There was mild drama on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday following remarks by the Leader of the Northern Regional Caucus, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, calling for the shutdown of Parliament if the present administration fails to find a lasting solution to the myriad of security challenges ravaging the country.

Hon. Ado-Doguwa, while contributing to the debate during the special plenary session on the review of Nigeria’s national security situation and strengthening the legislative response to current and emerging threats, described the prevailing security situation as alarming.

He said: “Let me first of all, Mr Speaker, identify as the same Honourable Ado Doguwa. Mr Speaker, I am representing the people of Doguwa, Tudun Wada Federal Constituency. I am of APC extraction from Kano State. Mr Speaker, I feel it appropriate to mention my political identity in this very important discourse because I would not like anyone out there on the street or someone listening to me on the audio to mistake me for an opposition.”

“I am not an opposition. I am a member of the APC, ruling APC in Nigeria. I am also a member by extension of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a member of this great Parliament, also which has the APC as a dominant factor. Mr Speaker, Honourable Member. I have to say so because I will be speaking here today as a member of the APC, not of particular concern, but with a particular concern. An APC member speaking with a particular concern, Mr Speaker, and the concern today, as I understand, is about the security of the lives and property of the Nigerian people.

“Mr Speaker, I have heard briefs and submissions by the relevant Committee chairmen here. Mr Speaker, I have heard briefs about the situation of Nigerian security architecture. Good. Mr Speaker, I am not out to say no to their submissions.

“Of course, that is what they have to report to this House. But when you are speaking, Mr Speaker, from the point of view of the Nigerian people, one must be prepared to call a spade a spade.

“Mr. Speaker, I am therefore prepared to say that no matter what the government does, my government, led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC government my party and despite all the submissions of the efforts of all security agencies that were meant here through their respective chairmen, I want to say that yes the government is doing Its best, the security agencies are doing their best, but I want to say with every sense of responsibility and without any fear of equivocation that their best is not good enough.

“It is not good enough because the security situation in Nigeria today Mr Speaker it is horrific. Mr Speaker, our security situation is tragic; Mr Speaker, the security situation, especially in the North where I come from, is devastating. Mr Speaker, our situation in Nigeria today in the area of security is unspeakable. It’s unspeakable because our people are left ravaged in serious tension, fear and disparages. All because we are lacking and religion in our institutional and collective responsibility as a government. Mr Speaker, the fact remains the same.

“I like every one of you here who say that the responsibility of every democratic or elected government, even military governments, Mr Speaker, fundamental responsibility of government is the security of lives and property of its own people. Mr Speaker, what we have today is it’s like a failed security. What we have today, in my opinion and in my views, Mr Speaker, is like for me to quote in the words of the popular Bob Marley in his own song in those days in the 80s, when he was saying war in the North, war in the West, war in the East, and war down South.

“Mr Speaker, today, Nigeria is operating under a complete war against humanity, and this House must not only continue to chant slogans, move motions, take contributions from members. We must have to step out and rise up to the expectations of our own people, and that expectation must be beyond making a pronouncement from the floor. Mr Speaker, we have to stake our institutional mandate, we have to stake our Institutional commitment and determination to protect the lives of the people.”

While noting that the State Governors are not only overwhelmed by the security challenges, Hon. Ado-Doguwa, who doubles as Chairman House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), argued that the responsibility of security by the constitutional provisions is “more of a sole responsibility to the Centre.

“I agree with whoever may say, of course, Governors in the sub-nationals are also accountable and they must be held responsible for the security of lives and properties of their people. Mr Speaker, I want to say that in virtually all of our constituencies, given the opportunity, everyone here can rise to tell you the account of what is happening.

“Mr. Speaker, it is not religious. Mr Speaker, it is not even political. This fight at this manage of insecurity in Nigeria is something that does not have any identification of one’s party or one’s religion or one’s tribe whatsoever. It is a calculated attempt to demoralize the Nigerian state. And if care is not taken, Mr. Speaker, even for those of us who take politics more seriously will have a very big question to answer at the end. Because it is like this unnecessary insecurity going on, this is a high level of conspiracy targeting our political processes.

“As we are approaching 2027, Mr Speaker, we will all be expected to have a peaceful conduct of our polls. How do you have that if our communities, local communities, are plunged into crisis, into banditry, into kidnappings, in the churches, in the mosques, even down in the oil-producing area, which is our economic live wire. Production of oil, crude oil, is being unfortunately undermined by militia groups.

“So it is like a collective thing that we must put our hands on deck and call whoever is responsible to order. Order, order, and order. And this House must not take for granted that we are not part of the government. If the government is wanting, this institution of the legislature is a component of the government itself.

“We have to look inward to ourselves and see what more of oversight functions. Like some members have said, are we going to make? Are we going to provide? Mr Speaker, we can even declare legislative emergency, close the house, shut it up. Who are you legislating for? What laws are you making when the country is running in blood? The country is running in blood and tears. You cannot go, the farmers cannot go to farm. Our marketer, our traders cannot go to market. Worshippers cannot go to the mosque, cannot go to churches. Then what are you legislating here?

