Counter queries flew like missiles.
Mao Ohuabunwa from Abia State was particularly riled. The House, he cautioned, should not be misled into any matter that was not compatible with the culture of the country peoples - whatever that means.
But then, Ohuabunwa added a twist to his argument, which much have strung some honourable into momentary speechlessness: Some lawmakers who were in the heat of the row (and even outside it) would not have made it to the National Assembly, if they had not patronised places like Okija.
The deputy leader, Gilbert Nnaji, who is also the leader of the South-South caucus, pleaded with the members to allow Ajah withdraw the motion since he had indicated intention to do so. But another member from Imo State, Independence Ogunnewe, wasn't satisfied with the level of debate so far. According to him, the pressure, which Ajah referred to, was localised in a particular place and he (Ajah) should be given a chance to explain.
Halims Agoda from Delta State arguing along the same line, said the mover of the motion, in line with rule 13(1), could not be allowed to withdraw the motion unless it was approved by the House. His position was supported by the chairman of the Rules and Business Committee, Ita Enang. This, again, created an uproar with most members urging the speaker to put the question to vote.
Apparently sensing that those pushing for a debate on the motion were more in number and might have the upper hand in the event of voting, and considering the sensitivity of the issue, the speaker advised the mover to just step down the motion. And Ajah did. It was then Ajah made his confession, that he was a new hand in the game of politics. That humble admission changed the tone and mood of the session: the chamber exploded in laughter.
Also yesterday, the House passed a motion empowering the committee on environment to investigate water pollution in different parts of the country. The resolution followed a motion moved by Fancy Akeem Arole, from Lagos State, that an estimated 400,000 cubic metres of water from wells and boreholes in Lagos per day are polluted by effluents from different factories. After some amendments from some members, the House resolved among other things that the Federal Government should compel all agencies responsible for environmental matters to sit up.
Meanwhile, as investigations into activities of Ogwugwu shrine continues, indigenes of Okija community in Lagos have lauded its raid by the police.
They described the development as a "mighty deliverance and an act of God."
"We have been under bondage for too long, but thank God for the great deliverance and the community will never be the same again," an indigene, Mr. Ifeanyi Atuenyi, publisher of Parmanews magazine, said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atuenyi, who spoke on Wednesday at the launch of his book "Your Best Pathway For Life" said that the destruction of the shrine was a welcome development for the community.
"We have been under some form of spiritual attacks, but thank God who has now delivered our people from the burden of evil that have beclouded us for many years.
"I am from that area, including this large number of my kinsmen, we have received the greatest deliverance, we have suffered a lot of evil forces from that shrine, thank God for the mighty deliverance that has now come our way, God used the police authority to save our people," he said.
Atuenyi dispelled the notion that the entire community was enmeshed in the activity of the shrine, adding that since "the evil spirit in our place has been uprooted and we are happy for it, other shrines should be dismantled."
Also speaking, another Okija indigene, Mr. Mark Azoji, said the shrine had brought negative publicity to the community but stressed that the community had contributed to the development of Anambra State.
"We have prominent indigenes from Okija that have excelled in different spheres of life in the country, but the shrine is part of the culture of the people that has been misused and abused," he said.
Commenting on the book, Atuenyi, a pharmacist, described it as "a small dream that started in a small way but has now grown beyond my widest imaginations."
