Barring any last minute change; President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday address a Joint Session of the National Assembly.
The President’s visit followed last week invitation by Federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives; calling the Commander- In-Chief of Nigeria’s armed forces to come forward to provide explanations about the country’s troubling security challenge.
It is the first time any Nigerian leader will be summoned by the country’s highest lawmaking body to find lasting solutions to a recurring crisis.
Nigeria is home to two of the deadliest terrorist organizations (Boko Haram and its affiliate, ISWAP).
The groups have relentlessly engaged Nigerian security forces in mostly the Northeast; leaving behind large scale killings, massive destruction and humanitarian crisis of unquantifiable proportion.
Even when official government statements claim Boko Haram has been decimated and technically defeated; the activities of the terrorist group seem to suggest otherwise; but enough to trouble the National Assembly to invite Buhari to action.
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The turning point to the series of horrors unleashed by Boko Haram for the lawmakers was last week’s brutal massacre of 43 rice farmers in Zabarmari in Borno State.
It was as if Boko Haram had used the carnage to remind authorities in Nigeria that it was alive and well and to also remind the rest of us that there was no limit to its heinous capabilities.
Ahead of Buhari’s appearance before Federal lawmakers; the question that agitates many is what difference will his address to the National Assembly make?
The question is even more pertinent knowing that between the House of Representatives and the Senate; more than two dozens of motions have been raised drawing attention to the spate of insecurity in Nigeria; especially in Buhari’s North.
The Senate has organised at least two Security Summits with an Adhoc Committee set up to look into the matter and several resolutions reached; including a call asking Buhari to sack his Service Chiefs.
It appears all these efforts including legislative resolutions have fallen on unfertile grounds with nothing to show for it.
Last week, lawmakers in the Senate and surprisingly die-hard Pro- Buhari Senators from the core North of Nigeria could not hold back their resentment as they finally found the courage to ask the President to act and act fast.
Whole the upper legislative chamber settled for a softer landing; asking Buhari to initiate the process of changing the current hierarchy of Nigeria’s security agencies; the House of Representatives reached a much more tougher stance.
It is expected that President Buhari will come to the National Assembly prepared; armed with an elaborate and eloquently crafted speech; there is a great anxiety about the modalities for the planned engagement with the Federal lawmakers.
For example, a good number of citizens will expect a robust engagement between the President and the lawmakers in a question and answer session.
Anything short may not be as productive as expected.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