“Mr Speaker, if the government is not prepared to actually do the right thing that will protect the lives and property of our people, I urge you, I urge this honourable House, at the House of the people of Nigeria, to stand up, to pay the supreme cost. And that is no more than to shut this House down and to call an emergency on any legislative issue and wait until the right thing is taken by the government of the day.

“Mr Speaker, I also want to believe we are equally responsible. We should also go down to our constituencies and lead civil, civil, civil organisations. Like the civil, civil, what do you call them, civil vigilante. Let’s go and reorganise our vigilante groups. We take commands and take charges of soldiers. We bring together civil organisations to see how we can salvage and protect our country, Nigeria.

“We take commands and take charge of soldiers. We take commands and take charge of soldiers. What is happening today, Mr Speaker, is not just to call for mere security or an average performance of security agencies. What we expect of the Nigerian government, no more, no less, my Speaker, is to have absolute security. It requires to have absolute safety. Mr Speaker, Nigeria must have absolute protection of the lives and property of our people,” Hon. Ado-Doguwa reaffirmed that he’s the leader of the Northern Regional Caucus; however, he recanted, saying: “I am also not speaking as a member representing the northern part of this country.”

In a swift response to Hon. Ado-Doguwa’s submission, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, averred that the Parliament has what it takes to address public concerns on security challenges.

He said: ” The celebrated Honourable Ado-Doguwa, it’s important to note that we are the hope of Nigeria, the Parliament. We are the fulcrum of democracy. It doesn’t matter how emotional we get, it doesn’t matter how burdensome the problem is.

“We cannot argue that the Parliament should be shut down because the problem is much. This is the solution hope of the nation. I want to say that we should be careful in projecting what might be misunderstood by the people outside this chamber.

“Mr Speaker, no problem is too big for the Parliament to handle. We will not shut the Parliament. We will stay here together becausee we have best friends from all over the country. We will find solutions to our problems. We have faced stronger problems before now, Mr Speaker. Last dispensation, upper dispensation, we faced problems. We never shut the Parliament. It will not be this time that the Parliament will be shut. We are capable, we are able, we will find solutions to our problems under your leadership. We will not close the door.”

In his intervention, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who presided over the session, cautioned that the issue raised by Hon. Ado-Doguwa is, rather is an opinion like every other lawmaker who spoke before him.

“It is an opinion, just like you made your own opinion. What I want the Press to know, that whoever has spoken is picking on his personal standing. It is not a resolution of the House because we are not putting to a vote any aspect of these motions.

“So it should be regarded as a contribution. At the end of these debates, we will now look at all the areas that are put to question and then come up with a resolution of the House.

“So, anything that is being mentioned here is just a mere opinion of the Speaker, not the General House. So please let it be taken note of accordingly.”

Speaking earlier, Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, who observed that there is a direct link between security, growth and development, however stressed that “without security, we cannot promote growth, much less sustainable development.

According to him, “to deal with insecurity, leadership-focused, committed patriotic leadership is important at every level- Local Government, State, Federal. Mr Speaker, we also agree that this time, just now, is a time to think differently on how do we deal with the questions that have lingered for well over 14 years.

“We agree that also that the necessary political will is important to drive both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to securing the nation.”

While arguing that insecurity in Nigeria has far-reaching implications for West Africa, Africa, and even the world, the Majority Leader underscored the need to address the multifaceted security threats across the country.

“We also recognise the displacement of families, and even communities. Fatalities remain high, reaching up to 9,500 in 2024. These are reported and recorded cases. It could be higher. Even the Global Terrorism Index places Nigeria 6th, as the 6th most impacted country by terrorism globally. But now, it is not just a question of Boko Haram; we have ISWAP and copycat gangs ravaging different parts of the country.

“We have experienced mass killings, kidnap for ransom, banditry, and criminal violence. We have over 24,000 violent incidents in December 2023 and November 2024. This is frightening.”

He however acknowledged the general response of the government ranging from “consistent, intensified operations deployment of troops, recruitment and training, change of Service Chiefs in order to ginger the leadership of security agencies, massive increase in defense spending and acquisition of military platforms, including helicopters and drones. The use of new technology.

“The government has tried in arresting, prosecuting, rehabilitating and reintegrating some of the insurgents on different occasions. In the North East, both Boko Haram continue to terrorise residents.”

In his contribution to the debate, Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, admitted that all three Arms of government should take responsibility for the prevailing security challenges.

“First, if we cannot protect the lives and property of Nigerians as enshrined in our constitution, are we worthy to continue to sit as a parliament? I’m not saying that all hopes are lost. No, there is room for remedy. But we must see this as a national task and be selfless about it. This is no time for religion. This is no time for a political party. This is the time for us to talk about our own lives and existence.

“We are given the opportunity out of a country of over 200 million, as we have in the figures, which might not also be correct because of the lack of data, adequate data in our country. And we are among 360 that are saddled with responsibility. How well have you performed that responsibility? That’s the question that we are called upon to ask ourselves this morning.

