- Senate Chief Whip Commends Senate President For Retreat Initiative
- We Have no Permanent Hatred But Permanent Interest – Akpabio
- Senate President Harbours no Ill-will Towards Any Senator – Eyiboh
By Amos Esele with Udeme Utip and Bassey Aniekan in Uyo
Senator Ali Ndume’s walkout during last week Wednesday’s Senate session in protest over alleged violation of procedural error by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was a conceding, calmer one on Friday at the Senate retreat on fiscal policy and tax reforms which held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
“Honestly, President of the Senate, I want to commend you. When you said we needed to do a retreat, I said, ‘What was the importance of this retreat?’ But I want to say seriously that I can see the importance of this retreat. I never thought it would be so enriching and educative as this,“ Senator Ndume said, after the day’s technical session presided over by Akpabio had been addressed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun and Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Senate Tax Reform Committee.
Earlier in the day, both Ndume, Senate Chief Whip and Senate President Akpabio had exchanged pleasantries with a firm handshake amid the general courtesies that preceded the opening of the retreat, which was attended by over 100 Senators, including former Senators and ex-President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
“Those who say the President of the Senate (Apkabio) and Senate Chief Whip, (Ndume) clashed at the Senate should come to Uyo and see them, like all other Senators, embracing one another at the retreat in Uyo”, one of Senator Akpabio’s media aides told THEWILL on Friday. “He said reports that there was a disagreement between his principal and Senator Ndume were unfounded.
BACKGROUND TO THE “TWO FIGHTHING” CASE
Investigation by THEWILL shows that there are two sources of quarrel between the duo. The first is institutional. The second is personal. And both weave into the other.
At the institutional level, dependable sources trace the beginning of trouble to the time when the principal officers at the Senate were elected. The source said that based on his ranking and experience, having been in the National Assembly since 2003, Senator Ndume ought to have been made the Majority Leader and not the Chief Whip, which is lower in the pecking order of the principal officers of the Senate comprising the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Minority leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.
These officers are often recommended by political parties, but the Senate President and his deputy can influence the emergence of these officers who will assist them to deliver their mandates.
“For Senator Ndume, who was once Senate Majority Leader, that same position would have been the minimum for him, considering his experience and ranking. More so, when he had dropped his ambition for the position of President of the Senate and campaigned for the emergence of Senator Akpabio as Senate chief officer,” said the source.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who emerged as the Senate Majority Leader, with ex-governor Dave Umahi, who was a fresher, as his deputy (now Minister of Works) are considered as President Bola Tinubu’s men, just like Akpabio for whom President Tinubu pulled all the stops to ensure he emerged as Senate President.
“So, in the end, neither the President nor Akpabio, for whom he campaigned, appeared to have supported Senator Ndume to emerge as Majority Leader,” the source said.
Ndume, who is representing Borno South Senatorial District, had slammed Akpabio for approving the passage of some executive bills without seeking the input of other members.
This politicking then threw up in bold relief the second source of trouble, which is personal. Sources told THEWILL, “Senator Ndume is considered rebellious, a trait that any President who is interested in having a ‘cooperative’ Senate leadership to work with would want to keep at a distance.”
Ndume’s display of independence got him into trouble in the Senate many times.
As Senate Majority leader from 2015 to 2017, he was removed by APC Senators on 10 January 2017. That year, he had disagreed with the Senate over the rejection of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, INEC.
Miffed by his public disagreement, the Senate caucus removed him. He was replaced by Senator Ahmad Lawan.
On June 11 2019, Ndume lost his bid to become president of the 9th Senate. He contested against Senator Lawan who emerged the winner.
In 2023, he had declared his intention to contest the position again before he was persuaded by the President to support Akpabio, whom he was chief campaigner.
As part of his 10th Point Agenda, Ndume had revealed among others that,
“The Senate President should be one, not first among equals, to work harmoniously and interdependently with the executive and the judicial arms of government without undermining the principles of separation of power.”
Although Ndume, who disclosed that his interest to vie for the office of the Senate President in the 10th Assembly was subject to the position of the party and the fairness of that position, spoke along the same lines conveying the independence of the Senate leadership, when he said, “the Senators will decide who will lead them. We went through the election and won the election. The position of the Senate should not be zoned.”
However, a source said, “Senator Ndume has a vision of occupying that position and how it should be run. So, he rebels against any perceived infringement.”
RISING TENSION
This interplay of personal and institutional challenges reached a head during the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees, which many senators felt was being unduly rushed, forcing them to work extra time for a bonus which Akpabio unintentionally announced on live television, saying money would be sent to their account to enjoy their vacation, beginning on August 7, 2023.
By the time the Senate resumed from its long vacation in September, the tension had almost boiled over as speculations became rife about moves to impeach the Senate President and effect a change in the leadership. Allegations of Akpabio’s insensitivity to the demands of senators, side lining of some ranking senators in the headship of committees and the overbearing influence of President Tinubu filled the air.
Again, Ndume, as a principal officer, failed to hide his feelings. Speaking on the allowance in an interview with BBC House Service during the recess, he lashed out at Akpabio.
He said, among others, “He made a very wrong statement, and I warned him immediately that his comments were unbecoming of an elder. In fact, we are even planning to take drastic action against him if he continues making unguarded statements and acting as if we are kids.”
As these tangles continued in the Senate, supporters began to take sides, particularly with Senator Ndume, whom even the senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party could easily align with in making their voices felt. Something that Akpabio felt unbecoming of one of his officers. He did nothing visibly, said a source, he just bided his time. That time and day came on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
HOW THE POWER GAME PLAYED OUT ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12
Trouble began soon after the beginning of the day’s session when Senator Ali Ndume, representing APC, Borno South, raised a point of order to draw the attention of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to alleged procedural errors that were yet to be corrected.
