Rep. Doguwa commented on the country’s security situation saying, “we can even declare legislative emergency. Close the House, shut it up”
A member of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, on Tuesday urged the National Assembly to declare a “legislative emergency” in response to the country’s worsening security situation, saying Nigeria is “running in blood and tears.”
Doguwa, a former Majority Leader of the House, made the call during the special plenary session convened to address nationwide security challenges.
The lawmaker, who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency of Kano State, said the scale and frequency of killings, kidnappings, and communal attacks demand extraordinary parliamentary action — including suspending normal legislative business.
“Mr. Speaker, we can even declare legislative emergency. Close the House, shut it up. Who are you legislating for? What laws are you making when the country is running in blood? The country is running in blood and tears,” Rep. Doguwa said, referencing the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
He described his intervention as driven not by politics but by “a particular concern” for the security of lives and property, stressing that security agencies, though making efforts, are unable to stem the rising violence.
“Today, it is about the security of life and property of Nigerians,” he said. “Despite all the efforts of the security agencies and the federal government, who are doing their best, their best is not good enough.”
Doguwa painted a bleak picture of the realities in rural communities, especially across northern states, where banditry, kidnappings, and deadly raids have displaced villagers, stopped farmers from going to their fields, crippled markets, and left worshippers in fear.
“The responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. That responsibility is being reneged upon. People are being left in serious tension, and our communities are bleeding,” he said.
He warned that insecurity spares no region, religion, or political group, describing current threats as “a calculated attempt to demoralise the Nigerian state,” with the potential to undermine democratic processes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Doguwa also urged increased collaboration with local communities and the strengthening of civil vigilante structures to bolster grassroots security. Recalling a recent visit to Kebbi State with the speaker, he spoke of the emotional toll on state leaders: “I saw the governor weeping in the heart.”
Reiterating the urgency of the situation, he said: “The country is running in blood and tears.”
However, Rep. Doguwa’s proposition drew immediate reaction from the House leadership.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu cautioned against shutting down the legislature, arguing that lawmakers must remain in place to find solutions.
“We are the hope of Nigeria. No problem is too big for this House to handle. We will not shut down. We will stay here together and find solutions,” Kalu said.
Presiding over the session, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen clarified that Rep. Doguwa’s remarks were his personal views, not resolutions of the House.
“Anything being mentioned here is just a mere opinion and not a decision of the House,” Abbas stated, emphasising that any official position must be presented through a motion and subjected to voting.
