Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) and other senators protested on the Senate floor on Wednesday against President Bola Tinubu’s order to remove police orderlies from the nation’s Very Important Persons, or VIPs.
The President, Vice President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, state governors, and their deputies, among others, were granted exemptions from the directive, although politicians were not to be used as scapegoats.
In light of the nation’s growing security issues, President Tinubu recently gave Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun the order to withdraw police officers escorting VIPs.
However, in a motion filed through Point of Order, Ningi expressed dissatisfaction and worries regarding the execution of the presidential directive, bemoaning the fact that his lone police orderly was taken away in the early hours of Wednesday while some other VIPs in the nation continued to enjoy the privilege.
In the sake of justice and equity, the senator insisted that withdrawal be carried out from top to bottom.
He said: “It should be done across the board. Let’s see what happens from the Office of the President, to the Vice President, to the Senate President, to the Speaker of the House, to the ministers. Mr. President, I’m coming after they have withdrawn my only orderly.
“I saw two convoys of ministers and they were carrying lots of security personnel. Mr. President, I have also seen business concerns, Chinese and other business concerns, yesterday (Tuesday) with their compliments of orderlies.
“Mr. President, I have also seen daughters and sons of political office holders having orderlies and having security covers.
“Mr. President, I have seen singers having orderlies and complimentary protection. I cannot ever imagine that a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has been here for a very long time, will have his only one orderly withdrawn.
“I can take care of myself, but let it be done across the board. Let me not see governors, ministers and business tycoons, being escorted by security personnel.
“This matter should be addressed with all seriousness it deserved. I, therefore, call on the President of the Senate to ask the Chairman of Committee on Police Affairs to investigate why the directive is seemingly being implemented selectively. The National Assembly should not be used as a scape goat,” he said.
The Senate’s Deputy President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided over the meeting, stated in his remarks that the Senate’s leadership thoroughly considered the matter brought up by Ningi on Tuesday.
He particularly told the senator and other impacted senators that attempts are underway to persuade the president to exempt National Assembly members from the implementation of an orderly withdrawal.
“I want to assure you that the issue raised to protect you is taken seriously, and that at the leadership side yesterday, we agreed that the course of action should be undertaken in order to restore your police order to you, because it’s in line with international practice.
“I’m sure we have a listening President. He will listen to us, and by the grace of God, he will save us from that order, which was given in good faith.”
On November 26, a number of senators voiced similar worries about the presidential order, cautioning that it might put them in danger.
The senators voiced their worries during a plenary debate on the nation’s growing insecurity, which was prompted by a motion made by Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South) regarding the urgent need for federal involvement.
Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC, Sokoto North) contributed to the discussion by stating that, given the deteriorating security situation nationwide, the removal of police escorts from high-ranking government officials and other VIPs was inappropriate.
He claimed that the choice could be risky because public office holders are still valuable targets for terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal organisations.
“Our lives are in danger. At a time when criminals are becoming more desperate and attacks are on the rise, withdrawing police protection from senators and other VIPs exposes us to avoidable risks. This policy needs to be reviewed,” Wamakko said.
Similarly, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), said withdrawing police protection from public officials at a time of heightened criminal activities would put their lives at serious risk.
He said senators and other VIPs have become prime targets for terrorists, kidnappers and armed gangs, making the directive “dangerous and poorly timed”.
“The withdrawal of security from VIPs will expose many of us to unnecessary danger. The security situation is deteriorating. Kidnappers and criminals are becoming more emboldened. Removing police protection now is like opening us up to attacks,” he said.
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