Yar’Adua: We stand by our resolution – Senate

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 February 2010 20:32 Wednesday, 03 February 2010 16:01

Written by John Alechenu

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There was disquiet within the Senate Chambers on Tuesday as senators raised objections to insinuations that it has foreclosed the consideration of other options over the Yar’Adua debacle.

Trouble began when Senator Uche Chukwumerije raised Order 15 of the Senate Standing Order 2007 (as Amended) to draw the attention of the Senate to a breach of his privilege.

He said a statement credited to the Senate Spokesman, Mr. Ayogu Eze, to the effect that the Senate was not contemplating impeaching President Yar’Adua gave an impression that Senate had foreclosed debate on a matter yet to be considered.

While making reference to publications in the media, Chukwumerije said “That position (as espoused by Eze) gives no room for any further actions by the senate.

“But in the response of the Senate’s spokesman in the publications of yesterday which I referred to, the information, which is very new to me, was given that the senate has foreclosed all options.

“This publication implying that we have foreclosed all options has exposed the Senate to ridicule because senate never discussed any options.

“And secondly, public view on the matter has exposed senate to ridicule.

“I, as a member of the Senate, feel embarrassed, feel diminished by this discussion.

“I believe that the issue involved here is so fundamental that I will ask for a closed session for us to discuss the issue in order to avoid further damage to the image of the senate and the psyche of most of our members.

The President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark, however, turned down this request.

He explained that there was no need to go into closed door when what was said behind closed doors becomes public even before the session ends.

Commenting on the issue, former Enugu State governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, said he appreciated the zeal with which the spokesman did his job but he had his reservations.

He said, “What we are practicing is constitutional democracy.

“The issue of Senate spokesperson is local and may be specific to the Nigerian democratic experiment.

“What we are practicing is constitutional democracy which is synonymous with what they have in America.

“I have not heard of senate spokesperson in America Senate.

“I believe the senate speaks for itself. I admire the enthusiasm and the zeal that Senator Ayogu Eze is bringing on board.

“But I don’t think that the Senate should go back and forth. The Senate should speak through its resolutions.”

Mark also used the occasion to dispel insinuations that the Senate was considering to impeach both the President and the Vice President to advance the cause of ambitious men within the leadership.

He said “The entire publication, massive and catchy headlines given to all this is just sheer mischief.

“The fact of the matter is that we didn’t discuss the impeachment of the Mr. President and Mr. vice president.

“They got a written paper from the senate spokesman and decided to put their own headlines and do their analysis, there is very little we can do about it.

“Let me use this opportunity to clarify it that the entire publication was just based on mischief, starting with the one that gave the headline as if the leadership wanted Mr. president and Mr. vice president impeached because there were some ambitious men in the leadership, it was total nonsense and that is what started it all.

“So I think that this matter should rest at this point with all these explanation.

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