During a debate on a Bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, Sumaila claimed that many senators possessed hard drugs, which they allegedly kept in their constituency offices and homes. He also went further to assert that a significant number of senators have connections with drug dealers.
These explosive claims are expected to spark further discussion and investigation within the legislative body.
Sumaila said: “As I am speaking now, most of our offices in our constituencies, most of our political offices in our constituencies, most of our houses, when you go there, you will find out that there is a mountain of drugs and there are drug dealers in our offices and in our houses. All in our houses.”
Sumaila also said he knows some senior politicians supporting drug dealers in carrying out their illegal activities.
“I can take you to some of the political leaders who are in so many ways contributing or supporting drug abusers in Nigeria. Therefore, Mr. President, we need to be serious.
“If we are talking, we need to understand, we are all one here. We need to fight it from our own side. We need to be serious. Let us go for test and see who and who are not”.
Sumaila challenged his colleagues to swear with the Qur’an and the Bible that they did not encourage drug abuse during their electioneering campaigns.
Sumaila said: “Let us ask ourselves during our campaigns, what are we doing with the so-called youth? How many of us can swear with Quran or Bible that in any way they are not supporting drug abusers in their constituency?
“I am happy if all of us can swear with Holy Quran that they are not in any way in support of drug abusers or interacting with youth in their constituency to take drugs because of their political interests,” he added.
He advocated for drug tests for politicians before contesting elections and assumption of political offices.
He said: “Whether we are allowing this bill to create an agency or we are strengthening NDLEA, we need a situation where before contesting elections, or before taking up an office at whatever level in government, you must go for a drug test.”
He said the country will not achieve the essence of the bill until the upper chamber collaborates with relevant stakeholders to stop drug abuse in the country.
“There is one aspect which we need to look into. Whether we create this agency or strengthen the activities of NDLEA, we need to do something. We, as politicians, we, as leaders in this country, we, as stakeholders, we need to do a lot.
“We all believe that religiously, both Islam and Christianity, even in our traditional religion, drug abuse is prohibited. But, who are those encouraging and supporting it?
“We cannot achieve the intent of this bill unless and until we all agree that we will put our heads together with relevant stakeholders to stop drug abuse in Nigeria,” he said.
Responding, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, ruled Sumaila out of order because the comment was not relevant to the debate on the Bill.
“Order 56. Debate upon any motion, bill or amendment shall be relevant to such motion.
“While we are speaking, while we are contributing, our contributions should be relevant to the subject matter.
“In this case, your contribution is not relevant to the subject matter. I therefore rule you out of order,” Barau said.