George Floyd: Confusion in Senate as Buhari is challenged over insecurity in the country

The brutaI kiIIing of US citizen George Floyd, by a police in Minneapolis, has morphed into a global phenomenon as protests over racism sent Covid-19 concerns to the background in the current scheme of things.

In Nigeria, one senator subtly took the matter to the senate floor but was hit back by his colleagues who accuse him of trying to cause unnecessary controversy over the handling of security issues in the country by the Buhari administration.


Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP – Taraba South) during plenary on Wednesday, raised a point of order on the Senate floor while relying on order 43 of the Senate standing rules, to draw the attention of his colleagues to the recent kiIIing of George Floyd by the Police in Minneapolis, United States of America.

He said, “The global protest against racism was ignited from the action of a racist police in Mineapolis in the United States.

“We are all aware of what followed, the wıcked despicable manner the life of George Floyd was taken from this world.



“This singular incident, Mr. President, ordinarily would have generated debates even in this chamber. Meaning, I would have invoked order 52 to enable us to debate this matter.”

According to the lawmaker, his decision not to bring up the matter for consideration was due to the fact that Nigeria lacks the moral standing to condemn the kiIIing of Mr. Floyd as the country presently grapples with its own problems of kiIIings arising from ethnic and religious discrimination.


But the Taraba State senator was countered by his colleague, Senator Adamu Aliero (APC – Kebbi Central), who also relied on order 43 on personal explanation, to crave the indulgence of the Senate not to entertain any matter that may spark unnecessary controversy.

Bwacha, however, explained that the reason for bringing up the death of George Floyd was to remind Nigerians on the need to work on all associated problems that are spin-offs from the country’s diversity.