A mild drama played out in the Senate on Wednesday, December 3, as lawmakers clashed with one another over whether to allow President Bola Tinubus ministerial nominee and former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa (rtd) to take a bow and go without facing any scrutiny during his confirmation hearing. The courtesy of bow and go is a parliamentary tradition extended to former federal lawmakers and others deemed fit to enjoy the same courtesy, which excuse them from facing legislative scrutiny as precondition for their confirmation for any position. The rowdy scene erupted shortly after Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East, moved a motion urging the upper chamber to allow the retired military chief to be excused from questioning in honour of his past service to the nation. Given his distinguished service as Chief of Defence Staff, I move that he be allowed to take a bow and go Senator Musa proposed. His suggestion, however, was immediately met with loud objections from several lawmakers, who insisted that the former CDS must be subjected to proper screening in line with legislative tradition. The red chamber became noisy as Senators stood up, shouting over one another. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was forced to call for order amid the commotion. Musa, who served as Nigerias Chief of Defence Staff until October 2025, was nominated by President Tinubu for the position of Minister of Defence following the resignation of the immediate past Defence Minister, Badaru Abubakar.
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