By Becky Usman
Senator Ali Ndume, who serves as the Chief Whip of the Senate, has provided an explanation for his departure from the Senate chamber after a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.
During the Senate’s plenary session, Ndume raised concerns about what he perceived as parliamentary breaches.
Ndume invoked a point of order to draw Akpabio’s attention to “procedural infringements” in the chamber, which he believed violated established parliamentary protocols.
However, the Senate President refused to permit Ndume to conclude his statement, and subsequently, the senator left the chamber.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ndume clarified the circumstances surrounding his departure during a discussion on the closure of Nigeria’s borders.
He explained that the issue arose “when Senator Kawu Sumaila presented a motion he claimed was urgent regarding the closure of the border between Nigeria and Niger.
Initially, there was a debate over the urgency of the motion, but the Senate President allowed Sumaila to finish his statement.
After listening to the motion, it was decided that, since it pertained to security, it should be postponed.”
Ndume stated that it was at this point that he intended to elucidate the significance of the motion to the chamber, but the Senate President denied him the opportunity to speak.
“I would like to clarify that, although the motion had a significant impact, it was not within the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Senate.
The decision to close the border was not initiated by the President of Nigeria; rather, it occurred during his tenure as the President of ECOWAS. Therefore, he has the authority to advocate on our behalf.
To address this matter, it is vital to engage the President of our nation, but I was not given the opportunity to convey this message.
While this was unfolding, it coincided with the prayer time, prompting my departure. As a result, my colleagues misinterpreted my departure, and journalists misinterpreted its significance,” Ndume explained.
He added that he had informed his deputy that he was going to pray and subsequently left the chamber.