According to Senator Ndume, a motion that was moved by Senator Sumaila Kawa, representing New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Kano South, on the need for re-opening the Nigeria-Niger border, had no official title, yet Akpabio allowed it to be debated.
Ndume drew attention to Order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules and requested that the Senate President allow the observed error for correction during the plenary.
He delivered his observation with a punch: “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 proceedings.
“Mr President, there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn.”
Akpabio recoiled on his seat and stopped Ndume from continuing his statement, saying he had ruled on issues that had been raised and they could not be revisited.
Not deterred, Ndume stood his ground and then raised another point of order, specifically, Order 54 to seek correction of the perceived error.
Another senator, Sunday Karimi, APC, Kogi West rose in defence of Ndume’s point of order by raising another point of order. Akpabio dropped the gavel and ruled him out of order.
Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, raised Order 16, which requires a substantive motion to be moved by any senator seeking to correct or review an earlier decision taken.
Ndume rose and said repeatedly, “This is the Senate, this is the Senate,” at which point the Deputy Senate President joined the fray.
Akpabio dropped the gavel twice, ruled him out of order without allowing him to exhaust his line of argument and asked the Clerk of the House to send him Order 54.
Infuriated, Ndume picked up his documents and stormed out of the Senate chamber.
Earlier during Thursday’s sitting, Ndume had strongly objected to what he considered abnormal in the passage of certain bills without formal reading and members’ contributions.
In this, he was supported by Senator Ogoshi Onawo, PDP, representing Nasarawa, who said, “Very sensitive bills are brought and are expected to be passed with the speed of light, which is not good for the country,” and turning towards Akpabio, added, “Sir, you are on the seat today; history will judge you that things like this are not good for this country.”
In a riposte, Akpabio said, “If the bills we pass are good for the country, history will judge me right. I don’t think we would come here to pass a bill that’s not good for the interest of Nigerians. So, your point of order is noted.”
To douse the tension in the Senate Akpabio had to rIse to the occasion and requested that his colleagues meet behind closed doors for further discussion.
WHAT THE NOTED SENATE ORDERS SAY
Order 51 first raised by Ndume, says: “A motion or an amendment may be withdrawn, at the request of the mover by leave of the Senate or Committee, before the commencement of debate. A motion or an amendment so withdrawn must be made again but in the case of motion, notice is required.
(2) “If an amendment has been proposed to a question, the original motion cannot be withdrawn until the amendment has been disposed of.”
Now, Order 54 (1) raised, again by Ndume, states: “Any senator deviating from the provisions of these rules may be immediately called to order by the President of the Senate, or by a senator rising to a point of order. A senator rising to a point of order shall simply direct attention to the part he desires to bring to notice and submit it to the President of the Senate or to Chairman for decision 54(2).
“When the question of the order has been stated, the senator who raised it shall resume his seat, and no other senator, except with the leave of the President of the Senate or Chairman shall rise until the President of the Senate or Chairman has decided the question, after which the senator or the Committee at the time the question was raised be entitled to proceed with his speech giving effect to the ruling from the Chair.”
Order 16 raised by Deputy Senate President, says: “When a matter of privilege at any time arises, the President shall, until the matter is disposed of, or unless the debate on a motion thereon is adjourned, suspend the consideration and decision of every other question: provided that precedence over other business shall not be given to any motion if, in the opinion of the Senate, a prima facie case of breach of privilege has not been made out or the matter has not been raised at the earliest opportunity.”
Clearly, there is no where it is stated in any of the orders that a senator raising a motion should be prevented from doing so, as the President of the Senate did to Ndume. Also, there is also no where it is stated that a senator who had raised a motion, should storm out of the session, as Ndume did.
Attempts to reach Senator Ndume through phone or personal contact failed. At the retreat, THEWILL correspondent made an unsuccessful attempt to get in contact with him. So too was Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Eseme Eyiboh.
Ajuri Ngelale was equally elusive as he would neither answer his phone nor reply to messages.
However, in a statement he issued in reply to Senator Elisha Abbo, who had earlier blamed but recanted his allegation that the President of the Senate was responsible for his sack by the Appeal Court, Eyiboh, said on Thursday that Akpabio harboured no ill-will towards any of his colleagues.
He said; “Senator Akpabio, for emphasis, has no ill will towards any of his distinguished colleagues and as he has said in the past, the embers of the leadership election have been buried and replaced by the fraternal bond of nation-building he shares with the overwhelming majority of senators.”
AKPABIO, NDUME EXPLAIN THEMSELVES
Expatiating on the senatorial face-off later, Senator Ndume said what happened at the Senate went against established parliamentary protocol as Akpabio interrupted him from completing his speech.
During an interview with BBC Hausa, Ndume said the motion being debated was a security issue that must involve the President.
“The closure of the border was not initiated by the President of Nigeria, but rather during his tenure as President of ECOWAS. As such, he has the authority to advocate on our behalf,” Ndume said.
In his response, Akpabio disclosed at the State House last week Thursday before jetting out to Akwa Ibom State to host the Senate Retreat, that disagreements might arise in the Senate, but the majority decision will ultimately prevail.
“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 that any arising disagreements are swiftly handled in closed sessions, ensuring that unity and solidarity are maintained.
He stressed the Senate’s commitment to the nation’s interests, saying, “We are politicians, no permanent hatred but permanent interest. That interest is the interest of the nation.”
How the permanent interest between Akpabio and Ndume play out in the coming days will be interesting to see.
About the Author
Amos Esele is the Deputy Editor of THEWILL Newspaper. He has over two decades of experience on the job.
