Political Issues
The Travesty in the Senate Must Not Go Unaddressed
The gangster brought in by Senator Ovie, carrying the Mace.
ABUJA, 19 April 2018 — Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) is grossly embarrassed at the shameful occurrence at the Nigerian Senate yesterday whereby the mace, the symbol of the Senate’s authority was seized and taken away by intruders.
At the centre of this abominable act is Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC Senator for Delta Central who was suspended by the Senate for 90 legislative days.
The Senate may have been wrong in suspending a member for 90 days. Rule 67(4) states that a Senator may be suspended for a maximum of 14 days.
More importantly, a subsisting Appeal Court judgement in the matter Bauchi State House of Assembly v. Rifkatu Samson Danna concluded that only a court of law or the constituency can order the can order the removal or suspension of a legislator.
However, Senator Omo-Agege should not have taken the law into his hands forcing himself into the Senate Chambers after claiming to have sued the Senate to court on account of the suspension.
The suspensionnotwithstanding, the Sergeant-at-Arms and the security operative(s) in charge of the National Assembly and the Senate have a case to answer for allowing a ‘suspended’ Senator access to the Senate Chambers.
Others questions surrounding the entire scenario arise, which ANRP is asking:
‘How was it that thugs in t-shirts were allowed access to the Senate Chambers, seeing the scrutiny citizens on legitimate business at the National Assembly go through to have access to the premises?’
‘How were 5 persons able to overpower the entire security personnel at the National Assembly and make away with the mace?’
‘How were they able to leave the premises?’
The mace is said to have been ‘found’ elsewhere at the City Gate. ‘How were they able to beat traffic lights and the entire security within the Federal Capital City to go so far away?’
In this matter, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and their respective officers in charge of the FCT also have cases to answer.
The Senator whom it was at first said was arrested and in police custody later bragged that he was never arrested and shared images of his being a free man. There is no evidence that the thugs have been apprehended and being charged to court.
The 19-year civil rule we have today was fought and won with much sacrifice. Members of the political class seem to take this fact and our institutions for granted. This travesty, ANRP a Party built on the ethos of respect, morality, accountability, and transparency will not allow to subsist, and will resist with all vehemence. The issues and questions raised must be addressed.
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Sesugh Akume
National Spokesman
Office Telephone: 09064796674 (9 am – 5 pm)
Email: nationalspokesman@anrp.org.ng
@AbundantNigeria
