ABUJA — A last minute withdrawal of a motion seeking to get a parliamentary commendation for the Police for dislodging the Okija shrine, yesterday, threw the House of Representatives into confusion for more than 30 minutes after some members insisted that the motion be allowed for debate.
Mr. Ajah Mba, sponsor of the motion entitled: “Commending the Nigeria Police on the Okija Episode” informed the speaker that he was withdrawing the motion because of intense pressure from his colleagues from the South-East.
The prayers sought by the motion included the commendation of the Police for arresting and exposing the Okija ritualists as well as urging the police to raid other such ritual shrines across the country.
The motion also sought to invite the Anambra State government to take over the forests hosting the shrines. But when he was invited to move the motion, Mr. Ajah said he was withdrawing it because he had been under pressure from his colleagues from the South-East to do so. “I am only three years in politics and I am still learning. Since this morning when I came into the chambers, I have been under tremendous pressure to withdraw this motion by my colleagues from the South-East. I, therefore, ask that the Bill be withdrawn, Mr. Speaker,” Mr. Ajah told the House.
But rather than calm frayed nerves, his comments drew the ire of his colleagues from the South-East and members from other parts of the country who were bent on having the motion debated.
Mr. Mao Ohuabunwa, who was the leader of the South-East caucus in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, said though the sponsor of the motion was at liberty to withdraw his motion, he must clarify who mounted “immense pressure” on him, arguing that since some members of the House of Representatives would not have come to the House if they had not gone to the Okija shrine to swear oath, it would have been a good opportunity to debate the motion.
His opinion was supported by another member from the South-East, Independence Ogunlewe, who opined that the sponsor of the motion must be made to “clarify his statement in order not to give a wrong impression about the South-East and its people.”
At this point, the deputy House leader who is also the leader of the South-East caucus, Mr Gilbert Nnaji, waded in by informing the speaker that since the sponsor of the motion had changed his mind and wanted to withdraw the motion, he should be allowed to do so.
His suggestion was greeted with a shouts of no! no! from members. Mr. Halims Agoda, quoting Order 8 Rule 13 (1) of the House rule, informed the speaker that a motion already listed on the order paper was no longer the property of the sponsor but that of the House and as such it could only be withdrawn when the leave of the House was sought and granted. Sensing that his mission might not be accomplished, the sponsor of the motion requested that it be stood down till another time.
The request was granted. Speaking with journalists after yesterday’s session, Mr. Ajah insisted that he was pressurised into dropping the motion but vowed that it would be brought back some other time.
