ABUJA — THE Senate yesterday unanimously removed Senator Kassim Isa Oyofo as the Senate chief whip and replaced him with Senator Udoma Udo Udoma upon the resolution of the South-South caucus of the Senate.Yesterday’s action was a climax of the agitation against Oyofo by Senators from the South-South who had accused him of perceived indifference, if not actions against the interest of the zone which gave him the office.In a swift reaction, Senator Oyofo told Vanguard on telephone that his removal was null and void as he asserted that the principle of justice which required that he be given a fair hearing was not followed. Besides, he claimed that the position was zoned to Edo State.The move against Oyofo as exclusively reported by Vanguard yesterday, was triggered by his strident opposition to the Petroleum Act amendment bill which sought among others to compel oil companies to establish a minimum level of social responsibility to their host communities.
13 of the 18 Senators from the zone signed the resolution seeking his removal. Senators Oserhenmien Osunbor (PDP, Edo Central), Patrick Osakwe (PDP, Delta), Gregory Ngaji (PDP, Cross River) were not around and did not sign the resolution. The only other Senator from the zone present who did not agree to the removal was Senator Felix Ibru (PDP, Delta Central).
The move against Oyofo was perfected in the Maitama residence of one Senator from the zone on Wednesday night and executed on the Senate floor as the Senate rounded up deliberations yesterday.As the Senate was about rounding up deliberations, Senator David Brigidi (PDP, Bayelsa) had quietly walked up to the podium and laid the resolution of the zone written on a piece of paper to remove Oyofo before the Senate President, Adolphus Wabara.After the last issue on the order paper was concluded and as the Senate President sought to adjourn the Senate, Brigidi reminded Senator Wabara to read out the announcement. Senator Wabara then did some show of feigning ignorance of the announcement, but following the persistence of the Senators, the Senate President read out the announcement.The first announcement reffered to the decision of 13 of the 18 Senators from the zone to remove Oyofo from his office which he occupied on the platform of the South-South.
The second announcement referred to the decision of the caucus to replace him with Senator Udoma.Senator Wabara pleaded severally with the South-South Senators for a rethink, indeed recollecting his own not to distant problems with Senators during which the specter of impeachment cast a shadow around his leadership of the Senate.
His persuasion did not move the Senators as Senator Brigidi persistently reminded the Senate President that Oyofo had lost the confidence of the caucus.Senator Ibru briefly interjected pleading with his colleagues to withdraw the issue saying that the problems should be settled as a family, but he was respectfully reminded by Brigidi that they had told him on Wednesday of their determination to sack Oyofo. Oyofo briefly made a supplication for fair hearing, but his plea was unheeded as Senator John Azuta Mbata (PDP, Rivers) affirmed that democratic culture was for the majority to have their way.Senator Mbata thus urged the Senate President to immediately put the question saying that the 13 Senators who authored the resolution were insistent.
Upon the seeming determination of the Senators, the Senate President tried a last minute technicality to save Oyofo, as he noted that the request of the South-South Senators was not properly brought as a motion.Upon his comment, Senator Mbata who all while had been mobilizing and had not sat on his seat, quickly rushed to his seat to move the motion that Senator Oyofo be removed as Senate Chief Whip and replaced by Senator Udoma.The motions were unanimously carried by the Senate.Responding to the development yesterday, Senator Oyofo told Vanguard that the action of the Senate was null and void affirming that the principle of fair hearing was not allowed in the case. “I expected that my accusers should have given me a fair hearing and at least told me what I have done.”
