The Nigerian senate on Tuesday turned the deaf ear to the recent threats by terrorists to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari, Kaduna Governor El-Rufai and lawmakers.
Two days after terrorist who hijacked the Kaduna-bound train released a video, where they threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, apprehension heightened in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading to the immediate closure of all unity schools in Abuja.
Despite the obvious the lawmakers upon their return from the weekend break did not give any thought to the issue
Even the federal Government was panic striken to the extent of ordering the closure of schools over the matter.
The terrorists who attacked and abducted train passengers had in their latest video that had gone viral identified the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s armed forces and President, Buhari, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and Senators as their next target.
The same video showed the terrorists flogging the remaining defenceless captives in their den as they passed home the disturbing message to shift their focus on Buhari and other top government functionaries including senators.
But surprisingly, the federal lawmakers in the Senate who are directly possible victims on the list with the terrorists did not deem it necessary enough to mention or deliberate on the issue even behind closed doors in an executive session as they returned to work on Tuesday.
At the senate, the lawmakers rather embarked on their routine legislative work, attending to three separate letters from President Buhari for various appointments including the confirmation and approval of the appointments of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as Substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Others were requests for them to confirm and approve the re-appointments of 4 Non-Executive Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria as Board members of the apex bank and the confirmation of Suleiman Afikpo as Commissioner ( South-East ), National Hajj Commission.
An attempt in the House of Representatives to initiate the discussion was countered by the stronger voices who were of the opinion that the handlers of Nigeria’s security should be allowed to do their job.
The silence of lawmakers in both chambers has further heightened the apprehension of many Nigerians who have been on the edge, wondering if the lawmakers feigning to be overwhelmed because of politics
The National Assembly had through several resolutions severally drawn the attention of the executive arm of government to the activities of bandits and terrorists in the country, forcing Buhari to overhaul his entire security architecture.
This was as lawmakers granted Buhari express approval for the purchase of military hardwares to boost Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and other criminal acts. All of which seems to have been to no avail and now their reluctance to say a word even as the threats inch closer to their door steps.