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Tag: Senate

  • Senate: Ohakim drums support for Ojukwu’s widow

    •Aspirants urged to step down for her

    Former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has thrown his weight behind the senatorial ambition of the widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.

    Addressing party chieftains and loyalists at Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday, Ohakim  asked other candidates eyeing the position to step down for her. He said the Igbos could not afford to sit and watch the wife of their former leader be denied the seat.

    The former governor said losing the seat to another candidate would be a disservice to Ojukwu, who he described as the most selfless leader Igbos ever had.

    He said: “Those who are contesting the poll with the wife of our leader may have the money and wherewithal to muzzle out Bianca, but they don’t have the same integrity.”

    Ohakim said no fewer than 15 billionaires from the Southeast have been mobilised to ensure the victory of Ojukwu’s wife who she referred to as “a spirit”.

    His words: “Bianca Ojukwu is not an ordinary human being; she is a spirit. She has a double-barrel identity and a double-barrel legacy.

    “The people of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu have asked me to beg you (Anambra people) to accomplish this mission and project in memory of our great leader, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

    “Ojukwu sacrificed his Oxford education, his personal comfort, his father’s wealth to save the Igbo race at the most auspicious time.”

    Bianca Ojukwu said her decision to contest for the Senate was in the best interest of the people, whose rights have been denied them over the years.

    She promised to defect the right of Igbos, if voted into power.

    She added: “Our people have suffered. A lot of graduates engage in meagre jobs, because of lack of employment opportunities. Traders suffer at Custom offices. Igbos are suffering and that is why we are insisting on a restructured nation.

    “We need a different type of representation, of showcasing what we can do for the people. We can’t remain where we are. The role of a senator is not only legislative, but also oversight.”

    Speaking about her late husband, the widow reiterated the sacrifices he made when he saw that his people were being shortchanged and massacred.

    She said: “Evil prevails because good men do nothing. To sit back and be an arm-chair critic is not good enough.”

    She said she has been part of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from inception and many committees that saw to the sustenance of the party.

    She added: “The blood of this party runs in my veins.”

     

  • I’ll use APC broom to sweep Orji out of senate – Nwogu

    The senator who represented Abia Central in the upper chamber of the National assembly, Chief (Mrs.) Nkechi Nwogu, has boasted she would use the All Progressives Alliance (APC) broom to sweep out the current senator of the district, Chief Theodore Orji from the red chamber in 2019.

    The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Nwogu and now of the APC stated this in Osisioma, near Aba, Abia State while making a formal declaration to run for the district’s senate seat in 2019 on the platform of APC.

    She said that for the past three and half years that Orji is in the senate, it has been a total disaster, adding that people from the area are regretting why she did not go back to the senate in 2015.

    According to her, “It is said in Igbo land that when a woman marries two husbands, she will be able to know the one that is better. My people have tested another person in the senate in the person of T. A Orji and they are regretting why I never went back because of the failure of the incumbent senator”.

    Nwogu said she was going to do a restoration work in the senate if she was elected as she was going to bring back those things that have eluded the zone in the past three and half years.

    Senator Nwogu who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and later to the senate in 2007, opined “I’ve been on this route, legislature is like red wine, the older, the better.

    “I’m out on a restoration mission, to bring back the lost glory of the district. I’m not going to the senate to steal, to sleep or to hide; we need experienced hands who are committed and people who have the capacity to go the senate.

    “The train has come, it will surely remove trolley on the track and nothing will stop that”, she boasted.

    While stating that APC must field her best eleven in 2019, she added that any ticket given to anybody that does not merit it, would be a wasted ticket.

    Former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Martins Azubuike while supporting Nwogu said the parliament was not a place for the training of beginners, stressing that people like Nwogu rightly fit in.

    He urged all to support her.

     

  • Senate will not know peace less Saraki resigns, says Senator

    For peace to reign in the Senate, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, must resign his position, Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim, has said.

    Ibrahim also said that 30 members of the upper chamber can resolve to reconvene the Senate at any time as allowed by the rules of the chamber.

    The Katsina south senator spoke to reporters in Abuja following the defection of the Senate President, Saraki from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ibrahim who is also Chairman, Board of National Committee for Buhari Support Group, noted that although it is commendable Saraki left the party, he should take the path of honour and go the whole hog to resign his position as Senate President.

