Senate: Ndume, Na’Allah, Alimikhena to resume as principal officers

Firstclass newsline gathered that three out of the four principal
officers of the Senate assumed office on Thursday after the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, read their nomination letters from their
respective zonal caucuses in the red chamber.
Saraki, at the resumed sitting of the federal parliamentarians, read
out the letters addressed to him by the APC senate caucuses from the
North East, North West and South South.
He said the North East Senate caucus had endorsed and nominated
Senator Ali Ndume as the Majority Leader; while the North West caucus
adopted Senator Bala Ibn Na'Allah as the Deputy Leader.
He added that the South South caucus members according to their own
letter, adopted Senator France Alimikhena as the deputy whip.
Saraki was however, silent on the Chief Whip because members of the
South West caucus which should produce a representative, did not write
any letter.
He subsequently asked the Sergeant – at – Arms to lead the three
principal officers to their respective seats and assume office
immediately.
Firstclass newsline learnt that the South West senators refused to
write any letter because they claimed that the party's decision as
contained in its letter, was sufficient.
Attempts by the senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial
District, Kabiru Marafa, to make the senate president read the letter
from the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie – Oyegun,
containing lists of the principal officers, was again, frustrated by
Saraki
Marafa had cited Senate Standing Order 28 (1) and Constitution point
of order Section 65, (1E), to drive home his arguments.
He said, "According to the provision, there should be a majority
leader of the Senate who should be a senator nominated from the party
with the highest number of senators.
"This point of order was raised yesterday and another colleague raised
another point of order distinguishing between the word, from and by,
which was used there. That is why I am joining it with order 65 (1d)
of the constitution.
"It says subject to the provisions of section 66 of the constitution.
A person shall be qualified for election as a member of the senate if
he or she is a member of a political party and sponsored by the
political party.
"Mr. President, there is a communication from the APC which is the
party with the majority representatives in the senate. However, for
reasons best known to you Mr. President, you declined to read it
yesterday (Wednesday ) on the floor of the senate. When your attention
was drawn to the communication from the party.
"The constitution provision just cited, clearly put the party ahead of
any other caucus from anywhere. Therefore, if the communication from
the party, can so be regarded, I suggest that you, Mr. President
cannot read any communication from any caucus because there is no
caucus that is bigger than the political party."
Marafa was immediately tackled by Senator Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central
), who urged the senate president to disregard his submissions because
the same issue raised by him had been ruled upon.
He said, "Senator Marafa raised the same order yesterday and the
Senate President ruled that the issue had been discussed and should
not be opened again. I don't know why the issue is being reopened.
This is contrary to the rules of the Senate.
"We are the highest law making institution in the country, if we
cannot observe our rules, we don't have rights to be making laws for
the country. Therefore I will like Mr. President to stand by the
ruling of yesterday that the issue had been settled.
"Secondly, the issue of leadership within the chamber is our own
responsibility as senators. We have been sponsored by political
parties to come to the senate. Nobody or law says the chairman of the
party should appoint the Senate President.
"The law clearly states that we, the senators should appoint our own
leaders within the chambers. This is the first time this type of
things will be happening in the senate since the return of democracy
in 1999. Caucuses have been nominating their leaders and I have been
participating."
Saraki, as expected, ruled Marafa out of order, stressing that he had
concluded on the issue already at Wednesday sitting.
He said, "Let me refer to order 53 (6) which states that it will be
out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which
the senate has come to a conclusion. This matter had already been
raised and ruled upon.
"Also order 25 (3, 8) which talks about interpretation of rules. On
this two issues, I will have to rule senator Marafa out of order."
Ndume, who addressed his colleagues, explained that his job schedule
included among others, leading the business of the senate; Managing
legislative schedule; and Liaising with committee chairmen.
He said, "I will not deceive myself. Every Senator is more than
qualified to lead the Senate. God normally chooses who he wants.
Leading the Senate means that the success recorded is not going to be
my own but for all of us."
Ndume, after the Senate had concluded its legislative business of the
day, announced an adjournment to July 21 to allow the ad-hoc
committees on review of senate finance and that of legislative agenda,
time to do their work.
Firstclassnewsline.net