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Drama, as Obanikoro Defects to PDP
�AD caucus demands resignation From Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja, 12.17.2004
There was drama on the floor of the Senate yesterday when Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (AD, Lagos Central) formally defected into the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and cross-carpeted to the majority party sitting row. But in a swift reaction, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) caucus of the National Assembly, led by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, gave Obanikoro 30 days to vacate his seat or face legal action. The drama on the floor began when Senate President Adolphus Wabara, in the course of the announcement segment of the sitting, said he had "more or less a love letter" written to him by one of "our colleagues." As Wabara made to read the letter, Senator Tunde Ogbeha (PDP, Kogi West) interjected that "since it's a season of letters, please read it," with Wabara also replying that "it's a very important letter". However, as the Senate President made to begin reading the letter, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (PDP, Ogun Central), said "the letter has already leaked," and Ogbeha again added that "we are in a season of leakages." In the letter entitled "Notice of Defection to PDP," Obanikoro notified his colleagues of his resignation from AD because the party "has painfully remained a party troubled by unmitigated crisis resulting from factional interest. The party (AD) has been divided along factional lines, which has not only weakened it, but has glaringly contributed to its instability. "Beginning with the Yussuf Mamman/Abdulkadir saga to the Abdulkadir/Koleosho saga and later Abdulkadir's resignation, which he later recalled, and finally the recent Akande/Akinfenwa faction, the protracted factional crisis the party is embroiled in has impacted so negatively on the polity that today no faction of AD is recognised by INEC. "In the light of the foregoing, and giving the endless confrontation between the Lagos State and the Federal Government, which has largely led to the deterioration of infrastructure and consequently put my constituents at disadvantage, and whereby those who have contrary views and opinions are alienated and unjustly victimised in the party, I have decided to join the undisputed all embracing and largest political party in Africa, the PDP. "Thus I hereby cease to be a member of the Alliance for Democracy." As Wabara concluded the letter amid clapping and catcalls by PDP Senators, Afikuyomi, the Deputy Minority Whip, walked into the chamber in an unusual dress of complete native "agbada" with a matching cap in gold colours and raised two fingers in victory sign. Before he (Afikuyomi) took his seat on the minority front row, Senator Sule Yari Gandi (ANPP, Sokoto) asked if Obanikoro was "decamping to (President Olusegun) Obasanjo or Audu Ogbeh's faction of the PDP." At this juncture, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora (AD, Lagos East), invoked Order 56 of the Senate Standing Rule in a bid to halt the castigation of AD by PDP Senators, an order Wabara sustained. While this was ongoing, Senate Majority Leader, Senator Dalhatu Tafida, Majority Whip, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, his deputy, Senator Clement Awoyelu, among others went to the minority row to lead Obanikoro, who was already packing his items, to the majority row. But Mamora stood in their way, arms spread wide. He was, however, overwhelmed as Obanikoro was led out and made to seat beside Senator Ken Nnamani as the occupant, Senator Ngaji, was absent. Wabara then invited Obanikoro to the Chair for a handshake accompanied by a warm embrace amid clapping by PDP Senators. After this, the Senate President said: "Senator Mamora, you attempted to stop Senator Obanikoro from leaving his seat." "I did not attempt to stop him but I was trying as a friend to save my brother from what Senator Badamaci Maccido (ANPP, Sokoto) described as political suicide," Mamora replied. Senator Lawali Shuaibu (ANPP, Zamfara), however, raised the question of the faction that Obanikoro has defected to recalling that "in the last two days, meetings were held to bring the two warring factions together," while Gandi interjected that "Obanikoro has shown his true colour after dilly-dallying for a while." Obanikoro then tried to invoke Order 14 (Privileges) but Lawali countered that, "he, (Obanikoro) can't be recognised because he is not on his seat. It has not been announced that that is his seat. He can't move any motion on an illegal seat," Obanikoro asked, "Why are you exhibiting this kind of anger? I thought you are my friend." But Shuaibu maintained that "Rule 11 (2) is sacrosanct on the issue of seat" while Obanikoro retorted that "Lawali Shuaibu has told me that what I'm doing is turn-by-turn." Shuaibu demanded that the Senate President should "rule in spite of rumour mongering. Also, rule that lying is punishable under oath." But Obanikoro again stated, "I didn't say somebody told me. We discussed it." Shuaibu also added that "my word is a word of honour in this chamber. So take it from me that I'm here and alive. I never discussed that with him." In his ruling, Wabara noted that "you recall