The
planned suspension of the spokesperson for the Senate President Unity Forum,
Senator Kabir Marafa, over an interview he granted and published in the last
week edition of Sunday
PUNCH heightened tension at the Senate on Tuesday.
Marafa
had in the interview declared his support for former President Olusegun
Obasanjo over the issues he raised in his recent letter to both chambers of the
National Assembly, especially on the need to make their budgets transparent and
accessible to Nigerians.
But
on the resumption of plenary after a two-week break on Tuesday, the Senator
representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Issa Missau, drew the attention
of his colleagues to the publication, which according to him, was offensive.
Coming
under matters of personal privilege, Missau, alleged that Marafa, by his
comments, had infringed on his rights as well as the rights of others and
deserved to receive an instant punishment from the Senate to serve as deterrent
to others.
He
said, “Senator Kabiru Marafa granted an interview misleading the public telling
lies against this institution (Senate). I think I have been called more than
500 times from my constituency in respect of this publication.
“Mr.
President (Senate President Olusola Saraki), I think the leadership has to do
something about this, the Senate should do something about this. We cannot
allow one person to continue to tell lies against the Senate, misleading the
public.
“I
think it is better we take a decision so that we correct things, not only
Marafa, anybody here would not be allowed to be misleading the public. I think
it is not okay Mr. President.”
Senator
Matthew Urhoghide from Edo South, seconded the motion moved by Missau and
called for sanctions against the Zamfara Central senator.
Urhoghide
said, “I want to lend my voice to the submission that was made by Senator Misau
in respect to the publication in Sunday PUNCH that was granted by Senator
Kabiru Marafa.
“I
want to say with vehemence and every element of responsibility that publication
as contained in Sunday
PUNCH, smeared the integrity of this House and has totally put our
reputations and of course reputations of other distinguished senators here into
disrepute.
Ruling
on the motion, Saraki referred the matter to the Senate Committee
on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate and report back next
week Tuesday.
Marafa
welcomed the development and declared his readiness to appear before the panel.
He
said, “It is a welcome development. I am even happy that the Ethics Committee
will investigate me. I am ready to make myself available because it will give
me an opportunity to say more things which space did not permit me in the
newspapers.”
However,
the All Progressives Congress’ candidate for the Senate President seat in June
last year, Senator Ahmad Lawan, cautioned the Senate against any action that
could create tension.
Lawan
said, “Without prejudice to what the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and
Public Petitions will report on the issue, as a Senate, as an institution, we
should be more sensitive to the way we discharge our functions and mandates as
provided for in the Constitution.
“That
is to ensure probity, transparency and accountability in the utilisation of
public funds.
That we make good laws for the orderliness and good governance of
this country, that we support the executive arm of government, that is the Presidency in this regard to
ensure that Nigeria move out of its current quagmire that we have found
ourselves.”
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