Insecurity: Why we can't shut down National Assembly

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged lawmakers at both federal and state levels to refrain from politicising the nation’s security challenges.

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Speaking during a debate on a motion regarding rising kidnapping cases in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States, Mr Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) emphasised the importance of prioritising the safety of lives and property over political posturing.

“And I also want to appeal to our colleagues in the parliament, both at the federal level and at the state level, that this is not the time to grandstand. It is about security of lives and property,” he said.

The senate leader was also responding to comments by Alhassan Doguwa, a member of the House of Representatives, who called for the temporary shutdown of the National Assembly in response to increasing kidnappings and banditry.

During a special security session of the House on Tuesday, Mr Doguwa, who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State, said the scale of violence, kidnappings, and communal attacks demanded extraordinary measures, including a temporary suspension of legislative activities.

However, the House Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu discouraged the idea.

Following Mr Doguwa’s comments, the call gained traction among Nigerians on social media, with many supporting a temporary legislative shutdown.

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However Mr Bamidele maintained that such a call amounted to an abdication of the lawmakers’ constitutional duties.

“I witnessed some of the debates by some of our colleagues on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday. And one of them was specifically calling on this National Assembly to shut down.

As far as I am concerned, a call for the National Assembly to shut itself down because of this insecurity situation is a call for abdication of our constitutional roles,” he said.

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The senate leader noted that lawmakers are part of government and that the security challenges predate President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“We are part of this government and we did not start this problem. Both the executive arm and the legislative arm of government as it is inherited this insecurity problem. But there must not be an excuse. We must deal with the problem and I am happy all hands are on deck in both the executive and the legislative arm.”