday’s survivors are today’s victims, and today’s victims are tomorrow’s survivors.
“Mr. President should change the Security apparatus. And if we need foreign help, we should not be ashamed of asking for help”, he said.
For the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, the current personnel strength of 300,000 to police about 200 million citizens, and the constitutional structure of the Police Force, is appalling.
He, however, wondered if the State Governors can cater for State Police.
“Assuming we decide to go the route of State Police, we do not want to create a Nigerian Police and give it another name. If we create State Police today, what are the challenges the Police is facing, that will not be faced by the community Police?
“One of the problems is that we have not created enough resources for them to perform their job. Now, we have State Governments who want to create State Police.
“These are the same State Governments that are not able to pay salaries of workers. If we create the State Police, we will go back to the Nigerian Police and have the same challenges, if not worse”, he said.
For George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers), Nigeria needs to turn back to God.
“Anyone that sows the wind will reap the whirlwind. Today, we are reaping the fruit of what we sowed”, he said.
“This wind by the grace of God will go away. It will not be there forever. It is not a time to lament or blame each other.
“We should go back to God as a country, and say we are sorry. I have seen such examples in the Bible. If we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us and help us, 2nd Chronicles 20:20.”
After hours of debate, the Lawmakers urged the President to declare a national Security emergency.
The Senate also summoned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammad Adamu, to appear before it next week Wednesday, to brief the Lawmakers on the concept of community policing and other security issues.
The Senate also set up a 17-man Ad-hoc Committee to engage the Security Agencies and report back to the Senate, after two weeks.
The Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yayaya, will chair the Committee.
Members of the Committee include: Enyinnaya Abaribe, Sabi Abdullahi, Ali Ndume, Aliyu Wamakko, Dauda Haliru, Kashim Shettima, and Bala Na’Allah.
Others are: George Sekibo, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Gaya, Gershom Bassey, Stella Oduah, and Ibikunle Amosun.
Also part of the Committee are: Abba Moro, Yahaya Abdullahi Yayaha, and Suleiman Abdu Kwari.
