The Senate, on Tuesday, summoned the Army to explain its role in the latest violence in villages near the city of Jos.

Ibrahim Ida (PDP
Katsina State), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence and
Army, in a press conference after Tuesday’s plenary explained that the
Senate is not oblivious of the grumbles over the military’s inactivity
in the crisis.

“We have already invited them to appear before us to tell us what they are doing,” Mr. Ida said.

He, however, told reporters that the invitation given to the Army will perhaps be to commend its actions so far.

“It is natural that
some people will criticise here and there,” he said. “That should not
becloud the objective. These people need to be commended. When the
military are sent on assignment, they have rules of engagement and they
abide by that rule.

“I think the bottom
line is that we should really commend them for the job they are doing.
I want to use this medium to commend the armed forces and the police
for the very good job they are doing. We need to encourage them by
understanding the terrain and the circumstances under which they
operate,” he added.

Mum on Yar’Adua

When asked to
comment on President Yar’Adua’s health, Ayogu Eze (PDP Enugu state),
the Senate’s spokesperson who accompanied Mr. Ida to the press
conference, could not clearly state current health status of the
President.

Rather, Mr. Eze chose to discuss about the Acting President.

“The Acting
President is conducting the affairs of the country admirably well,” he
said. “We are very pleased with the steps he has taken so far and we
are standing with and behind him. That is why all communication coming
from him is treated expeditiously.

“And we don’t feel that the Acting President has performed below
expectation. As an institution, we are very pleased with the acting
president for now.”