ABUJA— THE Senate, yesterday, canvassed tougher and full scale measures to end the Boko Haram insurgency. It said that the sect has declared war on Nigeria.
The senators, who resumed from their two-month vacation, expressed dissatisfaction with how the war was being prosecuted and mandated the Senate leadership to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and service chiefs to hammer out better strategies to checkmate the insurgents.
Senator Mark, in his welcome speech said actions of the Boko Haram sect are a complete declaration of war geared towards undermining the nation’s sovereignty.
Meantime, the Senate has referred President Jonathan’s $1 billion loan request to fight insurgency to its committees on Foreign, Finance, and Local Debt to report back within one week.
Senator Mark in his speech also said the Senate was waiting for Mr. President’s action on the report of the just concluded National Conference which was convoked to discuss and suggest ways of resolving perceived structural defects in the polity.
The Senate President further tasked the President to ensure the 2015 Appropriation Bill gets to the legislative chamber before the end of the month to enable the lawmakers pass it into law before January 2015.
He noted that the escalation of violence and the heinous crimes being carried out on daily basis by the insurgents including the declaration of a caliphate had reached alarming proportions.
Meeting president, service chiefs
Dissatisfied with the strategy being adopted in prosecuting the war against the terrorists, the Senate in a resolution sequel to the motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Chief Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, and 107 other senators, had after critically examining the ongoing onslaught against the people of the North-East by Boko Haram, mandated the Senate President to meet with President Jonathan to discus better tactics on how to tackle the insurgency.
In the motion tagged: Threat to National Sovereignty and Territorial integrity of Nigeria by insurgents, the senators expressed worry that the security situation in the North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa had continued to deteriorate despite the imposition of state of emergency in the said states.
The Senate had equally observed that in the last two months while the National Assembly was on its annual recess, the nation witnessed unabated loss of lives and damage to property in what it noted was increasingly challenging the security agencies in the affected states.
The Senate expressed concern that the insurgents purportedly carved out some local government areas in Borno and Adamawa states and declared same as Caliphate under their control just as it expressed concern that the level of regrouping of the insurgence was becoming alarming.
The Senate President, while reacting to the concern of senators said: “We have to find a solution to it, back the military, mobilize as much as we can, bring back all our war resources together so that we can prosecute this war. There is no way in which we are just going to say that this is exclusively to one section of this country. No, and I don’t think that is the thinking in any quarter.
“Unfortunately, we are not satisfied with the way the war has been prosecuted so far. We want a better strategy, we want a very concise, very precise statement that can give directions on how we are going to prosecute this war and end it as quickly as possible.
“It is not the question of election. Election is not even on the table now. So I agree that what is happening now is a challenge even to our legitimacy in this chamber because if they have gone far by saying that they have declared a caliphate, then any senator or member who is from there is no more entitled to be in this chamber.
“And these people can forcefully begin to take some people out of this chamber, and then the legitimacy of our own existence here is seriously challenged. There are so many issues that will arise as a result of what Boko Haram is doing. It started like a joke but it has gone far beyond that now.
“All of us here cannot go and wear uniform and take rifle and fight. It is the Armed Forces that are going to do the fighting for us but all of us here have roles to play in executing this war. Let me say without any doubt at all, that the nation is at war, that is the issue. So it is not about whether it is Boko Haram or not Boko Haram. There is no difference between the situation in the North East now and if any other country had declared war on Nigeria.
“My suggestion here is: How do we prosecute this war because there is a real war for us, whether it is on one section of the country or it’s covering the whole country. So, once a nation is at war, the entire nation will have to move all its resources and war efforts, whether it is refugee, whether it is medical or anything at all.
“So, indeed, there is no doubt in my mind that what the Boko Haram is doing now is that they have declared war on Nigerians. It is true we didn’t recall the Senate but you are aware that we directed the Senate Committee on Defence to meet with Service Chiefs when we were on recess so that we can get a proper briefing.
“We have a dilemma on our hands here because there is a limit to what we can say here in plenary and what we can discuss in a closed-door session. So, we have to be a bit careful.”
Mark’s speech
In his speech, Mark said among others:
“The escalation of violence and the heinous crimes daily perpetrated by insurgents and terrorists including the declaration of a Caliphate has reached alarming proportions. Regrettably, the Boko Haram sect, these harbingers of death have become more emboldened and daring, killing innocent Nigerians and destroying property at will.
“From abductions, kidnappings and bombings, the situation has now degenerated to capturing and occupying some parts of Nigeria. In what is obviously intended to humiliate us as a sovereign nation and test our resolve, the terrorists have brazenly hoisted their flags to confirm their assault and affront on our collective will as a nation.
“My dear colleagues, to put it otherwise is to shy away from the truth. In my candid opinion, the Boko Haram sect has in no unmistakable terms declared a total war on Nigeria and Nigerians. Their ideology is alien to our culture. We must as a people and nation handle this situation with all the seriousness it deserves.
“I have consistently advocated dialogue as the needed panacea to this malaise. Sure, dialogue must not be ruled out but this time around, with this scale of warfare, we must first demonstrate our strength, confront and defeat these terrorists and insurgents before we resort to dialogue.
