By Ayo Yusuf
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, has explained that contrary to reports that he walked out on Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, he had only left the chambers to go and say his prayers.
News reports had shown Senator Ndume storming out of the chamber after an encounter with Senate President Akpabio, on Tuesday.
At the plenary, the Borno senator had sought the Senate’s attention over what he felt were contraventions of the Senate rule by invoking a point of order to call attention to “procedural infringements” in the chamber.
When Senator Akpabio did not allow him to complete his argument, the Chief Whip walked out of the chamber thus raising questions about his relationship with the Senate President.
During an interview with the BBC Hausa Service however, Senator Ndume said he had not walked out because he was angry with the Senate President over his inability to contribute to a debate on the closing of Nigeria’s borders.
He explained that the situation resulted “when Senator Kawu Sumaila proposed a motion which he said was of urgent national importance on the closure of the border between Nigeria and Niger.
“At first, it was argued that the motion was not urgent, but the president of the Senate let him finish what he wanted to say.
“After hearing the motion, it was agreed that since it is related to security, it should be suspended.”
Senator Ndume said that he wanted to explain the significance of the motion to the chamber, but the Senate President denied him the opportunity to speak.
According to him, “I would like to clarify that the motion, although impactful, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Senate.
“The closure of the border was not initiated by the President of Nigeria, but rather during his tenure as President of ECOWAS. As such, he has the authority to advocate on our behalf.
“In order to address this matter, it is imperative to involve the President of our nation, but I was not afforded the opportunity to convey this message.
“While this was happening, it coincided with the time of prayer, prompting my departure.
“Consequently, my colleagues misconstrued my exit, and the journalists changed the meaning of my exit.”
