Senate President Godswill Akpabio has rejected any speculations about a brewing crisis within the upper legislative chamber, emphasizing that disagreements within the Parliament are a natural occurrence in any democratic framework.
This clarification comes in the wake of an incident that unfolded on Tuesday, where a shouting match occurred, revealing a potential rift between two prominent figures, Akpabio and the Senate’s Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, on the Senate chamber floor.
Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Senator Akpabio reassured the nation that the Parliament comprises mature and dedicated individuals who are committed to collaborating with the Executive to advance the country’s interests.
He stated, “Sometimes, you disagree to agree. We are all working in unison. There is no issue at all. Even if some members have varying perspectives on Senate matters, it is the majority decision that will ultimately prevail, as is the norm in parliamentary proceedings.”
Akpabio continued, “Rest assured, we will never resort to chair-throwing. The Senate is composed of seasoned individuals, so when disagreements arise, we promptly convene in closed sessions to resolve them amicably, emerging with unity and consensus.”
Highlighting the essence of politics, he underscored, “We are politicians, guided by no enduring animosity but rather by permanent national interests. Our primary objective is to support the President and his administration through effective legislation and oversight, thus propelling the nation towards progress. This is what we have been doing, and it remains our unwavering commitment.”
Akpabio indicated his visit to the State House was to inform the President about the forthcoming 10th Assembly retreat, slated to occur in Akwa Ibom State. He sought the President’s support for ensuring representation at the event, which the President graciously endorsed.
He said, “I conveyed some of the agenda items we plan to address during the retreat, such as task reform and strategies to bolster revenue generation to facilitate the President’s work for the Nigerian populace.”
Akpabio also informed the President of an upcoming development, stating, “The Senate will temporarily relocate to Akwa Ibom for the next four days, rendering it unavailable in Abuja. Subsequently, I will personally travel to Angola to participate in the internal parliamentary union. Thus, it may be about nine days before I can meet with the President again. Hence, I felt it necessary to provide this update.”
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