A senator suggested a dramatic twist to the war against insurgency on Thursday, saying that it was high time senators led soldiers in the battlefield to fight Boko Haram.
Senator Karimi Sunday (APC Kogi-West) told the Senate that it was no longer enough passing resolutions every day, asking the military and the Federal Government to find solutions to insecurity.
He said a practical solution was for all political leaders, particularly the senators themselves, to do more than criticise the efforts of the government but to lead soldiers in the battlefield.
“We are all part of the federal government. Our military is overwhelmed, and they are trying their best.
“I believe that as leaders, we too can support them by going to the battlefield. We should lead them like the Chadian President (Idris Deby) did in the fight against insurgents in his country.
“I am not saying that our own President should lead, but we can do our own bit; we are leaders too,” he said.
Senator Sunday, who was contributing to the debate on yet another motion on insurgency in Borno State, also suggested that senators could use their zonal intervention project funds to provide security infrastructure in their communities as a way of supporting the efforts of the government.
“I have spoken with my colleague (Sen. Ali Ndume) a number of times. Look, there can be a kind of legislative intervention in terms of building the military bases we talk about, using our constituency projects.”
His suggestions came as the motion, which was sponsored by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno-North), called on the Nigerian Armed Forces to establish a “super camp” at Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The motion also called for adequate mobilisation of personnel to secure Abadam and Marte local government areas, said to be completely under the control of Boko Haram insurgents.
