By Sam Eyoboka, Ben Agande,  Emeka Mamah & Inalegwu Shaibu
ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, condemned the bomb explosions in Abuja on the occasion Nigeria’s 50th Independent Anniversary, lambasting politicians and elder statesmen for making insidious statements capable of destroying the fragile unity of the country.

This was just as the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, urged the Federal Government to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the incident.

Senate President, David Mark, in his remarks at the conclusion of a debate on a motion entitled ‘Bomb Blasts on Independence Day’ sponsored by Senator Anthony Manzo and 36 others, said  the bomb incident had been politicised to the detriment of the innocent lives lost in the explosions.

He said: “I am disappointed at the comments being made by elder statesmen concerning these bomb explosions. We have lost lives and the nation’s unity is being threatened and we are politicising it. This is unfortunate and uncalled for.

The issue before us is far threatening and serious, and we should stop politicising it and think of ways to make sure that this needless act does not happen again.”

Mark also urged security agencies to work round the clock to ensure that the culprits were apprehended and justifiably punished, adding: “All the culprits must be punished.

This is not time for us to hold sentiments, people must be punished for destroying the beautiful celebration that was marred by this needless act.”

Senators were unanimous in the condemnation of the bomb blast, as majority of them described the incident as a terrorist act which must be tackled immediately.

In condemning the explosions, Senator Victor Ndoma_Egba, PDP, Cross River, described it as a terrorist act carried out by hapless people who have lost every sense of logic.

He also called on politicians to exercise caution with the comments.

Ndoma Egba said: “I join my colleagues in condemning this barbaric and needless act on a day that all of Nigeria was supposed to be celebrating if not anything, the unity of Nigeria.

I also join my colleagues to commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives in the bomb blasts. I join others who have made the plea that we must not politicise it.”

Senator Anthony Agbo, PDP, Taraba, warned that the explosion should be eschewed from politics, adding that it was an attack by terrorists who have no friends.

He said: “The attack was on the children of this nation. We must join hands in condemnation of this attack. This is a situation we cannot bring politics into.

Terrorists have no friends, they do not serve the interest of anybody, we must put politics aside and fight terrorism.”

At the conclusion of the debate, the Senate resolved to ensure the quick passage of the anti terrorism and anti money laundering bills to curb the menace of terrorism in the country.

ACFwants commission of inquiry

Meanwhile the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, in a communiqué at the end of a meeting of its Board of Trustees, chaired by Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni, said a commission of inquiry should be able to unravel the apparent mystery behind the bomb blast especially as there were claims and counter claims regarding to those who were responsible for the act.

The communiqué signed by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, also commended the decision of the Federal Government to give the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, more time to enable it prepare and conduct credible, free and fair elections.

Anyim, Oritsejafor on bombers

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, and National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, condemned the October 1 bomb attack in Abuja.

They urged the Federal Government to immediately fish out the perpetrators and arrest this new introduction to acts of terrorism in the country.

Speaking at the second  annual symposium on Christian Unity at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, Senator Anyim said the development was a dangerous trend, adding that the government should decisively investigate and bring the people behind it to book.

Oritsejafor on his part, urged the Goodluck Jonathan administration to arrest the growing trend of violent crimes in the country before it developed to a monster that will be difficult to tame.

Addressing newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on his way to Warri, Delta State, the CAN president reminded the nation of a similar bomb attacks in March during a summit organised by Vanguard Media Limited on the Niger Delta Question.

Oritsejafor who said that evil thrived in the country because evil doers were often left unpunished, added: “We must move against evil doers no matter who they are or their status in society. That is the only way countries develop economically.”