The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Omo-Agege

  • OMO-AGEGE: In the eye of the storm

    THE suspension of Senator Ovie Omo- Agege on April 12 by the Senate has triggered developments which lawmakers and the electorate have described as unfortunate. The issue has polarised the Senate. The senator who was relieved of his parliamentary duties for 90 days over his comment on the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act 2010, to re-order the sequence of polls in the general election, surfaced on the floor of the House a week later. The unexpected appearance of the senator ignited controversy following the removal of the mace of authority by suspected thugs, when the Senate was in session. Omo-Agege said President Muhammadu Buhari was the prime target of the re-ordered sequence of the electoral time table. His colleagues found the remarks unpalatable and a disservice to the National Assembly. Irked by his statement, the Senate took the decision to suspend him after its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition investigated the senator.

    The chairman of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo East Senatorial District said Omo-Agege should go on suspension for 181 legislative days. The duration of the suspension was reduced following the intervention of the Senate leader Ahmed Lawal and Ahmed Marafa for leniency, which the Senate President Bukola Saraki pegged at 91 legislative days. Omo-Agege’s suspension, however, evoked reactions within and outside the National Assembly chambers. Many opined that it was done in bad faith. The embattled senator’s constituency, for instance, reacted through the traditional and social media, calling on the Senate to revert its decision. Omo-Agege was brought on the watch list, when his colleague, Senator Dino Melaye, drew the attention of their colleagues to an interview granted by him. Melaye noted that Omo-Agege was trying to ridicule the Senate before the public. He added that what Omo-Agege did was to paint the law makers in bad light, describing his action as self-serving and partisan. Melaye said he laboured very hard to ensure the emergence of the President in 2015, adding that he could not have been part of a plot to undermine the President with whom he represents the same political bloc. In the wake of the furore generated by Omo- Agege’s suspension and the subsequent stealing of the mace from the legislative chamber, pundits averred that it was wrong for the Senate to single out Omo-Agege for punishment, while other pro-Buhari senators who walked out to protest against the sequence of election adopted by the Senate, have not been sanctioned.

    The senators, who hold the same views as Omo- Agege are Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Senator Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South); late Ali Wakil (Bauchi South); Abdullahi Gumel (Jigawa North West); Umar Kurfi (Katsina Central); Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North); Binta Garba (Adamawa North); Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East) and Benjamin Uwajimogu (Imo North). They addressed reporters after they staged a walkout during a Senate session, to express reservation against their colleagues’ decision to alter next year’s election sequence. Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to Omo- Agege, Prince Efe Duku, said one of the conditions the Senate gave his principal to mitigate the sanction was the dissolution of the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG) for President Muhammadu Buhari. He said taking such a decision would involve members of the group and perhaps the President. “We note that as part of the resolution of the issues, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, ruled that the Parliamentary Support Group for President Muhammadu Buhari should be disbanded.

    “This should be a matter for the over 50 members of PSG to decide, possibly with the President on whose behalf they openly work as distinguished senators of the Federal Republic,” he said. In the wake of his predicament, Omo-Agege enjoys the support of his constituency. They called on the Senate to withdraw the suspension, noting that the action was laced with ethnic bias. Addressing reporters, Chairman of Delta Central APC, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor, said: “By suspending him, the Senate leadership thinks that it will deter him, they are wrong. The Urhobo nation is solidly behind him; we therefore pass a vote of confidence in him. We believe he will bounce back.” Reacting to the incident, the APC’s National Vice Chairman, South-south, Ntufam Eta, said it has become worrisome to note that the APC-led National Assembly is on the path of collision with the constitution. “We call on everyone to summon the spirit of patriotism and respect for constitutionality and law. The supposed suspension of Senator Omo-Agege and the call for the disbandment of PSG are wrong. It violates the right guaranteed by the constitution. The right step to take is for the Senate to urgently resolve the issues with full respect for legality and good conscience,” he said. Omo-Agege enjoyed public sympathy until his appearance on the floor of the Senate.

    The drama that ensued culminated in the invasion of the Red Chamber by thugs and the removal of the mace. Omo-Agege was blamed for the invasion but the senator said he had no hand in the removal of the mace, noting that his presence in the chambers was to perform his statutory responsibility. While Omo-Agege’s apologists condemn his suspension by colleagues, the Deputy Majority leader, Senator Bala Na’ Allah, said the suspension was in order. He said this at the upper legislative chamber during a summit, claiming Omo- Agege’s action amounted to sycophancy and trying to pitch the President against the Senate. Senator Chris Anyanwu, however, said that whoever masterminded the removal of the mace should face the law to serve as deterrent to others.

