Highpoints of Buhari’s budget presentation

From the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari to the time when he left the National Assembly on Tuesday for the budget presentation, there was no dull moment. Our reporters chronicle the highpoints of the maiden visit of the President to the National Assembly. Starting from his arrival to the time when he left the hallowed […]

From the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari to the time when he left the National Assembly on Tuesday for the budget presentation, there was no dull moment. Our reporters chronicle the highpoints of the maiden visit of the President to the National Assembly.
Starting from his arrival to the time when he left the hallowed chamber, President Buhari stunned the lawmakers and all other personalities that were present on Tuesday during the maiden budget presentation of his administration.
The event was scheduled to commence at10.am and President Buhari walked into the chamber almost on dot as he got to his seat 57 seconds after the time. His arrival was heralded with loud ovation by all in attendance.
Mute before National Anthem
There was a general mute when the senate president, Bukola Saraki called for the National Anthem, it took the standing president and everybody in the chamber about a minute before realising that there was no sound for the National Anthem.
As such, some lawmakers started verbal recitation of the National Anthem, before everybody joined in the recitation.
The recitation of national anthem was followed with prayers by Senator Jeremiah Useni and Rep Goni Bukar. They prayed in both Christian and Muslim respectively. Soon, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki delivered his speech where he assured of quick passage of the budget.
Saraki’s words: “Mr. President, the National Assembly is conscious of the yearning of Nigerians for quick delivery of democracy dividends. The National Assembly has a critical role to play and we recognize this role. On the budget we are willing and ready to provide the scrutiny necessary to pass only a budget that can be implemented comprehensively to the letter.
 ”We are ready to move swiftly and speedily to pass the 2016 Appropriation Bill. The swift passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper already points to our commitment and resolve towards this,” he said.
Buhari recognises Almakura before Saraki 
The mentioning of the Nasarawa state governor, Umaru Tanko Almakura before Saraki was trailed by murmuring.
Buhari, who began his presentation at about 10:15am, began by recognizing VP Osinbajo then immediately proceeded to Almakura before Saraki. It was observed that Buhari was reading from a prepared protocol list.
‘Sai Baba’
The chanting of ‘Sai Baba’ enveloped the hallowed chamber when President Buhari stopped while delivering the budget speech to sip water. From all corners, it was Sai Baba everywhere.  It was same while the President was leaving the chamber.
Despite the tight security, bystanders outside the chamber also showered Sai Baba on the President. He responded with smile and wave.
Our correspondent reports that security operatives deployed from the Presidential Villa took charge of the National Assembly from Monday night till around 12noon when the President left.
Dogara skips VP Osinbajo’s name
It was observed that while the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Yakubu Dogara was delivering the vote of thanks, omitted the name of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is the Number 2 citizen.
Dogara was called by Saraki to deliver the votes of thanks, but soon after he started, the speaker recognized the president as protocol demands and jumped to Saraki, forgetting Osinbajo.
An apparent attempt by the clerk of the House Sani Omolori to correct Dogara was not successful as the Speaker did not look at a written note given to him by the clerk immediately.
Our correspondents observed that immediately after the omission of his name in the protocol by the Speaker, Osinbajo turned and spoke to his ADC, who was sitting behind him. They spoke for some seconds and the VP turned to his normal position.
At the end of the joint session, presided over by Saraki, it was observed that Omolori went to Dogara and told him about not recognizing Osinbajo. The speaker, who seemed to be shocked, looked at the location where the VP sat and shook his head in regret.
Supporting Buhari’s anti-graft war, Dogara says”this war against corruption is not a tea party. There have been orchestrations in certain sections of the media subtly discouraging prosecution of the anti-corruption war,” which he said tend to focus on the methodology of the war “and other sectional, partisan or even primordial considerations rather than the devastating impact of corruption on the society.
“Let me assure Mr President that the college of Nigerians favorably disposed to corruption is a small one, terribly small: indeed if a census were conducted, it would show that less than two percent of Nigerians have that disposition and that the real practitioners would number not more than one percent”.
Reps rush for photographs with ministers
There was a mild drama as members of the House of Representatives rushed to have photographs and exchange pleasantries with ministers just before the arrival of President Buhari.
The ministers who arrived the chamber at about 9:50.am were immediately rushed at by some lawmakers who sought audience with them, with some calling on photographers to snap them.
Some of the lawmakers who rushed to the ministers include Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, James Abiodun Faleke, Babatunde Kolawole, Ibrahim Baba, Iduna Igariwey and many others.
Ministers present at the budget presentation included that of power, works and housing Babatunde Fashola; interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; transport, Rotimi Amaechi; information, Lai Mohammed; budget and national planning, Ndoma Udo Ndoma; solid minerals resources, Dr Kayode Fayemi, agriculture and rural development, Audu Ogbeh; science and technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; labour and productivity, Chris Ngige and environment, Amina Mohammed.
Others are minister of state for budget and national planning Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; finance, Kemi Adeosun; communications technology, Adebayo Shittu; education, Adamu Adamu among others.
Former governors get hand shake
The clique of former governors in the senate were recognised with a hand shake by the president, as he walks out of the chamber.
Buhari, had after laying the budget, bowed once each to the presiding officers and to the lawmakers, but however shunned attempts by lawmakers to have a hand shake. He continued to wave them, in recognition.
But upon reaching the quartet of former governors of Kano, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Gombe, Danjuma Goje, Yobe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim as well as senator Kabiru Gaya, the president, had to wait for hand shake with each one of them.
Kwankwaso cracked jokes with the president, as he continued to shake hands with the former governors, including former Sokoto state governor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako.
Our correspondent reports that the lawmakers would pounce on the budget when they resume from their three weeks recess on January 12th next year.