Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, was visibly angry on Friday as service chiefs shunned a meeting he convened to discuss the security situation in the country.

Instead, the military top brass sent representatives who were turned back by the leader of the nation’s lower legislative chamber.

Igbere TV gathers that a visibly disappointed Gbajabiamila, who described their action as an insult to the parliament, promised to report the matter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The speaker then postponed the meeting to Monday morning, while apologising to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and Comptroller General (CG) of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, who were present at the meeting.

Gbajabiamila noted with dismay that the act of shunning the invitation of the parliament by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAF), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar was uncalled for.

He said it was a sad development since all arms of government are supposed to work in unison for the development of the country and the benefit of Nigerians.

“Let me, first of all, commend Mr President for the commitment he has shown in trying to stem the spate of insecurity in the country. Mr President has to have people he would delegate those powers to as the Commander-in-Chief as dictated by our constitution.

“Mr President has delegated those powers to the Service Chiefs, so we decided to call this meeting, as representatives of the people. Let me commend the Inspector General of Police for being here personally. Let me also commend the DG DSS and the CG Nigerian immigration for being here.

“Let me say, as a House, as an institution, I cannot understate my disappointment or our disappointment that the rest of the Service Chiefs are not here.

“Again, like I said, we called this meeting because it was inevitable. It was important. You can see members from Borno State here. There is a crisis in Borno State right now.

“We wanted to hear from the Service Chiefs to know what was going on, how the House can help and what the problems are as well as what are the challenges; to talk about strategy, to talk about what we need to do.

“I’m sure you really didn’t expect the House to fold its arms while people in Maiduguri and other parts are being killed. There’s a migration now from local governments in Borno State to Maiduguri.

“Here we are, we call the Armed Forces coordinated by the CDS, who’s not here, with Service Chiefs being represented. I’m actually at a loss.

“For me, I believe my colleagues are in tandem with this. In the absence of the Service Chiefs, the CDS, the COAS, the CNS and the CAS are not represented as far as we’re concerned.

“I’m sorry, when I said not represented, as far as I’m concerned, the heads are not here, the Service Chiefs are not here. I know one or two of these Service Chiefs were somewhere yesterday night. I am aware of that.

“I can almost say it shows a disdain for this institution. The budget is on its way. Yes, we need to talk about that. What do you need? What is required? I’m almost embarrassed. To tell you the truth. I’m almost embarrassed,” Speaker Gbajabiamila who was angry said.

He added that “There was no call placed to my office to explain why. I’m just seeing accountants and representatives. So I’m not sure how to handle this, because I don’t think this is happening anywhere in any Parliament that I know of in the world, where the head of parliament will call the Service Chiefs for a nagging problem, how to resolve it and you have what we have here as representations.

“So, I think it’s important that we might need to postpone this meeting to Monday morning. I will personally see the President myself. We’re supposed to work together as a body, but it shows lack of seriousness apart from the disdain on Parliament. It shows that this is not as serious to the level that we believe it is. Unfortunately, this meeting can no longer hold.”

http://igberetvnews.com/1008577/gbajabiamila-fumes-as-olonisakin-buratai-others-shun-meeting/

Lalasticlala Mynd44 Dominique

Femi should relax been speaker doesn't make you chief of arm forces to summon all security chiefs and other appointees of the president at will just to prove you're speaker and massage your ego.

Imagine speaker summoning chief of defence staff, chief of army staff, chief of airforce, chief of naval staff, IG of police, DSS director, NIA director, comptroller general of prison, comptroller general of immigration at the same time and day.

Yesterday was Femi fumes and lambast Godfrey Onyema minister of foreign affairs for not appearing before him after been summoned

Hope Femi is not lizard that calls himself an alligator.

Femi I don't support you on this i just see you as trying to raise unnecessary issue by trying to assert yourself as the number four (4) citizen.

Now i see why your fellow members never wanted you as speaker in 2015 after they accused you of been to pompous, egocentric and carries yourself as if no other member existed.

KenOne:
Femi should relax been speaker doesn't make you chief of arm forces to summon all security chiefs.

Imagine speaker summoning Chief OS, COAS, CONS.

The house of representatives have the powers to summon ANYBODY including the PRESIDENT to explain if need be ANYTHING that needs clarifications. Be guided, read your constitution and know the powers of the Speaker, House of reps of Nigeria.

I feel his pains though.

Femi I commend you for your boldness this is not military rule

KenOne:
Femi should relax been speaker doesn't make you chief of arm forces to summon all security chiefs and other appointees of the president at will just to prove you're speaker and massage your ego.

Imagine speaker summoning chief of defence staff, chief of army staff, chief of airforce, chief of naval staff, IG of police, DSS director, NIA director, comptroller general of prison, comptroller general of immigration at the same time and day.

Yesterday was Femi fumes and lambast Godfrey Onyema minister of foreign affairs for not appearing before him after been summoned

Hope Femi is not lizard that calls himself an alligator.

Femi I don't support you on this i just see you as trying to raise unnecessary issue by trying to assert yourself as the number four (4) citizen.

Now i see why your fellow members never wanted you as speaker in 2015 after they accused you of been to pompous, egocentric and carries yourself as if no other member existed.

are u ok?