From Fred Itua, Abuja
The animosity between Southern and Northern lawmakers, yesterday, resurfaced on the floor of the upper legislative chamber, as senators from the two regions got involved in heated arguments.
In March, Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, was suspended by the Senate, despite appeals from Northern senators to pardon him.
Since then, lawmakers from the two regions, especially the South West and the North, have been at loggerheads, with the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, Jimoh Ibrahim and Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, spearheading the fight from the Southern flank.
In the North, former governors, led by Adamu Aliero and Kawu Sumaila, are reportedly leading the offensive against their counterparts from the South.
Plenary started at about 11am, soon after the procession. Trouble started as Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was reading the announcements, specifically names of lawmakers, who had celebrated their birthdays while the Senate was on break. It immediately assumed a regional dimension, when Sahabi Yau (APC, Zamfara North) raised his voice at the Senate Leader, Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), while he in turn, pointed his fingers at Yau as if he was giving him a stern warning.
Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central), soon joined the fray, and aligned with his colleague, Yau, in shouting at Bamidele and the chairman, Senate Services, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West).
Daily Sun learnt that the fight was triggered by the seating arrangement in the newly renovated upper legislative chamber. Ranking senators were said to have been angry at the seats allocated to them in the front row on the last right side of the aisle.
Akpabio eventually told them to approach the chair one after the other, but Yau did not oblige him. The stormy session lasted for about 20 minutes.
After the Senate president had read his welcome-back speech,the Senate Leader moved that the Senate dissolved into an executive session.
Meanwhile, Akpabio has bemoaned the increasing challenges in the country, calling on the three arms of government to unite and confront them.
He noted that poverty and other challenges that confront Nigeria need the collaboration of leaders.
He said: “Our nation is confronted with multifaceted challenges. They highlight the urgency and gravity of the issues we must confront, calling for our collective efforts to find sustainable solutions.
“As representatives of the people, it is our duty to address these challenges head-on and work towards a better future for all.
“Let us also not forget the importance of cooperation with our constituents. We were elected to represent their voices, hopes, and dreams. It is through our engagement and partnership with them that we can truly make meaningful impacts on their lives and the development of our nation.
“The National Assembly can only fly with two wings. Therefore, both the Senate and the House of Representatives must collaborate and cooperate to provide the wings for the National Assembly to fly and lift Nigerians up.
“We must, at all times, collaborate and cooperate with the other arms of the government, without compromising our constitutional duties, in order for our democracy to thrive.
“As senators, our efforts must be focused on restoring hope, righting wrongs, and upholding our commitments to the well-being of our people. Together, fuelled by a renewed spirit of fraternity, unity, and solidarity, we must move forward and cooperate generously for the common good.
“Throughout history, the spirit of cooperation has brought about tremendous progress. Let us pool our resources, talents, and ideas, while respecting our differences and convictions of conscience.”
•Fight over seats’ allocation false
The Senate has dismissed rumours making the rounds that there was a disagreement and rancour over seating arrangements as untrue.
The purported rancour, it added, exists only in the minds of the purveyors and sponsors of the news.
A statement by the Senate Committee Chairman on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu read: “There was no disagreement, rancour or any verbal tirade in respect of the seating arrangements in the Senate chamber. The Senate resumes today in the newly renovated chamber and the seating positions of Senators were done in accordance to the established Legislative protocols.
“It’s pertinent to note that rankings of Senators and leadership positions are considered when allocating seats to Senators. All legislators all over the world know and accept this tradition.
“The new arrangements in the chamber today did not depart from this. Every Senator is thus considered based on this Legislative tradition, hence there couldn’t have been any confusion over seating arrangements as being mischievously peddled.
“Senators have been observing this seating protocols, even in the temporary chamber, hence the unfounded story of a phantom fight over seating arrangements is an unscrupulous attempt to drag the image of the Senate into an unnecessary and needless controversy.”
He called on the general public to “disregard this odious song of sorrow from these incorrigible wholesalers and retailers of falsehood.”