The Nigerian Senate has rejected the motion for the inclusion of South East representatives in the National Defence Council NDC and the National Security Council (NSC).

The rejection of the motion which was sponsored by Senator Victor Umeh and seconded by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe who represents Abia South came during the plenary session on Tuesday.

Leading the debate on the motion, Senator Umeh lamented that none of the Service Chiefs appointed to the National Defence Council and the National Security Council comes from the South East of Nigeria as firmly enshrined in the constitution through the spirit and Principle of Federal Character.

He said that the Defence and Security advice relayed to President Muhammad Buhari by members of the Defence and Security Council, which exclude security officers from five states that make up the South East of Nigeria, may not likely represent fair and equitable security situation of the Zone.

Speaking further, he added that there are qualified officers from the South East of Nigeria to be appointed as Service Chiefs but none was appointed in the present administration.

He noted that the beauty, tenet and cardinal principle of democracy, as opposed to all other forms of government, are inclusiveness, representation, justice and fairness.

“When these essential ingredients are missing and lacking in any government, it will create a feeling of alienation,” he added.