Absence of Ribadu, Musa stalls Senate’s interface with security chiefs

• Lawmakers reschedule meeting to Tuesday
• Insecurity shouldn’t continue, Obi tells FG

Absence of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and others stalled scheduled interface of the Senate with the service chiefs and heads of security agencies yesterday.

The upper legislative chamber had to reschedule the much-publicised briefing to Tuesday, next week.

It took the decision in Abuja during plenary, yesterday in Abuja, blaming it on the absence of some key security chiefs.

The Senate had, on Tuesday last week, through resolution adopted from collective motion on insecurity, invited the service chiefs and heads of security agencies to the plenary.

The planned interface, as announced by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Adetokunbo Abiru, on Tuesday, was specifically fixed for Wednesday and Thursday this week.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who announced the postponement, said apology was received from Ribadu on his absence but insisted that Ribadu and the Chief of Defence Staff, must be present at the very important session,

He added that aside Ribadu and General Musa, the Senate has also resolved to add other security heads to the planned interface session.

Those invited to the session, now postponed to Tuesday next week, are the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawale; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam; Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo; Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun; and Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Akpabio, in his remarks, thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Taoheed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and Director General of Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, for honouring the Senate’s invitation.

He said: “We thank you all for honouring our invitation for the very important interface on the way out of the lingering security crisis at hand. But due to the absence of the NSA and the Chief of Defence Staff, the interactive session will no longer be held today.”

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, yesterday, said that the level of insecurity in the country should not be allowed to continue.

He told federal and other tiers of government to evolve more serious and innovative strategies in tackling insecurity in the country.

Obi’s reaction followed the abduction of passengers travelling to Abuja in mass transit buses, along Kogi State.

In a post on his X handle, the former Anambra State Governor said: “As insecurity, banditry and kidnapping continue to spread unchecked in the country, I am yet greatly saddened by the reports of the kidnapping of some passengers, who were travelling to Abuja in public buses.

“These brothers and sisters were reportedly kidnapped in Kogi State, yesterday, on their way to Abuja. The security of lives and property remains a high governance priority, which must be given the urgent attention it deserves, by the government and relevant agencies.

“I appeal to the people unleashing these waves of terror on the nation to have a change of heart and abandon such criminal acts. Our thoughts are with the families of the kidnapped victims, as we unite in efforts towards their safe release and better security for our country.”