A mild drama erupted in the Senate on Tuesday when the
President of the Red Chamber, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Chief Whip,
Senator Ali Ndume clashed over a motion on the need to reopen the Nigeria-Benin
Republic border.
The clash, which almost turned into a rowdy session, forced
the Senate President to call for a closed-door executive session that lasted
for hours.
The motion on the border, moved under a matter of urgent
national importance of the Senate Standing Rules by Senator Summaila Kawu (NNPP
Kano South), for debate by Senators, allegedly had no specific title and
Senator Ndume raised a Point of Order to correct the “error”.
Attempt by the former Senate Leader to request correction
for the alleged error, happened barely 10 minutes after commencement of the
plenary, but the Senate President refused the correction.
Specifically, Senator Ndume who rose through Order 51 of the
Senate Standing Rules, requested the Senate President to allow for correction
of any error made or observed in plenary.
He said: “This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria guided by laws, rules and procedures. If in the course of proceedings
at any session, errors are observed, they must be corrected before forging
ahead with such proceedings.”
But the Senate President quickly intercepted him by saying
having ruled on issues raised, it cannot be revisited and consequently ruled
Senator Ndume out of order.
Efforts by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC Kogi West) to sustain
Ndume’s line of argument through another Point of Order was also swiftly ruled
out of order by the Senate President.
In an effort to restore harmony, the Deputy Senate
President, Senator Jibrin Barau quickly rose to read Order 16 which requires a
substantive motion to be moved by any Senator for correction or review of
earlier decisions taken.
Sustenance of Barau’s Point of Order by Akpabio infuriated
Ndume, who raised another Order (54) to seek for correction of the perceived
error.
The Senate President ruled him out of order again without
being allowed to make full presentation of his argument.
Angered by Akpabio’s decision, Ndume packed his documents
and furiously stormed out of the chamber.
Apparently perplexed by the scenario, Senators hurriedly
went into a closed-door session which lasted for hours and affected the items
on the Order Paper for the day.
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I don't see Akpabio lasting four years as Senate President. He treats Senators like idiots
ReplyDelete@Anonymous, Every Assembly gets the leadership they deserve. Nigerian president today, including the senate president paid heavily for the position they occupied.
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