The Absence of National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and others, stalled planned interface of the Senate with the service chiefs and heads of security agencies on Wednesday.
The Senate had on Tuesday last week through resolution adopted from collective motion on insecurity, summoned the Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies for grilling in plenary.
The planned interface, as announced by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, on Tuesday was specifically fixed for Wednesday and Thursday this week.
But the Senate in plenary on Wednesday announced that the interface could not hold due to the absence of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa .
President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio, who made the announcement said apology, was received from Ribadu on his absence but that he 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 included at the planned 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, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim, Minister of Interior, Hon 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-General 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.
“We thank you all for honouring our invitation for the very important interface on 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 hold today.
“Besides, the Senate in its wisdom, has decided to add other public officers whose offices are connected to security matters, to be part of the interactive session .
“Clerk of the Senate , has been directed to write them ahead of Tuesday next week , now fixed for the session.
“We need their presence along with those of you here today , for holistic and comprehensive brainstorming on the problem at hand and required solution “, he said .
