SAN FRANCISCO, January 19, (THEWILL) – The Deputy Senate President, Senator ‎Ike Ekweremadu, on Thursday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari ought to have sought the approval of the National Assembly before deploying troops in Senegal for an operation in the Gambia.

He relied on Section 5(4)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, to assert that the President cannot deploy troops outside the country without any prior approval from the legislature, insisting that it is wrong to subject the Senate to ridicule.

Nigerian troops and fighter‎ jets were deployed in Senegal for the enforcement of a resolution of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to remove Yahya Jammeh from office should he refuse to quit on January 19 when his tenure expires as the president of the Gambia.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Air Force, NAF, Ayodele Famuyiwa, on Wednesday confirmed the deployment to Senegal, as part of Nigerian contingent of Economic Community of West African States military intervention in Gambia, ECOMIG, a standby force tasked by ECOWAS heads of state to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in The Gambia.

“The NAF today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopter as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia. The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia,” Famuyiwa said.

But raising a point of order on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, the lawmaker representing Enugu North, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, had relied on Section 5(4)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as well as on Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules to point‎ out the illegality of the president’s action.

Stressing that the Constitution demands that the National Assembly be briefed before troops are deployed in any country, he said, “ECOWAS countries have been discussing the political crisis in The Gambia. But to ask that this country will go on a warfare in another country without a recourse to the constitutional provision is an affront of the 1999 constitution.

“It is a breach of the constitution and we have failed. Let it be on record that the National Assembly has to be informed properly in writing,” the Enugu senator submitted.

But the Senate President, Bukola Saraki only noted his argument, saying the President has at least seven days to inform the National Assembly before deploying troops in a foreign country, pointing out that the window had not elapsed.

“The point made is noted, but the explanation concerning the constitution is confusing. I believe the constitution gives room for the president, within seven days for such an action to come before us,” Saraki said.

It was at this point that Ekweremadu countered Saraki, arguing that based on Section 5(4)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the President cannot deploy troops outside the country without any prior approval from the National Assembly.

The Deputy Senate President, who warned that setting a bad precedence will hurt in the future, said, “This has nothing to do with war and we are not at war with anybody, but for you to send the Nigerian armed forces outside Nigeria, this Senate must be told. But it is happening in The Gambia. They need the approval of the Senate because that is not war.

“War comes in when you are talking about section 5 of the constitution and the president does not need our approval. He can go to war on our behalf and come back later. But for you to deploy them to The Gambia, you must seek the approval of the Senate,” he insisted.

No official position was taken by the Senate on the issue as the Deputy Senate President’s argument was only noted.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/gambia-buharis-deployment-of-troops-over-yahya-jammeh-unconstitutional-ekweremadu/

Lawless nation!

Ipods and their senators will just die over PMB's matter for nothing.

He has deployed the Army as the C-in-C, Ekerewhatever you are bearing, we dare you to recall them.

SuperS1Panther:
Ipods and their senators will just die over PMB's matter for nothing.

He has deployed the Army as the C-in-C, Ekerewhatever you are bearing, we dare you to recall them.

You don't know how stvpid you sound right now?
The rule of law and due process is the only thing that keeps a society from total chaos and anarchy. It must not be sacrificed on the altar of tribalism, nepotism and stvpidity.

Keep cheering buhari on, his policies would soon affect you directly.

1Rebel:


You don't know how stvpid you sound right now?
The rule of law and due process is the only thing that keeps a society from total chaos and anarchy. It must not be sacrificed on the altar of tribalism, nepotism and stvpidity.

Keep cheering buhari on, his policies would soon affect you directly.

It is only Ipod that knows what is called rule of law abi?

On Jammeh's issue, sane Nigerians support PMB's action while haters can keep doing what they are very good at -- hating.

Fortunately we know the region where they are from -- the desolate region of red mud and gully erosion

SuperS1Panther:


It is only Ipod that knows what is called rule of law abi?

On Jammeh's issue, sane Nigerians support PMB's action while haters can keep doing what they are very good at -- hating.

Fortunately we know the region where they are from -- the desolate region of red mud and gully erosion

typical afonja, jumps at every opportunity to showcase how much of a cretin you are.

SuperS1Panther:
Ipods and their senators will just die over PMB's matter for nothing.

He has deployed the Army as the C-in-C, Ekerewhatever you are bearing, we dare you to recall them.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/4525250_afonjafull_jpege3fdbb20836cb58d03bc0c2ad19cf800

1Rebel:


You don't know how stvpid you sound right now?
The rule of law and due process is the only thing that keeps a society from total chaos and anarchy. It must not be sacrificed on the altar of tribalism, nepotism and stvpidity.

Keep cheering buhari on, his policies would soon affect you directly.

Menh you' sound more stu....
Who dares the commander in chief ? Not that ewu senator....
In fact make e go recall dem, make we see na, nonsense

SuperS1Panther:
Ipods and their senators will just die over PMB's matter for nothing.

He has deployed the Army as the C-in-C, Ekerewhatever you are bearing, we dare you to recall them.

you dey mind dem, the whole c-in-c asking for permission to use the arm force.....

jiinxed:




www.nairaland.com/attachments/4525250_afonjafull_jpege3fdbb20836cb58d03bc0c2ad19cf800

Grow up daddy patience, your daughter never do her assignment...

