Senate boils as popular senator Walksout of chamber
….Trouble looms in
Senate as it hurriedly went into executive session during plenary on Tuesday .
Ten minutes after commencement of plenary , the Chief Whip , Senator Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South ) , raised point of order on alleged errors committed and not corrected by the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio.
The error referred to, by Ndume , was a motion moved by Senator Summaila Kawu ( NNPP Kano South ) , for debate on the need for re – opening of Nigeria – Niger Border , without stating reading the title of his motion.
Ndume who rose throuh order 51 of the Senate standing rules , requested the Senate President to allow for correction of any error made or observed in plenary.
” This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guided by laws , rules and procedures . If in the course of proceedings at any session, errors are observed , they must be corrected before forging ahead with such proceeding”, he said.
But Akpabio quickly intercepted him by saying having ruled on issues raised , it can not be revisited and consequently ruled Ndume out of order.
Senator Sunday Karimi ( APC Kogi West ) , spiritedly attempted to sustain Ndume’s line of arguement through another point of order but was also switly ruled out of order by Senate President , Godswill Akpabio .
In a trouble shooting effort , the Deputy President of the Senate , Jibrin Barau quickly rose to read order 16 , which requires a substantive motion to be moved by any Senator for correction or review of earlier decision taken.
Sustaining of Barau’s point of order by Akpabio , infuriated Ndume by raising another point of order ( order 54) to seek for correction of perceived error .
But without being allowed to make full presentation of his argument , the President of the Senate , ruled him out of order again .
Angered by Akpabio’s decision , Ndume , packed his documents and furiously stormed out of the chamber .
Apparently , perplexed by the scenario , Senators hurriedly went into closed door which is still on , as at the time of filling this report.
