A rowdy session broke out in the senate on Wednesday, December 3, after several lawmakers opposed a move allowing former chief of defense staff and ministerial nominee, Christopher Musa, to simply ‘bow and go’ without undergoing questioning during screening.
Trouble started when Sani Musa, senator representing Niger east, proposed that the nominee be allowed to “take a bow and go”.
The suggestion was immediately rejected, with several senators rising to their feet and shouting in protest as the chamber became visibly unsettled.
Garba Maidoki, senator representing Kebbi south, was visibly angry and walked briskly towards the senate president insisting that Musa must be asked questions.
Senate president Godswill Akpabio halted the push, reminding lawmakers that the screening was a serious exercise that required public interrogation.
He said Nigerians expected to hear from the nominee directly, given the scale of the country’s security challenges.
“Our constituents will like to hear from him. We are asking him questions because our constituents would like to ask him questions too,” Akpabio said.
“This is not a period we should say bow and go. Even Donald Trump is on our neck.
“With over 200 children in the bush being tortured, give the man an opportunity to give Nigerians hope. It is not like we don’t like him.”
Once order was restored, the senate continued with a full screening of the retired military officer.
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