Abba Moro, senate minority leader, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is now akin to a boat being overloaded midstream.
He added that the gale of defections to the ruling party poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Moro spoke on Tuesday during plenary, after Barinada Mpigi
and Allwell Onyesoh, senators representing Rivers south-east and Rivers east, respectively, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The defections were witnessed by APC leaders and members who
were admitted into the red chamber after the senate suspended its rules.
Reacting after the resumption of plenary, Moro described the
development as “a dangerous drift in Nigeria’s democracy”, saying such
movements weaken opposition and democratic balance.
“In view of what has just happened, I want to say my
colleagues on this part of the aisle who have moved have exercised their rights
to associate as they wish,” he said.
“Let me say here, like I have said before, that when you overload a boat midstream, the possible consequence is the load capsizing.
“Mr President, I think that when people move, they should
have the courage to move with this conviction and not to give the impression of
the imminent collapse of the PDP or the opposition.
“You know, in our tradition, you can’t beat a child and ask
him not to cry.
“I find it a little unfortunate that the leader of the
senate is congratulating himself and his party on the dangerous drift of
Nigeria’s democracy.
“I want to insist that this is not good for democracy.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio interjected and asked Moro
to “restrict” himself “to the business of the day”.
“Contrary to the impression, I want to insist that this side
of the aisle has not collapsed,” Moro added.
“We will continue to work for the interest of Nigeria on
this part of the aisle.”
Moro’s remarks drew objections from Barau Jibrin, deputy
senate president, who said the minority leader breached senate rules.
“What the minority leader just said were his personal opinions,” Jibrin said
“He ought to have come under Order 42. All that he said is
in violation of our rules.”
Agreeing with Barau, Akpabio said the protest did not comply
with senate rules, noting that the defection letters had earlier been read and
deferred before being taken again ahead of the day’s main business.
“What Moro did is invalid,” Akpabio said.
However, the senate president added that expressing
dissatisfaction should not be suppressed, referencing Moro’s remark that “If
you beat a child, you don’t stop him from crying”.
Earlier, Mpigi and Onyesoh attributed their defections to
internal divisions within the PDP at the national level.
The defections reduced the PDP’s representation in the
senate from 26 to 24, while increasing the APC’s seats from 75 to 77.
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