  • More reaction trail uproar at Senate Chamber

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Grassroot Mobilisers, Ondo state chapter has condemned the attack on the upper chamber, describing it as barbaric, and affront on the present democracy in the country.

    The Coordinator of the group, Kunle Ajibogun said the  action of Senator Omo-Agege representing Delta West senatorial district at the upper chamber as shameful to the party, All Progressive Congress ( APC)and the nation as a whole for taking Laws into his hand by hijacking the mace , which is symbol of the House.

    The group urged the necessary   security agents to take a decisive action on the culprits in the interest of peace and progress of the country.

    It noted that Nigerians should condemn the action of the Senator.

    PDP Grassroots Mobilisers, however charged all members of the party, to remain resolute towards regaining power from the APC government that is in power without direction.

    The group noted that all members of the party, PDP should see the need at working together as a team, without defecting to other party by making it more formidable and reposition the party towards winning in the next election across the country.

  • Court restrains police, DSS from arresting Omo-Agege 

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court yesterday stopped the police and the Department of State Service (DSS) from arresting Senator Ovie Omo-Agege over Wednesday’s invasion of the Senate by thugs who went away with the mace.

    The mace has been recovered and returned to the Senate.

    FCT Chief Judge Justice Isahq Bello gave the restraining order while ruling on an ex-parte motion brought by the senator.

    Justice Bello said the order would subsist, pending the determination of the Omo-Agege’s motion on notice, which he ordered to be served on the defendants.

    The judge granted all the applicant’s prayers, which included:

    • An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their agents and/or servants from arresting and/or detaining the applicant either in their custody or of any other law enforcement agency, or its servants, agents or privies or through any person working in concert with the respondent as its agents, by whatever means or however described pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit.
    • An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their representatives, agents or privies, howsoever described from any attempt or threat to violate the applicant’s fundamental right to personal liberty and right to freedom of movement pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit.

    *An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from taking any or further steps detrimental to the applicant’s aforementioned fundamental rights to the applicant’s rights in connection with the facts stated in this matter pending the hearing of the motion on notice filed in this suit.”

    The motion on notice will be heard on May 7.

    Justice Bello re-assigned the case to Justice Usman Musale of Court 30 in the Jabi Division of the FCT High Court, where subsequent proceedings would take place.

    The main suit is marked: FCT/HC/CV/1522/2018 and the ex-parte motion was marked: M/5050/18.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN); the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Sadiq Bello, and the Director-General of SSS, Lawal Daura are listed as respondents.

  • Omo-Agege’s constituents differ over attack

    There was mixed reactions yesterday from leaders of thought in Delta Central Senatorial District which Senator Ovie Omo Agege, who is at the centre of the mace theft incident, represent.

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), the main socio-cultural organisation of the Urhobo, condemned the invasion of the senate and the purported role played by Omo Agege. But some well-placed Urhobo persons saw a plot to frame their kinsman.

    Spokesman of the UPU, Chief Abel Oshevire, said the Urhobo nation did not send its senator to disturb the peace of the Senate.

    He said Omo-Agege would only get the support of the UPU if he is able to prove he was not connected to the attack and the hijack of the mace.

    But an Urhobo senior chief in Uvwie Kingdom and former Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Otomiewo, said there was more to the incident at the Senate than ordinary. He wondered how the invader managed to sail through, with a perfect escape, without any resistance.

    Stating the position of the UPU in Warri yesterday, Oshevire, a former spokesman to former Governor, James Ibori, said the Urhobo people are well-mannered and would never condone brigandage by anybody, adding that the UPU would support any action against its senator if he is proven to be linked to the incident.

    “As far as the UPU is concerned in the first place, Ovie Omo-Agege is our senator, representing the Urhobo nation and we recognize him, no doubt about that, but the UPU as the umbrella body of the Urhobo people, we are strongly against what he has done, if indeed Ovie Omo-Agege is responsible for the attack on the hallowed chambers of the Senate.