Kyase:

Grow up daddy patience, your daughter never do her assignment...

Look at this unemployed low-life. How dare you quote me?

jiinxed:


Look at this unemployed low-life. How dare you quote me?

Yea I'm unemployed please find work for me sir

SuperS1Panther:
Ipods and their senators will just die over PMB's matter for nothing.

He has deployed the Army as the C-in-C, Ekerewhatever you are bearing, we dare you to recall them.

I LEARNT THE EKWEREWHATEVER IS A JAMMEH SYMPATHIZER

EKWERE BIG MOUTH

Kyase:

Yea I'm unemployed please find work for me sir

No, you're a disrespectful little boy.

jiinxed:




www.nairaland.com/attachments/4525250_afonjafull_jpege3fdbb2083c0c2ad19cf800

IDIOTIC PEOPLE OF BEERFRA

jiinxed:


No, you're a disrespectful little boy.

What's even wrong with these yoruba vs igbo idiots on this forum?... Cant some humans just do any other thing with their lives other than hating and hurling insults at each other's tribe?

Aside this silly tribal fights here, the question should be, is Buhari right to have deployed soldiers outside the shores of the country without informing the NASS?

When you deploy troops to uphold the constitution in another country,
While you are desecrating the constitution in your own country.
What exactly is the difference between Buhari and Jammeh? Or the constitution only applies to elections?

Africans are truly apes of the worst kind (Gorillas are probably way smarter)
Let's keep pretending we are all democratic as if we know the meaning of the word

The big green and white book is gradually falling apart and loosing it's value. Let's kuku burn it so we rule with instinct.

He is now the sole-administrator of Nigeria.

1Rebel:


You don't know how stvpid you sound right now?
The rule of law and due process is the only thing that keeps a society from total chaos and anarchy. It must not be sacrificed on the altar of tribalism, nepotism and stvpidity.

Keep cheering buhari on, his policies would soon affect you directly.

The President does not ask permission to deploy troops. He only needs NASS if he needs to declare war

This has already been addressed significantly.. . the constitution allows the president to deploy troops in times when our national security is in imminent risk. . . without recourse to the na

GerogeI:
When you deploy troops to uphold the constitution in another country,
While you are desecrating the constitution in your own country.
What exactly is the difference between Buhari and Jammeh? Or the constitution only applies to elections?

Africans are truly apes of the worst kind (Gorillas are probably way smarter)
Let's keep pretending we are all democratic as if we know the meaning of the word

Sir only you and your ipoop shrills are truly what your words are referring to.

Educative matters, knowledge seeking matters are up there for us to delibrate on, but here they are with their usual tribal insultive tendencies...

I remember obama sought permission from U.S congress and senate before going after Libya and Isis..

Cameron did same with uk paliament

The war does not concern us in anyway, the president should have only sought permission, which we all know would be granted..

Ekweremadu put up points backed up by the constitution, saraki backed it up and stated the time-frame had not elasped, but some of us here with half baked knowledge about the constitution are disputing people whom their everyday job deals with that constitution..

Such permission seeking would bring about unity, working with one goal and show sign of a good leader.. but tribal insults are what some see as more important.

Adminisher:


The President does not ask permission to deploy troops. He only needs NASS if he needs to declare war

can Obama deploy troops to a foreign country without informing the Congress? God why did you put me and these backward people in the same clime?

Why are they complaining? They should have known that Mr President has no respect for our constitution. America cannot deploy troops to any part of the world without a prior notice to the congress. But this is Africa, anything goes. Afterall, he is even breaking the law for a man who has already broken the law.

The only thing worse than the ignorance of dos backing up every move Buhari makes is der idiocy....

vedaxcool:
This has already been addressed significantly.. . the constitution allows the president to deploy troops in times when our national security is in imminent risk. . .without recourse to the na

Is there any external threat to our national security on the basis of which troops have been deployed to the Gambia?

Meanwhile Section 5(5) of the Constitution rubbishes your position unless you advocate that the Constitution should be discarded whenever the president finds it convenient to do so. Read below:

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, the President, in consultation with the National Defence Council, may deploy members of the armed forces of the Federation on a limited combat duty outside Nigeria if he is satisfied that the national security is under imminent threat or danger:

Provided that the President shall, within seven days of actual combat engagement, seek the consent of the Senate and the Senate shall thereafter give or refuse the said consent within 14 days.

Look more closely at the bold part and you'd see that there's an overriding proviso that makes it mandatory for the president to seek approval of the Senate once troops are deployed or to be deployed externally. Note from the first part of this sub-section that the President may only deploy troops when he is satisfied that national security is under imminent threat or danger. Does Jammeh's refusal to hand over power threaten our security in any way?

1Rebel:


You don't know how stvpid you sound right now?
The rule of law and due process is the only thing that keeps a society from total chaos and anarchy. It must not be sacrificed on the altar of tribalism, nepotism and stvpidity.

Keep cheering buhari on, his policies would soon affect you directly.

We know you'll quote rule of law now, which honestly I have no problem with, but how many times has this rule of law been used by the National Assembly to better the lives of the common man on the streets?

Waiting for the National Assembly to act in favor of the common man is like waiting for Satan to repent.

jiinxed:


Look at this unemployed low-life. How dare you quote me?

And why shouldn't he quote you? You carry fire for head?