Disagreement is allowed in the Senate, but we won’t throw chairs – Akpabio

● Seeks Tinubu’s representation at first 10th Assembly retreat

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has reacted to the walkout staged from the Chamber by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, following a ruling that he deemed him out of order.

Ndume (APC Borno South ), had raised a point of order on alleged errors committed and not corrected by the President of the Senate.

The error Ndume referred to, was a motion moved by Summaila Kawu (NNPP Kano South) for debate on the need for re-opening of Nigerian-Niger Border, without stating the title of his motion.

Advertisement

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.

Ndume 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 proceeding.”

But Akpabio quickly intercepted him by saying having ruled on issues raised, it can not be revisited and consequently ruled Ndume out of order.

Akpabio after meeting with President Bola Tinubu Tuesday, who described his colleagues as mature people said, disagreement on some of the happenings in the senate is allowed and it is only the majority decision that is going to prevail but they will never get to a point of throwing chairs.

“In the parliament, sometimes you disagree to agree. We are all working in one accord. There is no problem at all. Even if some people disagree on some of the happenings in the senate, still, it is only the majority decision that is going to prevail and the Parliament is like that.

“But we will never get to a point of throwing chairs. We will never get to that point. The Senate is too mature, full of matured people, so, if we have a disagreement, we immediately go into a closed session, resolve it and come out smiling.

“We are politicians, no permanent hatred but permanent interest. That interest is the interest of the nation. To support the President, support his administration in legislation, oversights functions to succeed, in order to move the country forward and that is what we have been doing and that is what we are committed to doing.”

On the purpose of his visit, he said: “I came to inform the President of the first 10th Assembly retreat which is taking place in tomorrow in Akwa Ibom State and also to solicit his support towards ensuring representation at the retreat and he has graciously done that and I told him some of things we are going to discuss – tax reform and ways of ensuring the generation of revenue for him to work for Nigerians.

“He needs to be informed that the Senate will not be available in Abuja. We are moving the Senate all the way to Akwa Ibom for the next four days.

“Thereafter, I will be travelling personally to Angola to attend the internal parliamentary union so, before he sees me, it will take probably another nine days. So, I needed to inform him.”