Boko Haram: Senators, Reps resolve to meet Jonathan

Senators and members of the House of Representatives resolved on Thursday to hold a meeting with Jonathan over the escalating attacks by Boko Haram.

The decision was taken soon after the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence held a closed-door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, at the National Assembly.

The meeting with Badeh reviewed the current state of emergency in place in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, George Sekibo, told journalists that the planned meeting with Jonathan was to find urgent solutions to the insurgency in the North-East.

He said that based on Badeh’s briefing, the military was in control of the security situation in the affected states.

Sekibo, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Rivers State, dismissed as “speculation” the reports that the insurgents took over many towns and villages in Borno State.

He said the insurgents were strong in about one or two towns and not more. But, he added that there was still the need for the lawmakers to meet with Jonathan to see how the Federal Government could speed up the prospect of peace returning to the troubled zone.

Sekibo clarified that the meeting with Jonathan would come up after the committees had reported to their respective chambers on what Badeh told them.

He said, “The purpose is to follow up on the approval of the state of
emergency for third term so that they will brief us on their achievements.

“We have heard several stories from the media, with locals and our colleagues contributing, while the military is reacting.

“We have heard stories of towns being captured and our armed forces being withdrawn; that is why we invited the CDS to get first hand information.

“From this meeting, it is not as speculated. We have one or two places that the insurgents have a stronghold, but within few days, the Nigerian Armed Forces will take them back.

“We will report our outcome to both chambers and we will meet with Mr. President. We believe that the armed forces will overcome this problem in no time.”

The Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Mr. Bashir Adamu, stated that only N300bn and not N1tn, was budgted for the military this year.

Bashir noted that out of the money, 75 per cent was for recurrent expenditure. He called for more funding of military operations, adding that the meeting with Jonathan was also expected to address the funding challenges of the armed forces.