June 20th, 2012
PremiumTimes- The Senate on Tuesday said the increasing terrorist attacks on churches in the Northern part of the country are a ploy to throw Nigeria into a religious war.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Publicity, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said this while briefing newsmen after a closed-door session of the Senate.
Mr. Abaribe said the Senate is alarmed at the disturbing level of insecurity in the country, especially Sunday’s bombings and the reprisal attacks in Zaria and Kaduna.
He urged Nigerians not to succumb to the detractors who are bent on destabilising the country in a bid to achieve their selfish agenda.
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“You are all aware of what happened, what transpired over the weekend and the fact that efforts are being made to plunge this country into a religious war.
“Senate agreed that this was merely an attempt to pitch Nigerians against each other and the Senate urges Nigerians not to fall for this odious attempt,’’ he said.
He said that Nigerians must support all measures by the Federal Government to protect the unity and stability of the country by exposing criminal elements within our communities.
Mr. Abaribe observed that in spite of the involvement of foreigners in the terrorist attacks, Nigerians should look inwards to combat the security challenges facing the country.
“The Senate also notes that there may be some foreign dimension to this but the Senate acknowledges that we must put our house in order.
“We do not believe that foreigners can have access into Nigeria if they don’t have Nigerians who are assisting them to do whatever they want to do,’’ he said.
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Mr. Abaribe warned that no meaningful development can take place under an atmosphere of insecurity adding that the Senate is in support of steps taken by the government to tackle the worrisome security challenges threatening the country.
“The Senate supports all the actions that are being taken now by the Federal Government,” he said.
Mr. Abaribe assured that the Senate is determined to take all legislative actions necessary to protect Nigeria’s unity.
He said that the 2012 Senate retreat holding next week in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, has as its theme: ‘The National Assembly and National Security’ to underscore the importance of security.
The Senate at the end of the closed-door session, which lasted about four hours, stood down all items earlier listed for deliberations on the day’s Order Paper.