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There was a rowdy session in the senate Pon Wednesday over a bill seeking to establish a commission for the armed forces.
The tension that greeted a controversial ruling of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on the bill led to an uproar that forced Lawan to call for a closed door session during plenary.
Eyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader and sponsor of the bill, said the commission is needed to deepen federal character in the appointment of service chiefs and other heads of security agencies.
However, some senators kicked against the bill, saying the military will be politicised if the law is passed.
Nine senators spoke in favour of the bill while six were against it during a debate that followed Abaribe’s presentation.
Those who supported the proposed law are the leader of the senate, Abdullahi Yahaya; deputy minority leader, Emmanuel Bwacha; Opeyemi Bamidele; Istifanus Gyang; Chukwuka Utazi and James Manager.
The senators who wanted the bill killed immediately were Francis Alimikhena; Ibrahim Oloriegbe; Adamu Aliero; Adamu Abdullahi; Mohammed Bulkachuwa and Danjuma Goje.
The deputy senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege, was evasive in his submissions.
When it was put to a voice vote, the legislation was rejected by a majority of the lawmakers.
Not backing down, Abaribe rose to challenge the rejection of the bill which he blamed on Lawan.
The sentence president said it was a majority of the senators who rejected the billand not him.
He subsequently called for a closed session which lasted for 15 minutes.
After the closed session, Abaribe withdrew his statement blaming Lawan for the bill’s failure and moved a motion for the proposed law to be considered on another legislative day.
While leading the debate on the bill earlier, the minority leader said the enactment of the legislation would strengthen Nigeria’s unity and integration.
“Provided that in making such recommendations the commission shall observe the federal character principle and adopt an equitable template to spread the offices of the service chiefs, and others corps and other ranks of the armed forces of the federation among the six geo-political zones of the country.
“The enactment of this bill will help strengthen our national unity and integration where the overall interest of all sections of the country is protected in line with order 77 (3) of our standing rules, the financial compendium is hereby attache,” he said.