    He noted that if Saraki failed to resign his Senate President position, the Senate will never know peace.

    Their resolve that Saraki must resign his position, he said, is based on convention that the party the produces majority should also produce the leadership.

    The lawmaker vowed that APC senators would not allow “a renegade” as their leader in the Senate.

    Ibrahim said, “Well, I think it is commendable that he has left the party. He has chosen the path of survival because it is the issue of political survival not any thing for Nigeria.

    “But next is for him to resign as Senate President because by all conventions all over the world the majority party produces the leadership; Senate President, the majority leader and others.

    “Again, let him be gentleman enough and resign as Senate President.

    “If he doesn’t (resign) we will never have peace in that Senate because it is absolutely clear that APC has majority to produce the leadership.

    “I hear the PDP claiming majority but it is crystal clear that APC has majority. We will have more members. We will have elections. We will have the two members. We also have some alliance with APGA. It is clear that APC has majority.

    “APC with majority should produce the leadership in the Senate. 49 cannot produce the leadership.

    “Saraki should go the whole hog and resign as Senate President.”

    On the allegation that some senators attempted to break into the Senate chamber on Wednesday to reconvene plenary he said;

    “How do you break into the chamber? If we like we can reconvene legally because it is legal for us to reconvene. We don’t need to break into the chamber when we have the number. I will never subscribe to that.

    “We can reconvene, the rules are there that if we are up to 30 we can reconvene. Why should we break into the chamber when we can reconvene legally and do what we want to do.

    “It is legal. I don’t see why anybody should contemplate that we can break into the chamber.

    “I don’t know about it and even if I know about it I will say it is unwise.

    “Like I said, the rules are there that if we are 30 we can reconvene and do what we want to do.

    “If the leadership does not ask for peace, it will not get peace. Peace is a function of leadership.

    “I have been in the Senate for about four times. I can’t allow anybody to manipulate me. I can’t take it.

    “Nobody was elected as Senate President. We all came here as Senators. So we have equal footing. We gave you leadership. If you fail to give us the right leadership and if majority of us don’t want you any more, you have to leave.

    “Saraki was elected by us. At any time majority of us say he should go he has to go.

    On the effect of the gale of defections hitting the APC he said;

    “There are some losses that will give you sleepless night. There are others that will not give you sleepless night. We have made out calculation, I am confident that that we will not lose.

    “For the past two years, Saraki has undermined the government.

    “He has allowed frivolous motions to attack the President and the government. His continued stay as Senate President does not augur well for the APC government.

    “Somebody in the same party and the same government he has never seen any thing good in the President.”

    Asked if it is only change of leadership that will bring peace to the Senate he said;

    “How can we 53 allow a renegade to control us? No, we cannot allow that.”

  • Alfa: Senate indulging in double standard over Kogi East

    The last may not have been heard about the battle for the Kogi East seat in the Senate, less than a year to the end of the Eighth National Assembly. Air Marshal Isaac Mohammed Alfa (retd.) is insisting that he should be sworn in as senator, based on court judgments. Atai Aidoko is asking him to wait until the Appeal Court decides the winner. In this interview with ONYEDI OJIABOR, Alfa explains why the Senate leadership should swear him in without further delay.

    THE Federal High Court has declared you as the winner of Kogi East senatorial election and asked the National Assembly to withdraw recognition from Senator Atai Aidoko. What is holding your inauguration?

    The Supreme Court judgment referred the case to the High Court and decided that the High Court should determine who the rightful person to occupy the seat is. As we speak, I have three court judgments in my favour. First, the Supreme Court judgment decided that the case should be tried afresh. The judgment went on to say emphatically that the ruling by the High Court shall determine who represents Kogi East in the Senate. The Supreme Court judgment made it clear that Kogi East had no senator in the Senate. Despite the judgment, which we forwarded to the leadership of the National Assembly, the National Assembly still allowed Aidoko to resume in the Senate.

    The second judgment of the Court of Appeal, which refused to interpret the Supreme Court judgment, not only ruled that by the judgment of the Supreme Court any Certificate of Return earlier given to Aidoko became null and void and of no effect whatsoever, but also went further to punish Aidoko for abuse of court process, by awarding N1m cost in my favour. This also reinforced the fact that Aidoko could not continue to sit in the Senate, because he had no valid Certificate of Return from anywhere. Despite sending this clear and unambiguous judgment to the National Assembly, the lawmakers decided to keep Aidoko in the Senate.

