By Hamilton Nwosu
The Nigerian Senate has debunked spreading reports of a rift between the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, stressing that there is existing unity within its leadership ranks.
The clarification comes in response to recent media claims alleging tensions during an executive session.
In a statement on Sunday, Yemi Adaramodu, chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said the reports were false and misrepresented the workings of the upper legislative chamber.
Adaramodu stated that the executive session involved healthy debates, not personal conflicts, and reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to legislative duties and national interest.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to diverse media reports claiming that the president of the Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, and the leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, clashed during an executive session recently convened to deliberate whether the Senate should proceed on annual recess.
“The reports do not contain any iota of truth. In entirety, they misconstrue time-tested practices and traditions in the parliament worldwide, where members, regardless of their political leanings, leverage the instruments of parliamentary debates, questions, or interpellations to discuss every initiative decisively and eclectically before approval or authorisation.”
He explained that, like every other legislature, the Nigerian senate subjects every proposal, bill, and motion to intense scrutiny and robust debate in the chamber.
“Whether in the chamber or committee room, debates on policy issues should not be misconstrued as altercations among members, nor do they suggest any crack in the rank of the leadership.”
