Rita Odafe
Mohammed Badaru
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has advised Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru to refrain from publicly disputing National Assembly decisions.
This counsel from Akpabio, along with Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, came during a session on Thursday.
Their comments were in response to Badaru’s remarks deeming a upcoming two-day security summit organized by the Senate as unnecessary.
Badaru expressed that while such summits could be useful, they do not replace the need for well-planned military strategies.
In his response, Akpabio highlighted that public criticisms could lead to tensions between the legislative branch and the presidency.
He stated, “If the defence has concerns regarding any Senate resolution, it should not voice them publicly. Instead, they should contact the Senate president or senior members directly. Speaking openly can lead to conflicts between the executive and legislative branches.”
Akpabio expressed gratitude towards his colleagues, particularly acknowledging the 10th Senate for their focus.
Bamidele echoed Akpabio’s sentiments, sharing his disappointment regarding Badaru’s comments.
He emphasized that their role was to work in conjunction with the president for the benefit of the Nigerian populace.
Bamidele remarked, “I understand that criticism comes with the job. However, when untruths are spread about us, it becomes challenging. We are currently focused on our legislative duties, and hearing the Minister of Defence label our security summit as unnecessary was quite amusing.”