    The third and latest judgment in obedience to the Supreme Court order to try the case afresh and determine who is the rightful owner of Kogi East seat was given also in my favour in a declaratory judgment asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue me a certificate of return and asking the National Assembly to swear me in and asking the National Assembly to cease forthwith any perquisites accorded to Aidoko as a senator. The order was with immediate effect.

    The High Court order declaratorily said: “In the exercise of the Court’s inherent disciplinary jurisdiction, the Clerk of the National Assembly I hereby directed to forthwith withdraw all the privileges, rights and perquisites of office with the third defendant (Aidoko) hitherto enjoyed as a ‘Member of the Senate’ and shall convey to the Senate President, the decision of this Court that he should forthwith withdraw further recognition to the third defendant as a ‘Member of the 8th National Assembly’ whose purported election into the Senate is by this judgment, nullified because, he was not duly nominated by the first defendant (the Peoples Democratic Party) in the aftermath of the Kogi East senatorial district primary election held on 7/12/14, which he did not win as an ‘aspirant.”

    The court went on to declare: “That the plaintiff shall be issued by the second defendant, (INEC) with a ‘Certificate of Return’ as the duly elected Senator for Kogi East senatorial district, and the Clerk of the National Assembly shall immediately administer the Oath of Office on the plaintiff as a ‘Senator’ representing  Kogi East senatorial district of Kogi State, who shall immediately take over the seat of the third defendant in the hallowed chambers of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Despite all these, even when we forwarded the judgment to the National Assembly, with the consequential order and another court order refusing to stay execution, the National Assembly has, up till now, not sworn me in.

    So, what is hindering the Senate from doing the needful?

    You should ask the leadership of the Senate. In a fragrant disregard of the four court orders, the Senate still allowed Aidoko to remain in the chamber. Several people have called me and pointed out to me evidences of the National Assembly in this case indulging in double standard and based on the fact that when I was in the Senate and Aidoko brought a court judgment, I pointed it out to the Senate leadership that I had already appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Senate leadership told me clearly that they only obey court order and not notice of appeal. Now that I have a valid court order and my Certificate of Return, why are they not swearing me in, especially because precedence had been set already? Why the double standard?

    One important fact is that at the time I was in the Senate, when the leadership of the Senate decided to swear Aidoko in, I was there on an earlier judgment, that I won election and was given Certificate of Return. This time around, Aidoko does not possess any Certificate of Return, by virtue of the three judgments. Therefore, Aidoko is sitting in the Senate illegally, going by all the explanations I have given. Aidoko has nothing to stand on to appeal. The Senate cannot put something on nothing. It cannot stand, because by virtue of the three judgments, Aidoko is not in the Senate whatsoever. It is obvious that the Senate leadership has kept him there illegally.

    Since the Senate leadership is keeping Aidoko in the Senate illegally, what next?

    To my mind, the Senate is going through a lot in the public opinion of the citizens of this country right now that it cannot out of favour for personal reasons, connections, allegiance, friendship and otherwise afford to sacrifice its reputation in the interest of just one person who the various courts in the land had declared unqualified to occupy that seat.

    To continue to keep Aidoko in the Senate and to continue to refuse to swear me in, the Senate is disobeying legitimate multiple court orders and have no moral right to criticize the executive.

    But I’m hopeful that the leadership of the Senate, because of the sanctity of that institution, will eventually resolve to put justice above personal favour and loyalty and do the right thing by obeying the court orders and swear me in as quickly as possible, because the life of the 8th Senate is almost running out. Protecting the sanctity of the Senate is paramount when compared to personal loyalty consideration.

    Doing the right thing will prevent the Senate from unnecessary public attention over numerous and uncountable litigations that might follow, especially from citizens of Kogi East who feel so aggrieved that the Senate has for so long denied them of their choice of representation.

    Aidoko is insisting that the order that the Clerk should swear you in was wrong. He also said that he has a pending appeal that should be decided…

    The Clerk of the National Assembly is the administrative head of the National Assembly. The Senate President is Chairman of the National Assembly, the two chambers. At the inauguration of the Eighth Assembly, it was the Clerk that administered the oath of office to all the senators. It was after they were inaugurated that they voted to choose Bukola Saraki as Senate President. When a new senator is to be sworn in, it is the Clerk of the Senate that administers the oath of office in the presence of the Senate President. The Senate President never reads the oath nor administers the oath.

