Nigerians in diaspora caution senate

By Musa Odoshimokhe

Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group United Kingdom (NDMG-UK) has charged the Senate not to allow itself to be used as an agent to destabilize the country.

It said the proposed Armed Forces Commission Bill from the Senate was inimical to the progress of the country.

NDMG-UK made this known in a communique after its meeting in London on Monday by its chairman Prince Ugo and secretary Mr. Tegha Samuel, NDMG-UK urged the National Assembly to take a deeper look at the proposed bill and reframe from causing confusion.

The UK group revealed that the Armed Forces is a symbol of unity and should be spared from partisan issues, noting it was an attempt to drag the country back by the controversial lawmaker, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

“The NDMG-UK wishes to call on the leadership of the National Assembly led by the President of Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan and the House of Representatives Speaker. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to urgently re-direct the parliamentary body on a productive, purposeful and rewarding trajectory of lawmaking for the nation.

“The NASS leadership is enjoined to frequently organize seminars  and workshops for national parliamentarians in the area of legislative functions, procedures and matters of legislation through sponsored member-Bills and other issues ancillary to it. This will refresh the knowledge and enlighten lawmakers especially newcomers in the Chambers on the art of legislation and the democratic process.

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“Equally, we condemn in stringent terms  the calls for the resignation  of the country’s Service Chiefs as an egregious resort to laying the landmines for disruption of Nigeria’s democracy and overheating of the polity. Such positions emanating from the hallowed chamber of NASS which failed to gauge public mood are calls for anarchy and plain disservice to the nation.

“The meeting also resolved that the NASS be reminded that it  must genuinely re-work and re-order itself to toe the path of public good in the course of legislation for the general interest of Nigerians. Its status now only aligns to the generally held notion that the 9th National Assembly has not proven an inch that it has the interest of Nigeria at heart.

“The NDMG-UK also wishes to  draw the attention of all well meaning Nigerians  to the Armed Forces Commission Bill currently being debated in the Senate which seeks to strip Mr. President of the constitutional power as the C-in- C  to exercise full control of appointment and promotion for officers in the Nigerian Armed Forces. It also raised fundamental concerns over the Bill in the House of Representatives seeking to upgrade the educational qualification for aspirants gunning for election either as President or Governor as another  misplaced priority.

“The meeting noted that the Armed Forces of any country binds the nation together and must be protected by its Government. Any other institution in the country could be bastardized, but the Armed Forces should be spared and insulated from partisan abuses especially as being contemplated by Senator Abaribe.

“There is therefore, no reason for anyone to crave to destroy the Nigerian Armed Forces , which is a symbol of unity and protection through such a  despicable Bill, crafted in contents and intendments to entrench divided loyalty to Mr. President and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“Finally, the NDMG-UK  wishes to unequivocally call on the entire National Assembly to retrace its footsteps and learn to conduct its legislative functions in a manner that is beneficial to the immediate and future aspirations and progress of Nigeria.”