Southeast exclusion’ in National Security Council divides senators

SENATORS were yesterday sharply divided over the alleged exclusion of the Southeast geo-political zone from the membership of the National Security Council.

This followed the consideration of a motion on “urgent need to appoint a representative of the South East into the National Defence Council and the National Security Council.

Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) moved the motion and it was seconded by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South).

Umeh’s motion did not go down well with senators from the Northwest, who lined up behind Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah to shoot down the motion.

The Anambra Central lawmaker specifically asked President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps to reconstitute the membership of the National Defence Council and National Security Council in conformity with the Federal Character Principle as enshrined in the constitution.

Umeh also prayed the Senate to prevail on the President to appoint an officer from the Southeast as one of the Service Chiefs for equitable representation of the people of the Southeast in the National Defence Council and the National Security Council.

Abaribe, who seconded the motion, noted that although the issues raised by Umeh were not particularly new, President Buhari has deliberately refused to act.

The Abia South senator said he led Southeast senators to the Presidential Villa to discuss the need for the President to abide with Federal Character principles.

He noted that it appeared the President deliberately misread the constitution on the issue.

Abaribe said: “I will raise two points because the matter of the exclusion of the Southeast is a matter we have carried here. I have personally led Southeast caucus to President Buhari on this issue. We tabled the matter before him.

“There is a key constitutional provision of what is being said here. Section 5(a) of the constitution deals with this particular issue. President Buhari doesn’t have an option. What we have seen is a deliberate misreading of the Constitution as to who the President can appoint.

“Section 8 of the Constitution also deals with it. It means the President can get people outside the security circle. There is a deliberate attempt not to allow a particular part of the country to participate in the national security architecture of this country.”

Deputy Senate Leader Na’Allah saw the matter differently.

Na’ Allah faulted the motion in its entirety.

The Kebbi South Senator warned that it would be an indictment of the Senate, if the prayers of the motion were adopted.

He noted that the Senate should appreciate the fact that Buhari forwarded names of members of the National Defence Council and National Security Council to the chamber for confirmation and approval.

Na’ Allah said since section of the country is represented in the Senate, the observations by Umeh ought to have been made during the confirmation of members of the two councils.

He said: “We are talking about the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The position taken by Umeh is a gross misunderstanding of the Constitution. When this Constitution was enacted, the military didn’t want a situation where it will be held responsible for anything.

“Section 219 taken care of the powers of the President. Let me say that the entire names on the list presented by Senator Umeh were brought here. The Senate approved it. Senate has representatives from every part of Nigeria. We saw the list and approved it.

“Let’s not politicise the issue of security. Since independence, it has never been the policy of the government to exclude any part of the country. On this matter, it will be a gross misconduct to continue with this. It is also an indictment of the Senate, which approved these names.”

Senator, Barau Jibrin (Kano North) also expressed misgiving about the motion.

He said the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyema from the Southeast is a member of the National Security Council.

The senator added that Umeh should apologise to the Senate for allegedly misleading members.

Jibrin said: “The assertion by Senator Umeh is misleading. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is from the Southeast and is a member of the National Security Council. I call on Senator Umeh to apologise to the Senate for misleading us.”

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North) weighed in and faulted those opposed to the motion.

He pleaded with his colleagues not to trivialise the issues raised by Umeh.

The senator said: “We don’t need to trivialise this issue. What the motion is talking about is specifically about the National Defence Council.”

Ohuabunwa insisted that he could not see anything difficult for President Buhari to appoint a Southeasterner into the two councils.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who did not want the issue to further degenerate, said the motion was not one the Senate could reach consensus on.

Saraki said: “If we take different parts of the constitution, we will have different interpretations. The points have been well highlighted. We can’t reach a consensus on this. The points raised have been noted.”