    Therefore, the judge was right in his ruling and pronouncement. The judge in his ruling even directed the Clerk to inform the Senate President accordingly that all perquisites should be withdrawn from Aidoko. The judgment is declaratory and binding on all those mentioned and it is so unfortunate that Senator Aidoko, according to some uninformed lawyers, can be exposing their absolute ignorance of the law to the public.

    What is your next line of action?

    This is the sixth time Aidoko is sitting on what does not belong to him. Previously, he had collected people’s mandates five times through the back door, by using the court without winning any election. First, he collected the mandate of Joe Agada through the court; secondly he collected that of Barrister Kabiru Usman through the court; third he collected the mandate of Hassan Enape through the court; fourth he collected the mandate of Senator Dangana Ocheja (a sitting senator) through the court and he also collected another sitting senator’s mandate (Abdulrahman Abubakar) through the court.

    In all of these, Aidoko had never won any primary. He is attempting to collect mine like he collected the others, but I am determined that he will never succeed. Aidoko had boasted that as long as the leadership of the Senate is there, we can never remove him. My belief is that power belongs to God and anybody exercising power, whether through INEC, courts or the leadership of the National Assembly, should be by the need to do justice, because God is justice.

     

  • 2019: Kaduna Deputy Governor dumps El-Rufai’s second term bid

    Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Arch. Barnabas Bala Bantex on Thursday declared his intention to contest for the Senate in Southern senatorial zone.

    By his declaration, Bantex has dropped his position as Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s running mate in the 2019 governorship race, which his principal had since declared for.

    The Deputy Governor said his decision was taken to give his people quality representation and address national issues affecting them.

    Bantex, who intends to contest on All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket, said he took the difficult decision due to what his people have gone through in the area of insecurity in the last 10 years and the inability of their leaders to rise against it, when it could have easily been done, coupled with the need to give good leadership that would drag the zone from quagmire into greatness and progression.

    Read Also:Many killed in robbery attack on Kaduna-Abuja highway

    Reading a speech titled ‘Southern Politics is Bridge-Building, not a Pity Party’, the Deputy Governor said, “with utmost confidence in the fair mindedness, the results accomplished, and the work being done by the APC government of Kaduna state, under the leadership of Malam Nasir el-Rufai, I have decided to offer myself as the APC candidate for the Kaduna South Senatorial District in the forthcoming 2019 election.

    “I will continue to serve as Deputy Governor of Kaduna state while pursuing this aspiration. As Deputy Governor, I have had several opportunities to witness this commitment to equity, and I regret that some of the elected representation from my zone has not matched this broad-mindedness and constructive approach, in the interest of our people in Zone 3.

    “I have therefore come to the conclusion that it is worth leaving the office of Deputy Governor to put these issues on the ballot, to encourage more mature and sober political discourse in the area, in order to deliver the desirable quality of representation for our people, and attract the maximum dividend of democracy.

    “This has been a very difficult decision for me in view of the uncommon  goodwill and brotherly relationship that I currently enjoy with Malam Nasir el-Rufai who has elevated the relationship between Governor and Deputy Governor to a level of mutual respect, engagement and involvement that is unparalleled in our democracy.”

    Speaking on the achievements of the current el-Rufai administration that gave him hope of being elected, Bala, who was first elected chairman of APC in Kaduna state, said, “i have had the great pleasure to work with a team that has achieved a lot in human capital development, making health and education more accessible to ordinary people, building infrastructure and vigorously promoting equality of opportunity.”

    He said the government has been able to resist blackmail by those seeking political patronage and forces accustomed to benefitting from deliberate stoking of ethno-religious fires, to achieve electronic voting, implementing TSA, remaking public service, recruiting qualified teachers, equipping primary health centres, building township roads and creating jobs in the public and private sectors.

    He said is aspiration aimed at ensuring equitable development of his zone to ensure that the people enjoy improved commensurate dividends of democracy better than before.

    “It is my firm intention to run on the record of the el-Rufai government in promoting development across the state. I am fully prepared to challenge anyone that represents the failures of the past in delivering the best for our people.  I am convinced that it is time for our people to firmly reject the poorest senatorial representation Zone 3 has had since 1999.

