- Safiu Kehinde
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has ordered periodic orientation especially for Senators who were declared by the courts.
Akpabio passed the order during the Red Chamber’s plenary session on Tuesday.
The order was borne out of last week’s clash between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Kogi lawmaker had on Thursday slammed Akpabio over seat arrangement which saw her relocated from her initial seat.
Natasha had vehemently protested over the development, accusing the Senate President of discrimination.
Revisiting the fiasco during yesterday’s plenary, Akpabio held that the seat arrangement is part of the provisions of the Senate rule book.
According to the Senate President, the order stated that lawmakers are allowed to sit anywhere but expected to speak from their designated seat which he claimed Natasha violated during his outburst.
Akpabio, however, faulted Natasha’s absence at the orientation programme due to court case.
“Even the first time the issue came up here, our distinguished sister was not even speaking from her seat.
“And that was when we tried to call her to order. I think part of the problem is when people come from court, court declares senators they missed orientation, the management of the National Assembly is hereby ordered to organize periodic orientation, particularly for senators who are midstreamers that don’t start when their colleagues started.” Akpabio said.
The Senate President also recounted how Natasha’s made contribution the day she was sworn in which was against the rule book.
While claiming not be against the Kogi lawmaker’s vibrancy, Akpabio, however, faulted her ignorance of the Senate’s procedures.
“I remembered this particular Senator on the day she was sworn in, raised her hand to speak. I was scared but I had to just recognize her. We just gave her the rule book.
“Part of what we have to you when you were sworn in is the standing order of the Senate. She hasn’t even open the book to know what she’s going to say.
“But the made a contribution on that day. I think two days later she brought a motion. There is nothing wrong in being vibrant. But there is a lot wrong when you don’t know anything about the procedure.” He said.