By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sumaila Kawu, created a scene on the floor of the red chamber on Tuesday when he alleged that some of his colleagues encourage drug abuse in their constituencies.
Kawu stated this while contributing to a debate on a Bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is currently undertaking the duty.
The Bill was sponsored by Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP-Kano).
It seeks to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation (NIDAR) and scaled second reading in the Senate.
*As Senate passes NDLEA bill institute for second reading
Titled: A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation (NIDAR), it was meant to coordinate efforts in promoting drug awareness.
The agency was expected to prevent substance abuse and facilitate the rehabilitation of drug abuse users and related matters.
Leading the debate, Hanga said that the high record of substance abuse in Nigeria informed the establishment of the institute.
He said that substance abuse was a significant public health concern that affected individuals, families, and communities worldwide.
Some senators welcomed the idea of unbundling the NDLEA to make the task of drug abuse easier, while others frowned at the thought of creating another agency in the country.
However, in his comments, Kawu specifically alleged that some of his colleagues possessed hard drugs and even kept them in their various constituency offices and homes.
He further alleged that the majority of the senators have ties with drug dealers.
He said, “As I am speaking now, most of our offices in our constituencies, most of our political offices in our constituencies, most of our houses, when you go there, you will find out that there is a mountain of drugs, and there are drug dealers in our offices and our houses. All in our houses.”
Kawu also said he knows some senior politicians who are supporting drug dealers in the illegal business.
He said, “I can take you to some of the political leaders who are in so many ways contributing to or supporting drug abusers in Nigeria. Therefore, Mr. President, we need to be serious. If we are talking, we need to understand that we are all one line here. We need to fight it from our side. We need to be serious. Let us go to the test and see who is serious and who is not.”
Kawu dared his colleagues to swear with the Qur’an and the Bible that they didn’t encourage drug abuse when they were campaigning.
He said, “Let us ask ourselves during our campaign, what are we doing with the so-called youth? How many of us can swear with the Quran or Bible that in any way they are not supporting drug abusers in their constituency?
“I am happy if all of us can swear with the Holy Quran that they are not in any way in support of drug abusers or intersecting youth in their constituency to take drugs because they are political,” they added.
The Senator also recommended conducting drug tests for politicians before contesting elections and assuming political positions.
He said, “We need to create a situation where, whether we are allowing this Bill to continue to have an agency or strengthening NDLEA, before contesting elections or before taking a debate, at whatever level in government, you must go for a drug test.”
The Senator said the country will not achieve the essence of the Bill until the upper chamber collaborates with relevant stakeholders to stop drug abuse in the country.
Kawu said, “There is one aspect we must look into. Whether we create this agency or strengthen the activities of NDLEA, we need to do something. We, as politicians, leaders in this country, and stakeholders, need to do a lot.
“We all believe that religiously, both Islam and Christianity, even in our traditional religion, drugs-related abuse or drug abuse is prohibited. But who is encouraging, and who is supporting it?
“We cannot achieve the result; we cannot achieve the intent of this bill unless and until we all agree that we will put our heads together with relevant stakeholders to stop drug abuse in Nigeria,” Mr. Sumaila added.
Responding, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, ruled Mr Sumaila out of order because the comment was irrelevant to the Bill’s debate.
Citing Order 56. Barau said debate upon any motion, Bill, or amendment shall be relevant to such motion.
He said, “While we are speaking and contributing, our contribution should be relevant to the subject matter.
“In this case, your contribution is irrelevant to the subject matter. I, therefore, rule you out of order.
In his contribution, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo) argued that creating another institution to prevent drug abuse and facilitate rehabilitation of drug users would amount to overlapping duplicity of functions with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
On his part, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP- Bayelsa) said, “Our nation, in addition to several other problems, is currently faced with a national narcotics crisis.
“We have a narcotic crisis at the family level, at community levels, in our world, at local governments, and states all around the globe. Because of the importance of the subject matter, let us not dismiss this Bill or abort it at this stage.
“Let us at least, at this level, agree in general principle that there is a need to strengthen the mechanism for enforcement and pass this Bill. So, at the committee level, in the presence of all the stakeholders, particularly the NDLEA, the Ministry of Justice, and the other related agencies, they can now brainstorm and, if possible, rework the proposal.”
Barau, who presided over the plenary, referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics for further legislative actions to report back in four weeks.
