PEEVED by the state of insecurity in the Nigeria, the House of Representatives on Wednesday asked President Muhmmadu Buhari to sack the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, and replace him with ‘a more professional officer’.
The Lawmakers after listening to two separate motions by Mark Gbillah and Nuhu Damburam from Benue and Kano on the state of insecurity in their respective states and the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the IGP passed the vote of no confidence on the Police boss.
This came on a day the Senate threw out the report of the Committee on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence over recent killings in Benue State, and scolded the committee for writing and presenting what it described as unbalanced and incomplete report.
This development was sequel to an amendment to a prayer in Nuhu Damburam of Kano’s motion under matters of public importance on the need to stop thuggery in Kano State.
John Dyegh (APC, Benue), had moved that his prayer be amended to reflect that the IGP should be replaced by a more professional police officer.
The Speaker at this point, said “if we amend, it all means we have passed a vote of no confidence” and the response was a thunderous yes! Before the amendment move by John Dyegh, most of the lawmakers, who spoke on the state of thuggery in Kano, had appealed for peace to reign in Kano.
Damburam, leading the debate, had argued that “thuggery in recent times in Kano has really impeded law and order in the state as Police and other security operatives turn blind eyes to what is happening around them.
“This development is dangerous to democracy and it’s worrisome that a ranking lawmaker is at the top of such a situation.”
In his contribution, Kolawole Gabriel (PDP, Ondo), said “thuggery can only be curtailed if the youths are gainfully employed and unfortunately if you are not in the ruling party, you are prone to attack.”
The ayes have it Ali Madaki (APC, Kano), in his view, pointed accusing fingers at the IGP, saying ”he is the cause of lawlessness across the state as he seems to be aiding them.”
House Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, however, spoke against the position of his colleagues, claiming that ”without any fear of contradiction, your position on this matter was mischievous, misleading and misinforming the House.”
He was greeted by a thunderous No! No! by his colleagues, who equally warned that his choice of words were not honourable.
Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), citing Order 9, Rule 7 of the House, demanded that the Whip should withdraw such words “as they were unparliamentary.
But Doguwa continued, insisting that he would not change his choice of words.
The presiding officer, Yakubu Dogara, after listening to all the submissions, put it to a voice vote and the ayes carried the day.
