A socio-cultural group in North Central, Middle Belt Conscience Guards (MBCGs) has condemned in totality the decision of the Senate to adjourn plenary to Tuesday, November 27, 2018 over the alleged killing 44 soldiers in a recent attack by Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.
The group while addressing a press conference on Friday described the action as hypocritical and height of eye service, adding that it only reacted to rumours without verifying the fact.
It queried the Senate for failing to extend legislative support and encouragement to Mr. President in the war against Boko Haram terrorists and other insecurity challenges in the nation, stressing that the Senate went into a long recess in 2018, when it was yet to scrutinize and pass the Supplementary Budget request for funds for the 2019 general elections and purchase of Tucano fighter jets from the United States of America, transmitted to it by Mr. President.
“In spite of the sensitive nature of the two matters, the Senate indulged in political games by shutting down the chambers for a meaningless long break. This is legislative brigandage.
“To now understand that the same Senate which never deemed it imperative to deliberate and approve President Buhari’s anticipatory approval of $ 496 million drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the purchase of Tucano fighter jets to battle Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, suddenly appears very concerned that soldiers were killed by terrorists to the extent of adjourning plenary?
“We consider this action absurd; a loud display of legislative hypocrisy and blackmail of the executive arm of government. A Parliament which had inexplicable difficulties endorsing presidential anticipatory approval for the procurement of arms and ammunition to fight insurgency has suddenly become very empathic that our soldiers died in the process of battling terrorists. Is the Senate mocking itself?
“In the past three years, the Sen. Saraki led Senate has never found it necessary to increase defence budgets in the Appropriation Act laid before the National Assembly. While they casually up figures for National Assembly expenditure; the parliamentarians rather slash down defence budgets.
“Not quite long, President Buhari through his Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang had to severally plead with the National Assembly to suspend its break to attend to urgent requests, including procurement of arms and ammunition by Mr. President. But it made little sense to these lawmakers. And we are witnesses to it.
“We are disappointed and shocked beyond recovery that Sen. Saraki does not know the limits of playing politics. It’s confounding to realize that Sen. Saraki and his adherents can play politics with anything including security and the lives of their fellow citizens. What do they hope to achieve with it?” the group added.
