Obasanjo seeks
NASS approval to send troops to Sudan
By Chesa Chesa,
National
Assembly
correspondent,
Abuja
President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked the
National Assembly to endorse his decision to deploy one company (300) of
Nigerian troops as part of African Union (AU) Protection Force in war-torn Darfur,
Sudan.
In a letter dated August 11, 2004, to
Senate President Adolphus Wabara, the President requested that the approval
should make allowance for deployment of more troopsof about one or two battalions (about 2,000) as may be
necessary.
He asked the lawmakers to consider
Nigeria’s position aschairman of the AU, and the need for peace building in Africa, while
granting the request.
The one page letter reads:“In accordance with section 5(4)
of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and in furtherance
of the briefalready given to the
Senate Committee by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the dire situation in
the Darfur region of the Sudan, I am hereby requesting for approval to meet the
request of the African Union (AU) to deploy one company of Nigerian troops as
part of AU protection force in Darfur.This approval should equally make allowance for the Nigerian
contribution to be expanded as may be necessary to one battalion but not more
than two battalions at the utmost.
“You will recall that Nigeria is
currently the chairman of the AU.Given our country’s pre-eminent place in the continent, the
seriousness of the situation in Darfur, our historical contribution to peace
building and reconciliation process in Africa, this is one more chance for us
to show leadership and provide hope to millions of our brothers and sisters in
the Sudan.”
The President in another letter dated
August 2, requested the Senators to confirm his appointment of six pioneer
members of the newly established National Pension Commission.
The President’s list included Mr.
Fola Adeola as chairman of the Commission, representing South West zone, and
Mr. M.K. Ahmad as the Director-General, representing the North East.
Other members are Mr. P.N. Akubueze
South-East, Ms E.T. Henshaw - South-South; Dr. Musa Ibrahim North-west
and Mr. M.T. Mamman North Central.
Obasanjo underlined his action as being in line with section
16(1) and (3) of the new pension Reform Act.
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2004. All Rights Reserved.
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