that when Obanikoro moved from left to the right, and I mean to the right place, he did not move alone. Mamora would testify to that. Senator Afikuyomi, (sitting on Obanikoro's former seat) please take your seat. He (Obanikoro) was led to his seat as allocated by the Senate Leader and Senate Deputy Chief Whip. Senator Obanikoro is sitting on the seat allocated to him. I therefore rule you out of order." At this point, Obanikoro now invoked Order 14 (Privileges) to make personal explanation rather than the appropriate Order 43. He read a document containing his reasons for quitting AD while Afikuyomi and Mamora flipped through the Rule Book. Wabara sighting Afikuyomi said: "Don't look into the Rule Book because whatever you bring, I would rule you out of order." Nonetheless, Afikuyomi raised a "point of order! Point of Order, Mr. President" but he was ignored by the Chair. When Obanikoro concluded reading the document, Wabara recognised Afikuyomi's point of order in which he argued that the privilege of the Senate was being breached, noting that Obanikoro should have come via Order 43 which is for personal explanation. In ruling Afikuyomi out of order, Wabara said: "I appreciate your frustrations. He came through Order 14 to use his personal privilege to explain. You refer to Order 42, yes, and yes, I don't know what you mean. I rule you out of order." Obanikoro told newsmen later that Lagos State "has gradually become a hotbed of factional politics, culminating in an endless conflict with the Federal Government. This protracted confrontation has brought about a punishing distraction and neglect of Lagos State by the Federal Government. "Giving that well over 50 per cent of the state infrastructure are Federal Government interest, I believe a politics of confrontation and grandstanding on key local and national issues will not move the state along the lines of progress," he said. But Afikuyomi, who also addressed the press described Obanikoro's defection as "one of the biggest personal birthday gifts that have been given to me today (yesterday).� "The defection of Obanikoro to the PDP, a party in crisis, where the centre would not hold, does not come as a surprise. You would agree with me that with the kind of letter writing we have witnessed has been the unleashing of anarchy on Nigeria. How can somebody jump from the peace of AD to the frying pan of PDP? "But finally, the man in the "pudah" has been unveiled. He has made denials that he is not leaving but what did we see? It is wrong of him to say that he is leaving because he doesn't want to confront the Federal Government. We should distinguish between political opportunism and political reality. "How can anybody compare the performance and successes of the AD government in Lagos State with that of PDP whereas since 1914 when Nigeria was amalgamated this is the first time that price of kerosene has gone beyond the price of petrol," he asserted. Afikuyomi maintained that Obanikoro's defection would not be a source of distraction because "since 1999, nobody is joining them now that has never been with them. Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe (Minister of Works), Senator Wahab Dosunmu and Obanikoro all supported Funsho Williams but we triumphed. We went to general election and triumphed. During 2003 elections, Ogunlewe and Dosunmu defected but we still defeated them. AD would never surrender Lagos. The people of Lagos are AD, progressives and cosmopolitan.� "It beats one's imagination that some few people would say everybody should go and join PDP with its dire tyrannical consequences," he added. Afikuyomi declared that "Obanikoro has 30 days to resign because he is now exercising an illegal mandate and failure to do so, appropriate legal measures would be initiated against him. Lagos State has taken the Federal Government to court five different times and we have never lost on any matter." Mamora, who addressed newsmen before the Senate sitting said "in spite of Obanikoro's alleged misgivings, he would have been better off staying with the party that took him to this political level.� "Going into the PDP, a sinking party, that is desperately seeking for undertakers having squandered all its goodwill if there was any ab initio, a party in which each leader is struggling for the other's jugular, I hope that my good friend and colleague does not along the line regret his action," he said. Mamora, who would later get Obanikoro's commendation for advice and encouragement while in AD, noted that "whether we like it or not, Nigeria must be rescued from the Frankestein monster that has destroyed everything around it and would destroy itself at the end.� "But there is a moral aspect because we are all holding elective offices on proxy, in trust and the moment you jettison the party, you should have the courage to resign since what has happened is a betrayal of trust which would lead to a moral crisis. The honourable thing to do is to leave the office you have been elected when you are leaving the party," he added. But when confronted with the issue of resignation on moral grounds, Obanikoro said: "I'm not a pastor. I'm a politician. If you want to preach morality, you can talk to the Pope. I didn't get elected because I campaigned that I would act like a Pope."
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