• Saraki read out ministerial nominees today
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Fred Itua and Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
Senators almost came to fisticuffs yesterday when the chamber resumed in plenary after a six-week summer recess.
Majority of Senators have thrown their weight behind Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Senate leadership.
Two weeks ago, the Senate President was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on a 13-count charge of false and anticipatory declaration of assets.
Meanwhile, Buhari’s National Assembly Adviser, Senator Ita Enang personally handed over the list of ministerial nominees to the Senate President yesterday.
Saraki is expected to read out the list to his colleagues at plenary today.
Tempers flared yesterday shortly after a motion from Senator David Umaru (APC, Niger State) which was done through Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Orders. The orders deal with issues of urgent national importance.
Umaru’s motion, which was raised on the floor, was done on behalf of 82 other Senators. Curiously, some of the Senate leadership were also included in the motion.
A breakdown shows that his motion was endorsed by 48 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators and 35 from his Saraki’s All Progressives Party, APC.
The confidence vote would be the second in two months as no fewer than 81 out of the 108-members passed a similar one on July 28.
In the motion, Umaru noted with dismay, attempts and continued interference in the affairs of the Senate by “detractors and media propagandists against Senators, Senate and its leadership for selfish politicians.”
He said Senate will “not succumb to cheap blackmail” in the course of carrying out its constitutional responsibilities by any individual or group of people under any pretence or guise for personal political interest.
Quickly, Senator Babajide Omoworare, chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business dissociated himself from the motion.
He vehemently denied being a co-sponsor even ad he said his view was not sought before it was published in the Order Paper.
Attempts by Senator Kabir Marafa to speak on the motion was blocked by the Senate President. Rather than allow Marafa speak, Saraki subjected prayers in the motion to a vote. The ensuing voice vote was overwhelmingly in support of the vote of confidence and Saraki ruled in favour of the sponsors.
Marafa, who was later recognized to speak after Saraki had ruled on the motion, cited order 53 (5) of the Senate Standing Rule which forbids the senate from discussing any issue before the court.
The insistence of Saraki that Marafa should also read the provision of Order 53 (6), which equally forbids any senator from raising any issue upon which the senate president had ruled upon, degenerated into an open confrontation between the two lawmakers.
While Marafa argued that Saraki deliberately denied him an opportunity to talk before he ruled on the issue, the senate president stood his ground and ruled the Zamfara senator out of order.
Marafa, who was obviously furious over his treatment, pointedly accused the senate president of giving only his loyalists opportunities to speak on the floor.
His action disrupted deliberation on the motion on the outbreak of Cholera moved by Senator Soni Ogbuoji.
While the rumpus went, immediate past Senate President David Mark quietly walked out of the chamber.
It was during the confusion that the APC member representing Bauchi Central, Senator Issah Missau, stood up on his seat and shouted at Marafa to shut up and sit down but his action further infuriated the SUF spokesperson who threatened to beat him up if he repeated his statement.
When it was obvious that Marafa had succeeded in drawing attention to himself by literally stopping proceedings in the chamber, Saraki asked the Sergeant-At-Arms to take necessary steps to restore order.
But some of Marafa’s colleagues in the SUF, led by Senator Ahmad Lawan, who tried to pacify him, sent back the Sergeant-At-Arms, with an assurance that the situation was under control.
Marafa was, thereafter, led out of the chamber by some Senators who took him to the office of Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central) and subsequently barred him from speaking to newsmen.
Marafa later returned to the chamber and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, apologised on his behalf to the Senate.
Addressing newsmen after plenary, Senate spokesman, Dino Melaye, lamented “the unruly behaviour of Marafa” and warned that Senate would take necessary disciplinary actions against him if he put up such attitude in future.
“That act is disgraceful, unacceptable, condemnable and Senate regrets that. We want to assure Nigerians that this will be the last time Senate will condone such misbehaviour. His action contravenes Section 56 of the Standing Rules of the Senate but his misbehaviour is regrettable.
“Senate will do everything within its powers to ensure that the situation does not repeat itself and where it is repeated, it would be met with stiff adherence to the rules of the Senate,” he said.
Again, the Senate President has attributed his ordeal at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to the actions of certain individuals outside the Senate who do not want him as Senate President.
“I wish to reiterate my remarks before the Tribunal, that I have no iota of doubt that I am on trial today because I am the president of the Nigerian Senate, against the wishes of some powerful individuals outside this Chambers.
“But what is clear to me also, is that the laws of Nigeria, and the rules of the National Assembly give consideration only to the wishes and desires of those of you who are here today as members of the Senate, to elect as you wish, one of your peers as President of the Senate.
“This, in your wisdom, is what you have done by electing me to be the first among all of you who are my equals. The laws of Nigeria does not give any consideration to any other forces outside the Senate in the election of its President.
“To yield the ground on this note, is to be complicit in the subversion of democracy and its core principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our constitution.”
Meanwhile, some protesters yesterday barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly. The protesters who carried placards with different inscription drummed support for the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The pro-Saraki group, championed by Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Youth Movement and led by Mr. Uche Nnadi, told newsmen that the rally was also to protest the use of anti-corruption agencies by politicians for personal gains.
Culled from The Sun
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