Akpabio Meets Tinubu On October 19, 2023, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, highlighted the unity and maturity of the Nigerian Senate, even in the midst of disagreements.
“In parliament, sometimes you disagree to agree. But we will never get to the point of throwing chairs. The Senate is too mature, full of matured people,” Akpabio told State House Correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
Akpabio’s visit followed closely on the heels of the dramatic exit of Senator Ali Ndume from the chamber the previous day. Trouble had erupted shortly after the commencement of the day’s session when Ndume, representing Borno South, raised a point of order concerning alleged procedural errors committed by Akpabio.
Ndume referred to a motion regarding the Nigeria-Niger border, moved by Senator Sumaila Kawu of Kano South, which Akpabio had allowed for debate without adhering to the normal procedure of reading the official title of the motion.
Citing Order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, Ndume requested that the Senate President allow for the correction of any errors made or observed during the plenary session. However, Akpabio swiftly ruled him out of order, stating that the issues could not be revisited since he had already made his ruling.
In the heat of the argument, Ndume left the Senate chamber, leading to the dissolution of the session into a closed-door meeting.
Akpabio, speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting on Wednesday, dismissed any notion of a crisis within the legislature. He emphasized that any disagreements are swiftly addressed during closed sessions, ensuring unity and solidarity are maintained.
“We are all working in one accord. There is no problem at all. Even if some people disagree with some of the happenings in the Senate, it is only the majority decision that is going to prevail,” he noted.
Akpabio further explained the Senate’s commitment to the nation’s interests, stating, “We are politicians, no permanent hatred but permanent interest. That interest is the interest of the nation.”
He emphasized the Senate’s role in supporting the President and his administration through legislation and oversight functions, all aimed at moving the country forward.
During his meeting with President Tinubu, Akpabio discussed the upcoming 10th Assembly retreat scheduled to take place in Akwa Ibom State. He sought the President’s support for representation at the retreat, which was duly granted.
Akpabio Meets Tinubu to inform the President of the first 10th Assembly retreat, which is taking place tomorrow in Akwa Ibom State. We are moving the Senate all the way to Akwa Ibom for the next four days. Thereafter, I will be personally traveling to Angola to attend the internal parliamentary union, so before he sees me, it will probably take another nine days. So, I needed to inform him,” he said. Source thedailycourierng news