Need for sanctity in the Red Chamber

Contrary to the widespread belief that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was suspended over his aversion to the election reordering bill of the Senate; the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki had made it known that the Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district was indeed actually suspended for taking the Senate institution to court.

The unbecoming act of taking the Senate to court according Senator Saraki had smacked off gross indiscipline which should not be condoned by the upper legislative institution.

Senator Omo-Agege who was billed to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over his comments on the amendment of Electoral Act, 2018, had sued the Senate to in a bid to stop his appearance.

Saraki had been particularly displeased with Senator Omo-Agege for taking internal matters of the senate to court. The Senate President harped on the importance of preserving the institution of the Senate and the National Assembly as a whole.

Saraki therefore clarified that any issue that bordered on the sanctity of the Senate must be dealt with in strict compliance with the rules of the institution.

It would be recalled that Senator Omo-Agege was suspended for 90 legislative days on Thursday 12th, 2018. Although, Saraki had said during the plenary that it was regrettable that the senate was constrained to take such decisive action of suspending one of its members.

The Senate President equally spoke against the way and manner in which Omo-Agege and other senators have been conducting the activities of the Parliamentary Support Group for President Buhari. Saraki lamented that the group truly lacked sincerity as displayed already in its actions and inaction. The Senate President posited that he was actually the right person to be the chairman of such a group in the National Assembly.

Saraki had further added that the formation and chairmanship of the group were done and intended to present some senators in a good light as well as portraying others in bad lights.

Saraki, however, made it known that the duration of Senator Omo-Agege’s suspension as recommended by the Ethics Committee had been amended and reduced to 90 legislative days out of compassion, stating that activities of the Parliamentary Support Group must be suspended forthwith and the case in court must be withdrawn.

“We must send out a strong message. There are some people who are fanatics and such actions will expose a lot of people and allies,” he said.

Implication of the 90 legislative days suspension for Senator Omo-Agege is that he will not participate in legislative activities till 2019.

Femi Salako, trianglemagazine8@gmail.com