    “It amounts to indiscipline, it’s an act that is unbecoming of a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are not concerned about the person involved, we are concerned about the rule of law. The Urhobo people are a very disciplined people, we have respect for constituted authority, we are not know to be lawless or violent and we will at no time condone indiscipline or any misbehavior, irrespective of who is involved.

    “If our senator is indeed involved, we condemn the act in its totality and we can never be part of such uncharitable attitude. Without reservation, the UPU condemns that dastardly act against the hallowed institution.

    “However, if Ovie Omo-Agege can extricate himself from it, we will stand by him, but if he’s the mastermind, then we will not support him in anyway, but join the rest of Nigeria to condemn it and will ask that the law should take its course.

    However, Chief Otomiewo wondered why nobody has been talking about the rather unusual ease with which those who took the mace operated, in a place that is supposedly under serious guard.

    “I didn’t see him do anything, all I saw was that he came in and there was uproar and seemed to be disconnected from the whole thing, so what I’m reading in the media looks like a speculation. All I saw was that some persons ran, carried the mace, he was there as an onlooker. They are linking him to it probably because he was suspended.

    “But what I want to ask and what you people are not asking; how come strangers entered the hallowed chambers of the Senate, did whatever they did and left. I have been to the Senate and House of Representatives, I know the security arrangements, it is not possible for a car to pass unauthorized into the place and unauthorized exit. It’ll merely take a phone call and the whole place will be sealed up. So how come they entered into the chambers, carried the mace, came out, entered their vehicles and drove away? No casualty, no arrest, nobody can tell you the number of the vehicle. I think there’s more to it than meet the eyes. I see ‘authority arrangement’ like Fela will say.”

     

     

    “All I’ve seen is if the Senate can commit illegality, then any other person can also do the same. What are the senators going to tell the riotous youths in the Niger Delta and the Boko Haram when they themselves are not disciplined? I am assuming the position of ‘sidon

    look’. It has happened before, it will happen again. Depending on which side of the political divide you are, but I’m not committed to any statement”, Otomiewo said.

  • Omo Agege Vs Omo Ilorin

    Ovie Omo-Agege, the Delta senator, is in the eye of the storm; with claims and counter-claims on his alleged involvement in the April 18 grabbing of the Senate mace; sending the senators present gawking and drooling in the mouth!

    It was the Nigerian political equivalent of the American “Operation Shock and Awe”, in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq!  Well, the security agencies would soon fill us in on whodunnit.

    But as the drama rages, Hardball just can’t resist some bathetic symbolism — Omo Agege versus Omo Ilorin , in a senatorial battle royal!

    Omo-Agege is a distinguished Urhobo name, with its peculiar pronunciation.  But given a Yoruba tonal tilt, Omo Agege (and note, without the hyphen) means Agege-native, with all the rights, privileges, swagger and allied stunts.

    On the other hand, Omo Ilorin (also in Yoruba) means Ilorin-native, also with all the rights, privileges and associated cunning, which many locals relish to call mesu jamba.

    So, when Omo Agege, with his audacious derring do, tangles with Omo Ilorin, with his unmatchable cunning, things would never be the same again!

    Now, from bathos to real life — and this has nothing to do with the criminality of the senatorial invasion and mace seizure, and the putative guilty or innocent.

    Let Ovie bear his father’s name, but carry the banner of Omo Agege.  Let Bukola Saraki, senate president, whose assembly suspended Omo-Agege, who nevertheless insists the purported suspension was unknown to law, clamber to carry the banner of Omo Ilorin.

    By attending plenary and taking his seat, shortly before the mace-seizure drama, Omo Agege has called the bluff of Omo Ilorin — and the drama is well and truly riveting!  That is gripping metaphor for Bukola Saraki’s Senate, baiting senatorial fascism.

    In an impunty-driven Senate, it would appear everyone is about bearing his father’s name; and picking his or her camp for the final push.

    For daring to publicly express his dissent with the Senate, over the Electoral Bill of 2018 which re-ordered the sequence of election, and made it a staccato that benefits no one but reelection-seeking senators themselves, Saraki’s Senate slapped Omo-Agege with a 90-day suspension.

    Omo-Agege had told the press the re-arrangement was against presidential interest — and you don’t need any especial acuity to figure that out.

    But justifying its fist of mail, the Senate claimed by going public outside the chamber, Omo-Agege had infringed on the rights and privileges of senators.  Of course, the chief complainant was — who else? — Dino Melaye, Saraki’s unfazed gramophone.