“I am yet to come to terms with what the Boko Haram Sect actually wants. And I dare ask: What offence has the Chibok girls or any other school child, a market woman or artisan struggling to earn a living committed that he or she deserves to be felled and decimated daily by the bombs and arsenals of these insurgents?
“This war has certainly come to our door-steps. As Senators of the Federal Republic, destiny has entrusted us to be at the helm of affairs today. We must all rise to the current challenge. The government must be supported fully by this Senate to confront the challenge head-long.
“Therefore, we must devise a better strategy to win this war at the earliest possible time. We must come out with clear, concise and unequivocal mission statement on how to win this war.
“As I have repeatedly said, we must as a matter of urgency, fish out the financiers of these terrorists and all collaborators wherever they are, and bring them to book. My appeal to you, my bosses, is to continue to provide the necessary legislative framework that is needed to win this war.
“Except to pretend and say otherwise, Nigerians are frustrated and presently appear helpless over the unfolding events. They watch in total disbelief and shock at the activities of the Boko Haram.
“But we must reassure them that they are not alone in this. We are indeed doing all we can to protect and secure their lives and property. As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this subversion of our sovereignty.
“It is reprehensible and totally unacceptable. The life of every Nigerian is very important to us and must be held sacrosanct. Total security is sine qua non to our existence.
“Obviously, these are trying times. We must not, under any circumstances, play politics with our collective security. This is not the time to wilfully castigate or criticize our armed forces and security operatives. We must not trade blames or pass the buck.
“We must not stand divided along any real or perceived fault lines. We must not abandon the dreams of our founding fathers and their belief in one united, indivisible and indissoluble democratic nation. We must not condone religious intolerance.
“We must not cave in to the rigid and bigoted views espoused by these terrorists. We must not succumb to intimidation, blackmail and threat under any extremist ideology.
“This is the time to stand united, rally round and encourage our armed forces and security operatives. They are our dear compatriots who have chosen to lay down their lives so that we all may live in peace.
“This is the time to give them maximum support so that they will be motivated to prosecute and win this needless war in the shortest possible time. We must also mobilize all our war efforts and resources. This nation is greater than these evil merchants.”
On Ebola
The Senate President further said that another issue that was of great national importance was the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.
He said: “Another issue of grave national and international concern is the unfortunate outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus. As if the man-made peril posed by insurgency and terrorism was not terrible enough, a new molecular peril with a potentially more profound lethality arrived from neighbouring Liberia in July.
Sawyer was
irresponsible — Mark
“Although our customs forbid us from speaking ill of the dead, I must say, I deplore the conduct of this vile and irresponsible visitor, Patrick Sawyer. His condemnable action has left a huge burden and everlasting scar on the nation.
“However, what is reassuring is that government has been able to contain further spread of the epidemic. One useful lesson from the outbreak of the Ebola Virus is that Nigerians are now more conscious of their personal hygiene.
“This notwithstanding, Government at all levels must now leverage on this preventive measure to check further spread. What this ultimately calls for is good and implementable health care delivery system in Nigeria.
“As schools resume for the new academic session, it is incumbent on all heads of educational institutions to make adequate arrangement to ensure that the Ebola Virus does not in any way spread within the precincts of their schools and put the lives of our children in danger.
“Our hearts go out to the valiant health workers and caregivers who are consistently battling to contain the spread of this disease. We commend the Federal and State governments for the prompt and decisive actions they have so far instituted to stem the spread.
“It is imperative to commend the late Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, Consultant Physician, for her bravery. But for her being proactive, the late Patrick Sawyer would have spread the virus beyond our imaginations.
“She is indeed a heroine. She deserves a national posthumous honour, and should be duly recognized and honoured by this nation. I pray that God Almighty grants her soul, and those of other caregivers who paid the supreme prize, eternal rest.
“We commend the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for calling off its strike action. I did intervene on your behalf, my distinguished colleagues, while you were on recess.”
Senator Mark said there was an opportunity beckoning on the 7th Senate to make history and keep a date with destiny, adding that the current legislative agenda contained so many crucial items which could fundamentally reshape our country.”
Legislative calendar
He also spoke on other tasks before the legislators.
“We have on our legislative calendar the Petroleum Industry Bill, Pensions Reforms (Amendment) Bill, Customs (Amendment) Bill, Immigration Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill, Proceeds Of Crimes Bill, National Automotive Industry Development Plan (Fiscal Incentives and Assurances), FCT.
“Area Council (Political Structural) Bill, National Health Bill, Labour Institutions Bill, Bio-Safety Management Bill, Agricultural Processing Zones Bill, further review of the Electoral Act, harmonization of the Senate and House positions on the proposals for the further amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and consideration of the 2015 budget estimates, amongst others.”
“I cannot overemphasize the importance of passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (P.I.B) as quickly as possible. Both operators and watchers of Nigeria’s petroleum Industry are in agreement that this vital sector is in dire need of reforms and a new template that will enthrone these essential reforms is an urgent imperative.
“Every informed player in the industry that I have interacted with holds the view that one imperishable legacy the 7th Senate can leave behind is the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill. Not only will it engender greater transparency in the operations of the oil and gas industry, it will also enable our country to maximize the benefits derivable from this God given resource.
“As the 2014 fiscal year draws to a close, we expect that the appropriation bill arrives this chamber before the end of this month. This will enable us work on the budget and pass it into Law before January 2015.