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Senators fault
move to recall colleagues
By Adetutu
Folasade-Koyi
and Paul Mumeh,
Abuja
Moves by Adamawa and Kebbi states to
recall Senators Jubril Aminu (Adamawa Central) and Usman Sani Sami (Kebbi
South) was on Wednesday faulted by their colleagues in the Senate who have
mandated a standing committee to investigate the purported reasons for the
move.
As a first step, the Senate has mandated
its Committee on Federal Character and Governmental Affairs led by Senator Ken
Nnamani to liaise with governors of the two states, to ascertain the sins of
the lawmakers.
Some senators however described the
recall process as an empty threat and an unnecessary waste of taxpayers’
money. While Aminu was accused of anti-party activities, Sami was accused of
indolence in the Senate.
In a motion moved by Senators Sule Yari
Gandi and Abubakar Sodangi, citing Order 15 and 16 of the Senate Standing
Rules, the former drew the attention to unwarranted sponsored attacks, threats
and intimidation on Aminu and Sami.
They prayed the Senate to express
unflinching support and solidarity with Aminu and Sami; to express its concern
and condemn the subterranean activities of those sponsored elements, who appear
to be enemies of democracy; and to express its satisfaction on the performance
and legislative output of the two senators.
Senator Akin Olasunkanmi’s motion
for a closed session to deliberate on the matter was rejected, while chairman
of the Committee on Education, Senator Ibrahim, said that the committee could
not afford to lose the services of Aminu.
Responding to questions from Senate
President Adolphus Wabara whether it was true there were moves to recall them,
Aminu and Sami answered in the affirmative.
According to Aminu, “it is true
that there are moves to recall me. The governor is right now holding a meeting
with people to recall me. I heard that they have concluded plans. I tried to
hold meetings with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus of my
senatorial district, but I was not allowed to do that.
There was no avenue for me to talk to
anybody, to state my side of the case.
“In simple words, what is happening
is simple ambition and personality clash. As to your question, yes, Mr.
President, I am being threatened. Those who were called from my seven local
government areas refused to come out to sign for my recall. Some were given
N1000 to recall me, yet they refused,” the former Minister of Education
added.
In his words, Sami told the Senate that
he heard about moves for his recall through the media. “I heard it on the
radio and from some of my constituents,” he said.
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