Drama in Senate as Kingibe walks out of plenary
There was drama in the Senate on Thursday as Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stormed out of plenary after what she described as an attempt to stop her from presenting a motion. Kingibe was initially scheduled to present the motion on Wednesday, but time constraints pushed her presentation to Thursday. However, […]
Ireti Kingibe
There was drama in the Senate on Thursday as Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stormed out of plenary after what she described as an attempt to stop her from presenting a motion.
Kingibe was initially scheduled to present the motion on Wednesday, but time constraints pushed her presentation to Thursday. However, a dispute arose over whether she should be allowed to present the motion, as it was not listed on the Order Paper.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) also raised concerns, saying she had submitted a motion that was not listed for presentation.
As senators debated the matter, Kingibe, visibly upset, stormed out of the chamber.
After consultations during plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio explained, “We agreed that she should bring it today. Unfortunately, she failed to submit it to rules and business. In spite of that, we can still allow her the opportunity to do that. But I don’t know whether she has gone to ease herself; she is not in the Senate at the moment.”
Akpabio instructed Senator Austin Akobundu to search for Kingibe. “You will tell her to come inside, let her talk to Nigerians on this motion so that it will not look as if we denied her the opportunity to do so. We have nothing to hide. We are a court of equity,” Akpabio added.
After about five minutes, Kingibe had not returned, prompting Akpabio to remark, “Distinguished colleagues, we are still waiting to see whether our colleague Ireti Kingibe will come in. Even though the procedure is faulty, we will bend our rules to allow her to say what she wants to say so they won’t say she was shut out.”
Several minutes later, Akpabio again asked some senators to find Kingibe. When she finally arrived, Akpabio addressed her, reminding her that she was elected to represent the FCT and that leaving the chamber during plenary would not be in the interest of the people.
He then asked Kingibe to apologise to the senators for walking out, to which she initially responded, “No Sir.”
But after Akpabio warned that a refusal to apologise could cause further issues, Kingibe said “Okay, I apologise”.
“I expect fairness in the Senate for everybody. Concessions are given to other people. I expect them to be given to me also, when it is needed. I apologise if you were not happy when I lost my temper for what has happened today,” she added.
Finally, Akpabio allowed her to present her motion, in which she requested the Senate to halt the ongoing demolition exercise in the FCT, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, citing the hardship it was causing the people. The Senate granted her request.