    “By God’s grace, and with the support of the people, I have been privileged to serve as a Member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Action Congress. I understood that such an office imposed on me a duty of responsible representation, and this obligation led me to seek and maintain good relations with the State Governor at the time, Namadi Sambo despite his being of the PDP.”

  • Senate: The cloak-and-dagger game

    It was a defection foretold and therefore it came as no surprise. GBADE OGUNWALE reports the acting of the script by 14 senators who jumped ship from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Eleven of the senators returned to their former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nest and three to the (African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    It was a cloudy and chilly morning at the sprawling National Assembly complex yesterday. Among the early arrivals for the day’s business were uniformed internal security personnel and cleaners who must perform their tasks before the start of work. It was an unusual day.

    As early as 7.20am, this correspondent and a few others covering the National Assembly were already at their duty post, waiting at the entrance of the Senate building. The reporters chose to converge on that spot for its strategic location. It is the entry and exit route for senators, being the most convenient walkway to their offices. The frontage of the magnificent edifice has an expansive parking lot where the senators’ cars are parked at designated lots. It is a vantage position to sight senators coming in for the day’s legislative business and leaving after work.

    Senator Rafiu Ibrahim was the first to arrive. He reportedly arrived at the complex as early as 7am. The senator, representing Kwara South Senatorial District, is one of the closest senators to the President of the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Ahmed Lawan came in at 8.30am. A few minutes after, Senator Ali Atai Aidoko was driven in. Then came the boisterous Dino Melaye who, very uncharacteristic of him, avoided exchanging greetings or banters with the reporters. Melaye went straight into the building with quick, measured steps.

    His countenance indicated there was a very serious business ahead. It’s always easy to have an inkling of unusual business through banters with the controversial Kogi West lawmaker. But, this was a different day.

    Senator Effiong Nelson showed up shortly after. He was trailed by Senator Stella Oduah who also made her way straight into the building. Senator Clifford Ordia came in next and went the way of others.

    The arrival of the lawmakers came on the heels of information that had filtered in that security operatives had laid siege to the residence of the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu. And just as the information was sinking in, the news of police blockade of the convoy of the Senate President Bukola Saraki hit the media space.

    There was an account that he was blocked from leaving his residence, just as another account claimed that his convoy was blocked on his way to honour the police invitation extended to him the previous night.

    By 9am, a significant number of senators had arrived at the Red Chamber. Some headed straight to their offices, a few others chose to converge on the main lobby, close to the entrance of the chamber.

    Among those at the lobby was the leader of the pro Buhari senators, Abdullahi Adamu. After a few minutes, he walked into the empty chamber and took his seat. Plenary session officially starts at 10am, but in most cases, the session does not start till 1045am  or 11am. By this time, news started filtering in that Saraki was already in his office located on the fourth floor of the Senate new building. The number of senators in the chamber started increasing, with the lawmakers walking in one after the other. But, signs that something was in the offing were reinforced by the duo of Malaye and Ibrahim, who kept pacing back and forth and talking to each other intermittently. They seemed to be surveilling the environment within the half-filled chamber. And Saraki, decked in white flowing babanriga with a white cap to match, walked in at exactly 10.40am, From his countenance, he must have had a long wakeful night. He went straight to the day’s business, starting with the votes and proceedings of the previous plenary session. A pin drop momentarily silence enveloped the chamber, before Saraki proceeded with the order of business. Melaye was palpably restless and he kept shuttling from his seat to the elevated podium where the Senate President sat.

    At a point, he was seen passing a piece of paper to Saraki; at another, he tried to draw his attention to one thing or the other. His repeated shuttle to Saraki’s seat soon became a pester as the Senate President could be seen gesticulating at Kogi senator to give him some space. Then the real moment came. Saraki sought the leave of his colleagues to read a letter jointly signed by 14 senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) announcing their defection . Melaye’s name was number one on the list. One after the other, Saraki read out the names of the defecting senators. That done, Ahmed Lawan indicated his intention to speak. As expected, he made an intervention on behalf of his party, reeling out the various reconciliatory moves being made by President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the APC to assuage frayed nerves. It was, however, too late as many voices of dissent drowned his address mid-way. The 14 senators had crossed the rubicon. In response to Lawan’s homily, Saraki, ‘playing Mark Anthony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar’, narrated a number of suffocating experiences that some of the defectors were made to go through at the hands of security agencies. He announced to the body of senators that even as he spoke, security operatives had besieged the residence of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu. He also spoke about his own ordeal at the hands of the police, indicating that it has been the Presidency pulling the strings at the other end. After the day’s business, the Senate adjourned for eight weeks, to reconvene on September 25.

