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From FRED ITUA, Abuja
There was a mild drama, on Wednesday, on the floor of the Senate during the day two debate of the 2017 budget. Trouble started when the immediate-past Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, raised a point of order to protest his exclusion from the list of lawmakers named to speak on the budget.
Ndume, who was sacked over two weeks as Senate Leader by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was overruled by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
“Mr. President, when you announced the debate of the budget, you asked us to write our names. I wrote my name after Dino Melaye wrote his. I was prepared to speak, but I wassurprised when you did not recognize me. I want to know why Mr. President,” Ndume demanded.
Responding, Saraki said as the presiding officer, he reserves the right to recognise whomever he chooses to, maintaining that Ndume’s name was not listed. He said the list Ndume alluded to was different the list he was relying on.
