Former Governor of Akwa Ibom
State, Senator Godswill Akpabio and his former political godson, Senator Albert
Akpan representing Akwa Ibom North East engaged each other in war of words over
the alarm raised through a point of order by Senator Akpan.
Senator Akpan had raised a point
of order where he accused the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State of
plotting to cause mayhem in 2019 general election.
Attempts by Godswill Akpabio who
is the party leader in the state to react was deliberately turned down by the
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. The situation generated pandemonium among
the lawmakers, but Akpan who was still on his feet managed to finish his point
of order.
While ruling Godswill Akpabio out
of order, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki insisted that Akpabio was not
sitting in the appropriate seat, hence, he would not be recognised.
“Senator… eh… former Minority
Leader, you know you can’t speak from there. You can’t. Go to your seat, when
you get to your seat, I’ll recognise you,” Saraki said.
Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan’s
intervention did not help the situation as the matter degenerated to party
politics in the chamber.
Lawan said: “As it stands today
in this chamber, there is no organised sitting arrangement. If he decides to
sit there, let him. There is no microphone there. Let us not take the Panadol
for his headache. Let me advise, that even though we have only six, seven
months to go, let’s do what is right,” he said.
He added that the Clerk of the
Senate allocated the seat to Mr Akpabio – a statement Mr Saraki refuted,
stating that he directed the Clerk to allocate seats to lawmakers.
Amid the pandemonium, Dr. Saraki
asked Mr Akpabio to find a seat with a microphone to make his contribution. His
statement fell on deaf as the upper chamber got even rowdier and some senators
were seen rising from their seats to confront senators from the opposition
party.
“Mr President, Senator Akpan came
under Order 43 which is Self-Explanation. You cannot contribute. Akpabio you
cannot!,” he said and Biodun Olujimi could be heard shouting “You were not
recognised. Keep quiet! What is your problem?!”
Order 43 of the Senate Standing
Rule states that, “by the indulgence of the Senate and the leave of the
President of the Senate, a senator may make a personal explanation. The
statement shall be submitted in detail to the President of the Senate. There is
no contribution to be made by any other senator.”
Senator Akpabio insisted: “the
seat was allocated to me by the Clerk.”
“I was seeking your attention to
re-appraise you of Order 11. The seat was allocated to me by the Clerk and I
expect that you were notified. The embarrassment I got today was uncalled for.
I demand an apology, not just written but verbal too.”
Amid frayed nerves, other APC
lawmakers said:
“He should apologise. Even the
PDP apologized to Nigerians. What’s the big deal?,” the voice of Ali Ndume.
Senator Albert Akpan was the
Commissioner for Finance when Godswill Akpabio governed Akwa Ibom State between
2007 to 2015.
Both parted ways recently when
Akpabio defected to the APC over his soiled relationship with the incumbent
Governor, Emmanuel Udom who succeeded him.
Pls look for good job . Don't post this kind of nonsense here.
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