    Melaye prosecuted.  Saraki convicted. Hand of Esau. Voice of Jacob. Case closed?

    Not exactly!  For in Omo-Agege’s challenge, tiny group right (Senate’s rights to discipline its erring members) clashes with citizens’ right to representation in parliament, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

    Omo-Agege said his lawyers told him to disregard the “suspension” because it had no basis in law, and was therefore, as the lawyers would say,  ultra vires, null and void.  Some of his colleagues apparently shared his sentiments, as they ensured he gained access to plenary.

    Beyond the criminality and sensationalism of a stolen mace, the rash of suspensions is the real issue.

    Must the Senate be a democratic bastion, championing the right to free speech and robust debates?  Or should it dip into a reactionary conclave, that flashes umpteenth suspension as a blackmail and suppression tool?

    That is the real tussle between Omo Agege and Omo Ilorin!

     

     

  • I did not remove the mace, says Omo-Agege

    Embattled Senator Ovie Omo-Agege whisked away by the police over his alleged role in the invasion of the Senate Chamber was released later by the police.

    A statement by his Office confirmed that the Delta Central senator “left the police” after Omo-Agege told the police his “perspective” on the invasion of the senate and removal of the mace.

    A statement signed by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Lucky Ajos entitled:”Senator Omo-Agege went to work today like other senators; He did not remove the mace of the Senate” said: “On Thursday, April 12, 2018, the Senate purportedly suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. However, based on legal advice and his understanding of the current position of the law, Senator Omo-Agege today resumed work and sitting with his colleagues.

    “A few champions of the unconstitutional, invalid and tyrannical suspension tried to stop him but those who opposed it welcomed and protected him throughout the sitting. We are grateful to the many distinguished senators who stood by Senator Omo-Agege.

    “We are aware of several media reports suggesting that Senator Omo-Agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the Mace of the Senate. This weighty allegation is not true at all.

    “Following the said media reports on the Mace issue, the Police authorities decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege. He has told the Police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. He has since left the Police. Senator Omo-Agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter.”

    We are also aware of a statement allegedly issued by the Senate Spokesperson, Senator Abdullahi Sabi. Without any investigation, Senator Sabi willfully, deliberately and unfairly made very serious allegations against Senator Omo-Agege on the Mace incident. We are carefully studying Senator Sabi’s allegations to ascertain their full ramifications. Appropriate responses will follow, as may be necessary.

     

    ‘I can’t be arrested’

    The Police yesterday arrested Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta) at the National Assembly Complex.

    The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), command, Mr Sadiq Bello, led the team of policemen, who arrested the senator and whisked him away in a Hilux van with registration number NPF 840 at about 1.50 p.m.

    With the operation that led to the removal of the mace over, Senator Omo-Agege comfortably took his seat in the chamber and stayed till the end of the day’s business.

    The lawmaker walked into the waiting hands of senior police officers at the lobby. His request to ride in his own car was turned down by the police officers.

    He was driven away, sandwiched between two police officers at the back seat of the van.

    Before he was taken away, Omo-Agege, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, told the police that the court had pronounced that the National Assembly “and specifically the Senate, has no power to suspend a senator for one day. I can’t be under arrest; for what purpose?’’

    The Senate on April 12, suspended the lawmaker over an alleged “dissenting comment’’ on decision of the chamber on adoption of conference report on INEC Act (2010) Amendment Bill.

    The suspension for 90 legislative days, was announced after the report of the Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions was presented at plenary.

  • Omo-Agege: A tale of parliamentary invasion

    Nigeria’s ‘highly lucrative’ National Assembly yesterday paled into a peculiar theatre of the absurd. The alleged lead actor in the infamy was an aggrieved and aggressive Ovie Omo-Agege, son of a retired jurist and senator representing Delta Central in the Upper Chamber. There was pandemonium as thugs allegedly instigated by the suspended lawmaker disrupted the Senate plenary, temporarily sacking members and seizing the mace, the symbol of authority.

    The hallowed chamber was enveloped in confusion and anxiety. For some minutes, lawmakers were at a crossroad. In the absence of the mace, a metre-long metallic rod, usually carried to usher the Senate President while entering and leaving the chamber, laws cannot be passed. Motions and resolutions become a nullity. Without the mace, there is no symbol of authority biding decisions taken on the floor. Threfore, obstruction was the height of contempt for the parliament. It was an attack on popular rule. The incident also brought to the front burner the security of life and property. Are lawmakers safe in the chamber while discharging their legislative duties?

