The leadership of the National Assembly, Tuesday, adjourned plenary to mourn the passing away of Hon. Haruna Maitala and Hon. Aliyu Lere, who were members of the House of Representatives until their death.
Addressing the floor after its resumption from the Easter recess, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said that the lower chamber will adjourn plenary for the rest of the week.
He however said the adjournment will not affect the committee.
Speaking further, the Speaker stated that Hon. Maitala died after returning from an official assignment to the ECOWAS parliament.
He added that the late Plateau Lawmaker bids the world farewell on his way to attend his son’s wedding in Jos.
Moreover, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila also described the death of Hon. Lere, as unfortunate.
He recalled the late lawmaker challenged his election victory in court for close two years before he was sworn in into the chamber.
His statement reads, “He was in court for almost two years before the court declared him winner. We recently inaugurated him, only for him to die a few weeks later. He was a gentleman and committed to the development of his constituency.
“When the House resumes next week Tuesday, we will be holding a valedictory session of the late Ossy Prestige. I appeal to members to make themselves available on that day for the valedictory session.”
Similarly, the Upper Chamber at its Tuesday plenary observed a minute silence in honour of the two lawmakers.
The decision to suspend the plenary was carried out in line with the tradition of the National Assembly, following a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Moving the motion, the Senate Leader said: “This Distinguished chamber and, to our Distinguished colleagues, the passing of two members of the National Assembly by names of Honourable Haruna Maitala, who until his demise represented Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency of Plateau State, and who we lost on 2nd April 2021, in a ghastly motor accident.
“The second loss we suffered, was that of another Honourable member, Hon. Suleiman Aliyu Lere, representing Lere Federal Constituency from Kaduna State, whom we also lost on 6th April 2021.”
In addition, Hon. Abdullahi said: “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, I rise in accordance with our tradition, to move two motions: one for the suspension on all other items scheduled for consideration on the order paper today; [And] also another motion for this Distinguished chamber to observe one-minute silence in honour of the departed, I so move.”
However, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, put the motion to a voice vote which was unanimously supported by Senators, who said the demise of the two lawmakers as “another sad development in the National Assembly”.
The upper Chamber, thereafter, held a minute silence in honour of the deceased lawmakers before adjourning plenary till Wednesday, 14th April 2021.
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