Impeachment: Names of senators that gave Buhari 6weeks ultimatum

Muhammadu Buhari

Disturbed by the increasing rate of insecurity in Nigeria, Senators across party lines on Wednesday stormed out of plenary, calling for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.

The lawmakers had on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the activities of the terrorists and bandits across the country without any serious action by the President, but were reportedly calmed down by Lawan and other leaders of the upper legislative chamber.

In furtherance of his efforts at maintaining peace among the lawmakers over the matter, the Senate President on Wednesday called for closed doors session at the beginning of plenary that later lasted for over two hours.

Lawan, after the closed doors session, announced that issues relating to smooth running of Senate and unity in Nigeria were deliberated upon but instructed the Senate Leader to proceed with items listed on the Order Paper.

But the Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda raised a point of order for the Senate to deliberate on issues of insecurity discussed at the closed doors session.

He said: “Mr. President, I raised this point of order to bring to the front burner, issues deliberated upon at the closed door session.

“Resolution made by all Senators at the closed door session which lasted for two hours, was to further deliberate on it in plenary and arrive at resolution to give President Muhammadu Buhari ultimatum on urgent basis to stop the worsening security situation or face impeachment.”

Trouble, however, started when the Senate President interrupted him by saying that his point of order falls flat on his face since he didn’t discuss it with him.

He, thereafter, instructed the Senate Leader to proceed with items on the Order Paper.

Angered by the development, all senators across party lines, led by the Minority Leader, Philip Tanimu Aduda stormed out of the chamber chanting “All we are saying, Buhari must go”, “Nigeria must survive”, “Ahmad Lawan should follow”, etc.

Names of protesting lawmakers 

The protesting senators including Adamu Bulkachuwa (APC Bauchi North), Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA Abia South), Ibrahim Shekarau (NNPP Kano Central), and all People’s Democratic Party, PDP lawmakers like Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South), Francis Onyewuchi (Imo East), Nicholas Tofowomo (Ondo South), Francis Alimikhena (Edo North), Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North), Betty Apiafi (Rivers West), George Thompson (Rivers South), Francis Fadahunsi (Odun East), Christopher Ekpenyong (Akwa Ibom North West) and Dajuma La’ah (Kaduna South) later gathered at the Senate Press Centre to disclosed what transpired at the closed door session.

Others include Senators Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Eyikanya Akon (Akwa Ibom West), Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central), Istifanus Gyang (Plateau North), Emmanuel Orkey-Jev (Benue North), etc.

Speaking on behalf of the senators, the Minority Leader said their anger was fueled by the refusal of the Senate President to follow resolutions taken by senators across party lines at the closed doors session.

“We are here to tell Nigerians that as Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are disappointed with the way the worsening security situation across the country is being handled.

“We held closed door session for two hours, where it was resolved that the issue will be deliberated upon in plenary with agreed resolution to give President Muhamnadu Buhari six weeks to address it or face impeachment by both Chambers of the National Assembly.

“Our walking out of the chamber is to express our disappointment in the way the matter was later handled by the Senate President.

“President Buhari has been given all he wanted in terms of adequate funding of the security agencies but nothing to show for it. He needs to shape up or ship out,” Aduda stressed.

However, the Senate President in his closing remarks before the adjournment of the Senate said all senators are worried and concerned about the security situation in the country.

He said an emergency session may be held during the long recess if the need arises.