Drama as senators Walk Out Over imbalanced Recruitment In The Military

There was a mellow drama in the Senate on Tuesday as two lawmakers walked out of the military committee over allegedly unbalanced recruitment into the Nigerian military.

The panel invited the Nigerian Army’s Training and Doctrine Commander, Major General S.O Olabanji, for an interactive meeting.

But Senators Ibrahim Danbaba (PDP, Sokoto) and Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers) staged a walkout when they were barred from grilling the senior army officer over allegations of unbalanced recruitment carried out by the military recently. .

Acting chairman of the committee, Senator Abba Moro (PDP Benue), who chaired the meeting, ruled Danbaba out of order, stating that “this meeting is not intended for such an investigation.”

Another committee member, Senator Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers) raised the issue again, saying that “the imbalance in recruitment is not a problem to be put aside or dismissed”.

But Senator Moro again spoke out against the investigation, insisting that the session was not for the recruitment review carried out by the military but on the tactical training and doctrine of men and officers. .

“The questions raised by my colleagues about allegedly unbalanced recruitments are put to the wrong person. The chief of staff of the army, Lieutenant-General Farouk Yahaya is the one who can do justice to such an allegation or an investigation, ”he said.

Irritated by Abba Moro’s insistence that recruitment issues not be addressed during the session, Danbaba and Mpigi walked out of the meeting in anger.

Speaking to newsmen after, Senator Danbaba said he walked out of the meeting with Senator Mpigi because of dictatorial action of Senator Moro.
“He shouldn’t have ruled us out of order since the military man the question was directed to did not complain.
“The issue of marginalization in recruitment has never been responded to, it is part of the oversight process of the committee to ensure that whatever is to be done should be done to ensure Justice.

“The Nigerian army like any institution of government in Nigeria is supposed to comply with provisions of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and that constitution has made it very clear that the issue of federal character and representation is paramount is a constitutional issue.

“I’m not blaming the army, the army has been performing very well, but at the same time the issue of recruitment is very important.
“I left the meeting, I stormed out with Mpigi because we were angry,” he said.
Reacting, Moro said he had no any regret for ruling Danbaba out of order as far as the issue of alleged lopsided recruitment was concerned .
 
“Danbaba and Mpigi’s questions were directed to a wrong person. What explanation were they expecting from Commander, Training and Doctrine Command on recruitment.
 
“Besides, the committee had tabled the issue before the Chief of Army Staff few months ago with response bordering on physical and medical reasons for those recruited and those who failed in the exercise.”