“This security is ravaging the entire country. Yes, the world is becoming a global village. And so if we are able to secure our country, other countries will be concerned because they will be affected. If Nigeria is classed as a country of particular concern, as a parliament, I think what we are gathered here this morning is to seek for a solution to remove Nigeria from that classification. And I pray that the Almighty will give us the wisdom to achieve that. Now, looking at the causes of insecurity in our country.

“First, I would caution us that we must eschew completely the disunity that appears to be brewing. Whether there is genocide, religious genocide or not, we begin to look at it from the angle of Christians and Muslims. To whose advantage? When we are not united, to whose benefit? Is it in our own interest? We cannot fight this battle without unity. We cannot succeed in this battle if we deny obvious facts. Let me start by asking, are there religious killings in Nigeria? The answer is yes. But is that the major cause of insecurity in our country? The answer is also no.

“Whilst there are religious killings, it will amount to painting the insecurity issue with a single brush to say that that is the only reason why we have insecurity. Today, in our country, you have the economic aspect of insecurity. Where people, for economic reasons, will attack communities, kill, maim, and displace entire communities in order to access the wealth that is within that place.

“And that’s why you can see displaced areas. People live in IDP. Economic oppression is going on there. As a government, do we say that we are not aware? And what are we doing? What about the political aspect? Incidentally, we find ourselves in that field. We are all politicians, because we want to assume political power, we want to do everything to displace the opponent. We make the entire government ungovernable. Bringing people from outside the shores of this country because our borders are porous. We only have boundaries on the map, on the ground. Nigeria lacks clear boundaries. They are not protected. They are open. We bring them in to strengthen us politically. Managing them thereafter became a problem.

“There is the political angle to it. And we must tell ourselves the truth. So that if we are managing the problems, we know how to manage them. And like I have said, you also have the religious angle. There are religious bodies, the ISIS or ISWAP and all that. They are not sent by Nigerians. But they have their targets. They have their own vision. They have their belief. All you need to do is to de-indoctrinate. Not to remove the indoctrination that they have already. Because they could believe in that, that yes, anybody who is not a Muslim must be killed.

“If that is their belief and they are convinced, we need to do a reorientation to change that belief. My dear colleagues, the task is very heavy because we cannot pretend that we do not have security problems in this country. And the solution ought to come from us, all of us seated here. Not from Nigerians outside here. But we must own up to the truth. How well are we doing? How well are we tackling this problem? When I hear people praise government, government is doing well. Are we sincere? Government is still sleeping. Nothing fundamental has been done. Nothing.

“We cannot continue with the fire brigade approach. Must we wait until our children are kidnapped before we take steps? And when 20 are kidnapped, we recover two. We beat our chest that we are achieving. What about the 18? Dear colleagues, we recall, there is no week that this chamber has not discussed the issue of insecurity. Not one week without a motion on insecurity. And at the end of the day, all we do is observe a minute silence. I think that the time has come for us to unite, if not as a country, as parliamentarians.

“Remove the toga of religion. Remove the toga of political parties. And wear the toga of Nigeria. Whoever is affected should not be our concern. But we must salvage our country. We must salvage ourselves. We must begin to go home freely. We must find solutions to ensure that Nigerians sleep with their two eyes closed. Firstly, let me suggest that the time has come for us to start looking at having a national border force.

“We should. When we hear countries talk about facing their borders, sometimes we laugh over it. It sounds funny. But it is not. We do not have a border force in Nigeria. And I think it is our role as parliamentarians to quickly, as a solution, come up with a deal and ensure that that deal passes with the speed of light to begin to protect our borders. Not just by physical protection. As I said, the world is a global village today. There are technologies that will help us. A border force that is based on technology.”

We also have before us the constitutional amendment that is going on. Security is prominent. My dear colleagues, we don’t have an option than to go back to community policing or state policing.

We must begin to secure our country from every community. And as a parliament, we must also begin to rise to our oversight functions. We must begin to stand our ground.

“Mr Speaker, my dear colleagues, a lot more on the issue of insecurity, which we cannot perhaps say, facing the camera. So let us invite all the security chiefs. All! And have a closed-door meeting with them, where we can clearly talk to them. Tell them the feelings of the Nigerian people. Ask for facts and figures. Take decisions that will have strong legislative backing. Mr Speaker, you will recall that in the past we have had to give timelines.

“But I will say, as a member of parliament, that my heart is heavy, at least for Nigeria, not happy. I see it as divine that we are all called to serve at this time. Because I ask why? Why at this time? But we are called to serve at this time, and we should take the challenge.

“We have the ability. We have the ability to solve this problem. We have the ability to make a difference. But we must remove pride, religion, selfishness, and anything that will prevent us from succeeding. And see ourselves as one.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker Tajudeen assured that the Zonal Leader of the six geopolitical zones and other Members are expected to speak on the security situation as it affects their respective states and federal constituents. (Nigerian Tribune)

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