Senate berates Badaru over remarks on planned National Security Summit

The Senate on Thursday warned the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, against making public statements that could create friction between the  National Assembly and the executive led by President Bola Tinubu.

The warning came after Badaru publicly dismissed a planned two-day national security summit by the Senate, stating that such gatherings were unnecessary in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Speaking at plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele criticised the minister’s comments, warning that such remarks could undermine legislative initiatives and strain relations with the Presidency.

At a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Badaru had said the armed forces were already better equipped and more sophisticated than insurgents, and emphasised that effective strategy, not summits, was the key to national security.

“Strategy is far more important than a summit,” the minister said. “The summit will give input for the strategy, but operational orders come from the Defence Chiefs, not from public discourse.”

Reacting, Akpabio expressed disappointment, stating that open criticism of the Senate’s resolutions could worsen the already dire security situation.

“If the Ministry of Defence has any issue with any Senate resolution, it should not address it in the marketplace,” Akpabio said. “It should reach out to the Senate President or Senate elders. Such public remarks could lead to unnecessary executive-legislative conflict.”

Akpabio commended the 10th Senate for staying focused on national priorities despite distractions.

Earlier, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele described the minister’s remarks as demoralising and unhelpful.

“We are elected to work for the people and support the President’s agenda. But when we are falsely portrayed or publicly undermined, it becomes difficult to build synergy,” Bamidele said.