Senate boils

From Fred Itua, Abuja

The face-off between the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and some lawmakers, especially the Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume, on Tuesday, deepened.

Barely ten minutes after the commencement of plenary on Tuesday, Ndume raised a point of order on alleged errors committed and not corrected by the President of the Senate, Akpabio.

The error referred to by Ndume was a motion moved by Summaila Kawu, for a debate on the need for the re-opening of the Nigeria-Niger Border, without reading the title of his motion.

Ndume who rose through Order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, requested Akpabio to allow for correction of any error made or observed in plenary.

“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 proceeding,” Ndume had said.

However, Akpabio immediately interjected him, saying having ruled on issues raised, it could not be revisited and consequently ruled Ndume out of order.

Sunday Karimi from Kogi West made frantic efforts to sustain Ndume’s line of argument through another point of order but was also swiftly ruled out of order by Akpabio.

In a troubleshooting effort, Deputy President of the Senate, 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.

Sustaining Barau’s point of order by Akpabio, infuriated Ndume by raising another point of order (Order 54) to seek for correction of perceived error.

But without being allowed to make a full presentation of his argument, the President of the Senate ruled him out of order again.

Angered by Akpabio’s decision, Ndume, packed his documents and furiously stormed out of the chamber.