  • Senate to EFCC, police: vacate Ekweremadu’s residence

    THE Senate yesterday resolved to ask operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and police allegedly laying siege to the residence of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to vacate the place without further delay.

    The upper chamber said the security operatives must allow Ekweremadu to enjoy his constitutional rights as a free citizen.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North)

    Utazi told the Senate that the siege to Ekweremadu’s residence by security operatives was a violation of his right to move freely.

    He said: “What offence has he committed that would warrant his wife and children to be denied freedom to go about their duties.

    “People are worried. We want to know what he has done.

    “Some people told me that they heard some people wanted to defect today and because of that, they don’t want him to come to the sitting.

    “I also heard that they don’t want the Senate president to come so that both presiding officers will not be here, but thank God that the Senate President is in this place.”

    Utazi prayed the Senate to demand that Ekweremadu’s residence be immediately vacated.

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), who seconded the motion, noted that the occupation of Ekweremadu’s residence was a threat to democracy.

    He said: “I was with Ekweremadu yesterday and there was no notice from the Police. I wonder why his house is under siege today.

    “If he is wanted, they should invite him and he will respond.

    “There will be tomorrow. No matter the intimidation, my confidence in you and Ekweremadu is renewed and we must protect this institution.”

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South), who also supported the motion, said the development was not only a threat on democracy but the unity of the country.

    Before the adoption of the motion, Saraki noted that there was also a siege to his house at the early hours of yesterday.

    The Senate President said he was meant to report to the police due to the invitation to answer to alleged involvement in a robbery case in Offa some months ago, but he could not do so.

    Saraki said there would not have been Senate plenary if he had gone to the police, due to the fact that Ekweremadu was prevented from leaving his house.

    He said: “Ekweremadu cannot come out for no fault of his and by the plan, I wouldn’t have been here as well.

    “It was the intervention of Almighty God that I am here today.

    “The deputy senate president called me that he was blocked from coming out. Even my convoy was blocked.”

    Chairman, South East Senate Caucus Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who called on “well-meaning Nigerians and the International community for interventions to save our democracy,” said the country is fast cascading to tyranny and fascism.

    Meanwhile, the Senate adjourned plenary till September 28, 2018 to enable senators proceed on their annual vacation.

     

  • Senate: Gemade, Melaye, Kwankwaso, 12 others defect to PDP

    14 senators including Barnabas Gemade, Dino Melaye and Dr. Lanre Tejuoso  on Tuesday defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC)  to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Their letter of defection was read by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki ,during the Senate proceedings.

    Others are:

    Senator Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi

    Senator Muhammad Ubali Shitu

    Senator Rafiu Ibrahim

    Senator Isah Misau

    Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi

    Senator Monsurat Sunmonu

    Senator Abdulahi Danbaba

    Senator  Usman Bayero Nafada

    Senator Sulaiman Mohammed Nazif

    Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso

    Read Also: Tension: Police mount surveillance, block Saraki’s convoy

    Saraki later announced that Senator Abdullazeez Nyaku has also informed him of his defection from APC to PDP.

    There was palpable tension in the Senate chamber as  Saraki entered the place at 10.41 a.m.

    Citing Section 68(1G) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the defectors said “we hereby inform the Senate that we, the undersigned are changing our political affiliation from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “We thank you for your exemplary leadership.”

    They said that their action was after due consultation with their constituents and stakeholders in their constituencies.

    Reacting to the development, Senate Leader, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, said “the APC, our party certainly has its own internal challenges.

    “But, Mr President, we all know how much effort he and other stakeholders have put into addressing the issues that bedevil this party.

    “The disagreements do not translate into factions. I therefore feel that our senators of the APC do not have to move to any other party.

    “I also believe that because the issues are under serious discussions by the major stakeholders of this party, I will urge that the announcement be quarantined.

    “Very seriously, this matter should be stepped down until we exhaust all the opportunities,” Lawan said.

    In his remarks, Saraki said “as you know and have seen that the seat beside you is empty.

    “As we speak, the Deputy Senate President cannot get out of his house.

