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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Daily Independent
Online.
* Wabara survives impeachment, probe By Chesa Chesa and Adetutu Folasade-Koyi National
Assembly Correspondents, Simply put: the man
survived. The expression etched on the face of Senate President Adolphus Wabara
was unmistakable, having walked the gauntlet of his colleagues for days and was
nearly pushed over the precipice. Legislative drama it
was indeed Tuesday at the National Assembly as hordes of curious newsmen and
members of the public watched the anti-climax of a two-week muscle flexing to
impeach him. But, he survived the hoopla. Instead of a motion to
impeach him or probe his financial dealings, senators unanimously endorsed a
motion setting up a Systems Reforms Committee to �study and recommend a working
mechanism for the Senate� and to correct the �defects and anomalies in (its)
administrative machinery,� which were blamed for the gridlock. At the public gallery
were the National Chairman of the People�s Democratic Party (PDP), Audu Ogbeh,
and a coterie of other national working committee (NWC) members � who came to
watch, to plead and to instill party discipline and rally for an exhausted
Wabara. The motion to spare
him was moved by Senate Leader Dalhatu Tafida. It came under Orders 42 and 52
of Senate Rules on Matter of Urgent National Importance and resolved that the
committee should report back to plenary in a week. Members of the panel
are drawn two each from the six geo-political zones: Sani Sami and Bello Gwarzo
(North West); Baba Tella and Abba Aji (North East); Suleiman Ajadi and John
Danboyi (North Central); Gbenga Ogunniya and Abiola Ajimobi (South West); Ittak
Bob Ekarika and James Manager (South South); Ama Iwuagwu and Emmanuel Agboti
(South East). They are to elect
their chairman and secretary at the inaugural meeting. Wabara and other
leaders of the Senate would be bound by whatever recommendations the committee
comes up with and adopted by the whole house. The motion also
resolved that senators �do stand together, united in reforming the mechanism
for the utilisation of human and material resources available to the Senate and
all its committees.� According to the
motion, the rebels met severally to redeem a battered Senate image and Wabara
was subjected to detailed scrutiny over the allegations against him �to which
he exhaustively explained himself.� The scrutiny revealed
�various inadequacies and anomalies that bordered on defective accounting and
administrative procedures for the management and disposition of the budgetary
resources of the Senate.� Besides, �the Senate
president did apologise for such lapses in the administrative procedures and in
his administrative style as a presiding officer.� The saving grace was that
�the executive session endorsed the positions of the various zonal caucuses to
accept the apology.� Subdued Wabara put the
question to vote and it was okayed by a resounding �ayes� without a single
�nay�. Before he was let off the hook, plenary � shut down for a week �
reconvened at PDP determination to
retain him was shown by deploying its top echelon to lobby the lawmakers. Apart from Ogbeh, the
team included National Secretary Vincent Ogbulafor, National Vice Chairman
(South East) Fidelis Ozichukwu� and
Deputy National Chairman (South) Shuaibu Oyedokun. Also on it were
Venatius Ikem, Bibi Farouk, Josephine Anenih and Presidential Adviser on
National Assembly Matters, Florence Ita-Giwa. After the Senate began
sitting in camera, the visitors remained in the National Assembly complex.
Shortly after, Solomon Lar arrived but left before the session was over. Later,
when the gallery was opened to the public, the team filed into the chambers,
having waited the entire three hours the session lasted. As Wabara announced
that the Senate had agreed to set up an ad-hoc committee, Ita-Giwa raised her
hands to the heavens, in gratitude, and broke into a broad smile. Others simply
nodded. Ogbeh and his group
left the chambers five minutes after the names of the committee members were
announced. But Senator Tunde
Ogbeha, a member of the G-86 senators, expressed dissatisfaction with the
resolution to set up the panel. �I am not completely
satisfied. However, in the spirit of democracy, dialogue has prevailed. We have
considered the way in which the solution would sanitise the Senate and ensure
that it is run the way it should be; that senators should be able to take
decisions on issues. The G-86 senators, which have now
grown to 90, called for correction of these lapses.� Asked if the mutineers
would still revisit issues that led to the call for Wabara�s removal and a
probe of Senate finance, Ogbeha replied: � If the committee is to recommend
reforms, they have to look at the past to be able to come up with the reforms.�
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the membership of
the committee. �It is well accepted because zones and parties are represented.
And the Senate approved the membership because we broke into zonal groupings
and nominated two members each.� |
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