    News got to Senate President Bukola Saraki in London where he was attending a conference that his house was on fire. His deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the proceedings, and other senators were taken aback. Visiting Ghanaian legislators, who witnessed the drama expressed disgust. The thugs exuded confidence as they invaded the chamber and grabbed the mace. All obstacles on the way crashed when it was discovered that the hoodlums were armed. Senate staff who attempted to prevent them got a raw deal. The sponsor of the ridiculous invasion was full of bravado. After the operation which lasted for few minutes, Omo-Agege took his seat in the chamber, despite his suspension. The unruly behaviour further dented the image of the National Assembly.

    Mace seizure is not new in the parliamentary history of Nigeria. Also, the National Assembly has not been insulated from disruption from the First Republic. In 2000, former Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, the Oyi of Oyi, removed the mace from the chamber and took it to his country in Anambra State, following a dispute with his deputy over the resumption date after recess. The late Okadigbo boasted, saying that he will not surrender it.

    In the First Republic, the House of Representatives was disrupted by protesting university students over the Anglo Defense Pact. Lawmakers took to their heels.

    In the defunct Western region, the parliament was also disrupted during the motion on the vote of confidence on Premier Ladoke Akintola. Sensing that majority of legislator were about to remove the premier, his supporters caused commotion in the House of Assembly at Ibadan. The police had to tear gas the chambers. Many legislators were injured. The chain of events led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the region.

    In 1999, there was commotion in the Lagos State House of Assembly over the choice of House leadership. The contest was between Animasahun from Ikorodu and Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora from Kosofe. The feud between pro-Governor Bola Tinubu lawmakers and their colleagues loyal to the late Chief Ganiyu Dawodu degenerated. Plenary was disrupted. Later, the rift was settled and the House reconvened.

    In this dispensation, verbal fighting in the House of Representatives led to chaos. At the centre of the crisis was Senator Dino Melaye, then a House of Representatives member. Clothes of lawmakers were torn. The House closed abruptly. On another occasion, a legislator who was pushed by a colleague during confrontation collapsed and died.

    However, many believe that yesterday’s uproar in the Senate had its root in the division over the reordering of the 2019 general elections.

    On April 12, Senator Omo-Agege was suspended for 90 legislative days for allegedly making a “dissenting comment” on the decision of the chamber to adopt the report on the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act (2010) Amendment Bill. His suspension followed the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges and Public Petitions presented at the plenary. What goes up must always come down. Ironically, Omo-Agege was part of the committee, which recommended the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume.

    Trouble started for the embattled senator when he opposed the Sequence of Election Bill. According to the bill, it was proposed that the presidential election should hold last, contrary to the 2015 arrangement. To some senators, including Omo-Agege and Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State, the bill was targeted against President Muhammadu Buhari, who has not enjoyed cordial relations with the All Progressives Congress (APC)-dominated Senate. According to reports, Omo-Agege said: “There is a perception out there that the target of the proposed amendment is Mr. President.” The senator actually spoke the mind of the members of the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG), which is supporting the re-election bid of the president.

    Opinion is divided on the suspension. To the Southsouth Caucus of the ruling party, led by Hillard Eta, the punishment was too harsh, considering the fact that Omo-Agege was exercising his legitimate right to freely express his views as the representative of the people of Delta Central. The zonal caucus believes that the senator spoke within the ambit of Section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

    Members of the PSG have also kicked against the suspension. They were infuriated that Omo-Agege was still suspended, despite his apology and repeated pleas for leniency. The senator, while making a spirited effort to convince his colleagues, wept during plenary. The remorse was ignored.

    However, to those who were bent on his suspension, Omo-Agege’s cup was full as an outspoken Buhari apologist, who has become an obstacle to their election sequence agenda. His opposition to the bill may have frustrated the move to build consensus on a matter that has deepened the gulf between the presidency and the parliament. What is most striking is that only the Delta Central senator was suspended while other senators who opposed the bill were not touched.

