Senate: Ndume, Na'Allah, Alimikhena assume office as principal officers

Three out of the four principal officers of the Senate assumed office on Thursday after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read their nomination letters from their respective zonal caucuses in the red chamber.

Saraki, at the resumed sitting of the federal parliamentarians, read out the letters addressed to him by the APC senate caucuses from the North East, North West and South South.

He said the North East Senate caucus had endorsed and nominated Senator Ali Ndume as the Majority Leader; while the North West caucus adopted Senator Bala Ibn Na'Allah as the Deputy Leader.

He added that the South South caucus members according to their own letter, adopted Senator France Alimikhena as the deputy whip.

Saraki was however, silent on the Chief Whip because members of the South West caucus which should produce a representative, did not write any letter.

He subsequently asked the Sergeant - at - Arms to lead the three principal officers to their respective seats and assume office immediately.

Attempts by the senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Kabiru Marafa, to make the senate president read the letter from the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie - Oyegun, containing lists of the principal officers, was again, frustrated by Saraki.

Marafa had cited Senate Standing Order 28 (1) and Constitution point of order Section 65, (1E), to drive home his arguments.

He said, 'According to the provision, there should be a majority leader of the Senate who should be a senator nominated from the party with the highest number of senators.

'This point of order was raised yesterday and another colleague raised another point of order distinguishing between the word, from and by, which was used there. That is why I am joining it with order 65 (1d) of the constitution.

'It says subject to the provisions of section 66 of the constitution. A person shall be qualified for election as a member of the senate if he or she is a member of a political party and sponsored by the political party.

'Mr. President, there is a communication from the APC which is the party with the majority representatives in the senate. However, for reasons best known to you Mr. President, you declined to read it yesterday (Wednesday ) on the floor of the senate. When your attention was drawn to the communication from the party.

'The constitution provision just cited, clearly put the party ahead of any other caucus from anywhere. Therefore, if the communication from the party, can so be regarded, I suggest that you, Mr. President cannot read any communication from any caucus because there is no caucus that is bigger than the political party.'

Marafa was immediately tackled by Senator Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central ), who urged the senate president to disregard his submissions because the same issue raised by him had been ruled upon.

He said, 'Senator Marafa raised the same order yesterday and the Senate President ruled that the issue had been discussed and should not be opened again. I don't know why the issue is being reopened. This is contrary to the rules of the Senate.

'We are the highest law making institution in the country, if we cannot observe our rules, we don't have rights to be making laws for the country. Therefore I will like Mr. President to stand by the ruling of yesterday that the issue had been settled.

'Secondly, the issue of leadership within the chamber is our own responsibility as senators. We have been sponsored by political parties to come to the senate. Nobody or law says the chairman of the party should appoint the Senate President.

'The law clearly states that we, the senators should appoint our own leaders within the chambers. This is the first time this type of things will be happening in the senate since the return of democracy in 1999. Caucuses have been nominating their leaders and I have been participating.'

Saraki, as expected, ruled Marafa out of order, stressing that he had concluded on the issue already at Wednesday sitting.

He said, 'Let me refer to order 53 (6) which states that it will be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the senate has come to a conclusion. This matter had already been raised and ruled upon.

'Also order 25 (3, 8) which talks about interpretation of rules. On this two issues, I will have to rule senator Marafa out of order.'

Ndume, who addressed his colleagues, explained that his job schedule included among others, leading the business of the senate; Managing legislative schedule; and Liaising with committee chairmen.

He said, 'I will not deceive myself. Every Senator is more than qualified to lead the Senate. God normally chooses who he wants. Leading the Senate means that the success recorded is not going to be my own but for all of us.'

Ndume, after the Senate had concluded its legislative business of the day, announced an adjournment to July 21 to allow the ad-hoc committees on review of senate finance and that of legislative agenda, time to do their work. Punch