Ndume Speaks On Leaving Tuesday’s Plenary

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, has explained why he stormed out of the chamber on Tuesday after a confrontation with Godswill Akpabio.

Ndume stated his reason for leaving when the debate on a matter related to the closing of Nigeria’s borders was being debated in an interview with BBC Hausa.

The Borno South senator had during Tuesday’s plenary brought the Senate’s attention to what he thought were contraventions.

He invoked a point of order to call the attention of the Senate President to “procedural infringements” in the chamber.

The senator stepped out of the chamber after Akpabio refused to let Ndume finish his remarks, which was against accepted parliamentary procedure.

He explained that the situation emanated, “when Senator Kawu Sumaila proposed a motion which he said was urgent on closing the border between Nigeria and Niger.

“At first, it was argued that the motion was not urgent, but the president of the Senate let him finish what he wanted to say.

“After hearing the motion, it was agreed that since it is related to security, it should be suspended.”

He added that the Senate President had refused to give him a chance to speak even though he wished to emphasize the importance of the motion to the chamber.

“I would like to clarify that the motion, although impactful, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Senate.

“The closure of the border was not initiated by the President of Nigeria, but rather during his tenure as President of ECOWAS. As such, he has the authority to advocate on our behalf.

“In order to address this matter, it is imperative to involve the President of our nation, but I was not afforded the opportunity to convey this message.

“While this was happening, it coincided with the time of prayer, prompting my departure. Consequently, my colleagues misconstrued my exit, and the journalists changed the meaning of my exit,” Ndume said.