    Many critics have reflected on the punitive measure, drawing out its shortcomings. APC chieftain and legal luminary Dr. Tunji Abayomi said the suspension was slammed on Omo-Agege without considering the interest of his constituency. In the human rights activist’s view, the Delta District has been denied constitutional representation in the Senate for 90 days.

    Other lawyers have also pointed out that Omo-Agege may have been suspended in error, judging by the subsisting judgment of the court that the Senate can only suspend a member for a period not more than 14 days.

    Also arising from the ensuing controversy are four core issues. The first is the clamour for the ban on PSG, the status of the suit instituted by Omo-Agege in court against the Senate in relation to his suspension, the failure of the ruling party to drive parliamentary cohesion in a National Assembly where it has a majority control, and Omo-Agege’s return to the chamber that is boiling over his suspension.

    The ban on the parliamentary group has been suggested by senators who incidentally belong to other partisan groups in the Senate. Does the call for the proscription of the PSG not amount to seizure of the liberty to voluntarily associate, based on ideas and principled position on burning issues? Is it democratic to insist on banning an association canvassing issues that do not constitute a threat to the law, security and national unity? Is the Senate for repression of opinion?

    Omo-Agege is still in court. If a matter is before a judge, should the Senate proceed to suspend the plaintiff? What is the interpretation of the rule of the Senate over litigation? Why should some senators insist that their colleague should first of all withdraw the case against the Senate as if it is unlawful to seek for protection in the temple of justice? Has the Senate not breached its own rule?

    Also, was the bone of contention debated at the APC Senate Caucus? Was there a room for harmonisation of diverse views and positions on the contentious issue of election sequencing? The matter may have been debated at that level and majority would have carried the day. But, is the minority not entitled to its opinion thereafter? Does a mere expression of opinion constitute a danger in democracy?

    The APC, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is in deep slumber. Where is the party caucus? Why is there a gulf between the APC Senate Caucus and the party leadership? What is the position of the party on the sequence of elections? Does the position of the APC Senate Caucus align with that of the party? It appears there is a recurrent tension between party supremacy and parliamentary supremacy. Where is the meeting point?

    After his suspension, even in error, should Omo-Agege still insist on attending the plenary when the Senate is still boiling? Having approached the temple of justice, where the regression into an unruly behaviour? Was his attendance and the invasion of the chamber by thugs coincidental? Can he continue to sit in the Senate, unless the logjam is settled in court? Why clinging to law on one hand and employing extra-judicial survival tactics on the other hand?

    When will the controversy fizzle out? Who laughs last?

  • Senate and Omo-Agege’s absurd theatrics

    Sir: If the invasion of the Senate in plenary on Wednesday, April 18, by thugs allegedly sponsored by suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central), during which they made away with the mace in a Rambo-like operation foreshadows what to expect in the weeks and months ahead of the 2019 general elections, then we must all worry.

    I watched as he was being led away by two very senior police officers into the back seat of a waiting Hilux van and driven away amid the blaring of siren. The Omo-Agege saga is a reminder of another similar incident that another politician from Delta State choreographed in 2015 at the International Conference Centre where the result of the presidential election was being collated.

    I refer to former Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe, who was the agent of President Goodluck Jonathan where the results of the presidential elections were being announced. At a point, on March 15, 2015, Orubebe went overboard, seized the microphone and for several minutes, insisted that the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, should leave the centre because, according to him, he was biased against the ruling PDP.

    Openly accusing Jega of being “tribalistic and partial”, he said the INEC chairman acted promptly on the complaints from the opposition APC but refused to accept a petition from the PDP. Although that did not deter Jega from seeing through his assignment, the rascality that could have encouraged a rejection of the presidential election result by the PDP was eventually put down by Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to accept the result of the election in a historic telephone call to Muhammadu Buhari.

    It is unfortunate that Omo-Agege found himself on the wrong side of the authority in the Senate otherwise, this side of him would not have been known.  His colleague, Dino Melaye, from Kogi State, obviously has more capacity and multiple competencies for mischief than Omo-Agege, but he is on the right side of the Senate leadership and he is being mollycoddled; his nuisance values tolerated and deployed to utilitarian advantage. I remember when Dino Melaye was a member of the House of Representatives, he fought on the floor of the House and had his dress torn into rags in defence of the then House leadership under the Speakership of Hon. Patricia Etteh.