    “He is under siege. This morning, I could not also leave my street as well, all by efforts of some people that believe that today’s sitting must not hold because some members want to move or defect.

    “It is not something that has started today; it will not end today; people have gone, they’ve come back.

    “But this kind of action does not allow for what you are saying.

    “You are speaking as the leader of the Senate, who has been here for many years.”

     

  •  Senate to review Prisons Act

    The Nigerian Prisons Service Act of 2004 will soon be reviewed, Senate Committee for the Interior Chairman, Senator Andy Uba, has said.

    He disclosed this at the opening of a two-day retreat for members of the committee and some prisons stakeholders held at Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

    The event was provided with technical support by the NPS, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and the British Council.

    Uba said his committee had so far received four bills seeking reformation in the prison system, and that the retreat was intended to review and harmonise the bills and at the end of the exercise to present to the Senate one single bill.

    Although Senator Uba was certain of “a robust, all inclusive  document that will chart a new legal framework to achieving the prison reforms we crave for”, indications are rife that the Nigerian Prisons Service may have its name changed to ‘Nigerian Correctional Service’ as obtained in some countries in Europe.

    He said the proposed bills, while incorporating an articulate youthful offender programmes into prison reforms, also seek an upgrade on deplorable facilities, decongestion of over populated facilities, biometric record keeping and improvement in health and general welfare of the inmates.

    He said another of the bills exclusively targets female inmates and highlighted the importance of the care for pregnant inmates, nursing mothers and care for their babies.

    He commended initiators of the bills including Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Sha’aba Lafiagi, Babajide Omoworare and Gershom Bassey for their intellectual efforts.

    Executive Director, (PRAWA), Dr Mrs Uju Agomoh, in her address said the amendment being proposed to change name of NPS to reflect the word ‘Correctional’ was to give the service a face of humanity and ensure compliance with international standards.

    Agomo said one fundamental provision in the proposed change of name of NPS was to ensure that the service is corrections focused in the future and to enhance corrections introduced in the proposed bill.

    She was convinced that a Nigerian Correctional Service will have provision for Custodial services for lesser offenders and non-Custodial services for bigger offences.

    She admitted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 provided only for non-Custodial services.

    She lamented that it is shameful that the country in the present age keep inmates with lesser offenders, like theft of food in prison.

    Agomo further disclosed that the proposed bill made provisions for women and nursing mothers to be kept in facilities seperate and far from male inmates and for security for their safety in times of riots.

    Deputy Controller General of Prisons, Operations, MBE Shenfe, who stood in for the Controller General of Prisons, Ahmed Ja’afaru admitted that the existing law of NPS is old and no longer in tune with global philosophy of punishment.

    He expressed excitement with the work of the Senate committee and conviction that the outcome of the retreat will engender a bill that will give the NPS a new sense of direction.

    Lagos state Controller of Prisons, Tunde Ladipo in a remark recalled past futile attempts to review the Prisons Act after that of 2004.

    Ladipo was elated particularly the proposed bill will not only address punishments but also non custodial sentences for lesser offenders.

    Other committee members at the venue of the retreat include Senators Fatima Raji-Rasaki, Mao Ohuabunwa, Chukwuka Utazi, Danjuma Laah, Clifford A. Ordia, Shu’abu Isa Law, Foster Ogola, Ibrahim Kurfi and Andrew Uchendu.

  • Senators protest Buhari’s ‘lopsided’ appointments

    There was uproar in the Senate on Thursday over alleged lopsided appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Proceedings were held up for over 30 minutes as senators mostly of the South East extraction, took to the floor to convince their colleagues that “a grave injustice had been done to the zone in the spread and headship of federal agencies and parastatals.”

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, spearheaded the protest when he drew attention to “unacceptable nominations for leadership of some federal agencies.”

    Ekweremadu was particularly angry when Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read a communication by President Buhari on the nomination for appointment of Chairman and members of the Governing Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

    The nominees include a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Mr. Tunde Lemo, who was listed as Chairman of the Board.

    Other nominees were – Engr. Nurudeen Abdulrahman Rafindadi (Managing Director), Buba Silas Abdullahi, Babangana, Mohammed Aji, Engr. Shehu Usman Abdullahi, Loratta Ngozichukwu Aniagolu, Mujaidu Stanley Dako and Vincent Oladapo Kolawale.

    Ekweremadu said the Senate should not continue to allow skewed appointments to escape its scrutiny and sanction.