The Senate on Tuesday said the increasing level of violence in various parts of the country posed grave danger to the nation’s security and economy.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), made the assertion when he spoke to National Assembly correspondents in Abuja.
Abaribe, who reacted to the wanton killings and destruction of economic assets, said it was disturbing that many Nigerians choose violence as the only means to resolve disputes.
He expressed concern that the wave of violence in the country was creating economic and security challenges inimical to the progress of the country.
He said: “The Senate is very worried about the spate of killings happening all over the country.
“We have seen a trend developing where every dispute is now settled with burning and all that.
“That does not augur well for security and confidence in this economy.
“For every time that there is an explosion anywhere, that area will lose people and there will be no economic activities going on there and then those people will now become parasites on other areas.
“At the end, it is our nation and our gross economic product that will be ultimately reduced.”
Abaribe appealed to Nigerians to avoid the recourse to violence in the bid to resolve dispute, adding that the law did not permit anybody to take the life of another citizen.
Abaribe warned leaders to desist from using their positions to threaten the lives of other citizens, adding that all Nigerians were entitled to fundamental rights as provided for in the constitution.
He said: “Let me appeal to all Nigerians that there are better ways of solving problems than trying to eliminate your fellow man.
“We must value every life in Nigeria as very precious.
“Every Nigerian is guaranteed the right to life, a right to living, a right to move about safely and all other rights as enshrined in the constitution.
“These rights must be sustained by those who are in positions to do so.”
On the sack of the Special Adviser to the President on Legislative Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, Abaribe said the Upper Chamber enjoyed a “fruitful relationship” with her.
He described Emordi’s removal “as a decision of the presidency”, and declared that the Senate was prepared to accept and work with anybody appointed by the President.
He said: “Let me say that the Senate had enjoyed very fruitful relationship with her, but the decision of who works for Mr. President is essentially that of Mr. President.
He said: “It is not for the Senate chambers to determine for him anybody that he decides to work with.
“So, the Senate has no option than to accept whoever Mr. President chooses and whichever way Mr. President wants to structure his cabinet and those that he decides to work with.
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