    Significantly, we should henceforth place a demand for proper and respectful conducts from our senators and spell it out to them that whoever perpetrates this sort of rascality and allied misbehaviours will be recalled.  In fact, Nigerians in the various senatorial zones who know the antecedents of those aspiring to represent them, should use their votes to screen out the likes of Omo-Agege from finding their ways to the Senate in particular and House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly in general. This will help to sanitise the legislative arm of government.

     

    • Sufuyan Ojeifo, Abuja.

  • Mace’s seizure: Senate blamed for thugs’ invasion

    Nigerians on Wednesday took a swipe at Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the red chamber for the attack by hoodlums said to loyal to suspended Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege.

    The thugs on Wednesday morning invaded the Senate presided over by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, seizing its symbol of authority, the mace and injuring some Senators.

    Saraki, who condemned the attack in a press statement issued by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, was accused of provoking it by the suspension of Omo-Agege.

    Saraki, in the statement shared on all his social media platforms, had commended his colleagues for defying “those who machinated an attack on the Red Chambers of the National Assembly in which the mace was forcefully taken away.”

    He said: “I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully took away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties. I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.

    “My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism.

    “With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.

    “I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice.”

    Reacting to the incident, a lawyer, Babatunde Ogala said it was an assault not just on the legislature but the constitution, describing it as  sheer anarchy.

    Ogala blamed the Senate for the invasion, insisting that the hallowed chamber set the stage for anarchy when it suspended Omo-Agege in disregard to Senate Rules and Orders of Court.

    “And why do I say so? The rules of the Senate has expressly provided that once a matter is pending before a court of law, the Senate shall not deliberate on same or do any act that may interfere with the proceedings of the court.

    “Senator Omo-Agege had gone to court and obtained an order of court restraining the Senate and it’s Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further steps on the investigations of his conduct pending the determination of the suit.

    “Despite receiving the order of court , the Senate at plenary rather than stay action, proceeded to  condemn the order of court and abuse the the judge who granted the order. It even had the temerity to adopt a motion to write and indeed wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria threatening and asking him to call judges to order.

    “As if that was not enough, it still went ahead to invite the senator who when he attended the  committee sitting declined to speak and reminded the committee of the order of court and also reminded it of the provision of the Senate rules that prohibits it from deliberating on a matter that’s lis pendis.

    “Nothwitstanding the order of court and it’s rules, the Senate went on to suspend Omo-Agege. Recall that the Federal High Court had earlier delivered judgement in Senator Ali Ndume v NASS  and ruled that the Senate or any legislative house had no constitutional powers to suspend an elected member and that same is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

    “The Senate being aware of its own rules, the judgement in Ali Ndume case and the order in Omo-Agege’s case still went ahead to purpoetedly suspend the senator. In all, I condemn the act of desecrating the hallowed chambers by Omo-Agege thugs, but I hold the Senate fully responsible for laying the foundation for the desecration and anarchy,” said Ogala.

    Similarly, some of Saraki’s followers on social media said it was his tyrannical rule of the Eighth Senate that led to the attack, accusing him of suspending those who had contrary views to his.

    Ajibola Akinyemi said: “Sir, you are the cause of the unrest in the Senate with your indiscriminate suspension of your fellow Senators that mostly are not in tune with your opinions. It shouldn’t not be so. Everyone cannot agree with you.”

    Francis Osita said: “Repression breeds rebellion whether you like it or not. Senate President (SP) you cannot stop a constituency from representation and not expect this sort of thing. Anyways, I am watching till it gets to my constituency.”

    Omasoro Ali said: “The eighth Senate is a centre of tyranny. How can you suspend a Senator who has a different opinion from you and your PDP friends? Ovie Omo-Agege Isa patriot and we Buharists, are behind him.”

    Bishop Monday-Marcus wrote: “Again, in a state of lawlessness, it is unlawful to be law abiding. Your suspension order is provocative and a recipe for lawlessness.”

    One @foebz_the_great said: “And I hear you want to run for presidency. If you win it’s probable that our freedom of speech would be taken away and we would not be able to oppose a government that wants us to remain in cages like animals.”

  • Video: I’m not under arrest – Senator Omo-Agege

    Suspended Senator Ovie Omo -Agege who reportedly led some hoodlums who hijacked the Mace of the Senate on Wednesday has been arrested by the Police.

    The Senator when responding to questions from reporters when being led away by Policemen said he was not under arrest.

     

    Details Later…