People Democratic
Party (PDP) ugly show of shame reared its head, again, at the Senate, on
Wednesday, as the splinter faction led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje clashed
with the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP.
Senator
Danjuma Goje who fired the salvo when he
introduced himself as a member of the new and authentic PDP, while eulogising
the late former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu,.
But Senator Smart Adeyemi, coming under Order 53 of the Senate
Standing Rule, challenged Goje, noting that it was offensive for him, having
served as governor and now a lawmaker on the PDP platform, to support a faction
in the party.
Adeyemi, therefore, urged Goje not only to withdraw his
statement, but to also tender an unreserved apology to PDP members for using
offensive language against the party.
“It was wrong for Senator Goje, a PDP member and who has not
defected to insinuate that PDP has two factions.
“As far as I know, there is no faction in PDP and to lay claim
to two PDP is unconstitutional. I demand that Goje withdraws that statement and
apologise to this chamber for using offensive language against the party,”
Adeyemi had said.
Senator Goje, however, stood his ground, saying “as long as I am
concerned, I belong to the New PDP chaired by Abubakar Baraje. I was a member
of PDP long before Adeyemi. In fact, I am more PDP than him.”
Sensing
rising tempers and an imminent danger on the floor of the Senate, following the
arguments, the Senate President ,David Mark quickly called for calm on the
floor to enable the chamber concentrate on its duties, saying “I am satisfied
that Goje said he is still in PDP. The issue of chairmanship is not for us to
decide.”
It was
gathered that peace was restored after the intervention and the Senate later
observed a minute silence in honour of Agagu, whose death occurred on September
13 at the age of 65.
“He
was a complete gentleman in every sense of it. Even when he lost election, he
took it in good faith and was ready to work for the good of the state, because
his concern was the people and not political party.
“His death was a loss to Nigerians generally and Ondo State in
particular. People would be remembered for the way they carry themselves while
in office. His family should take solace in the fact that he led a good life,”
Mark said
Meanwhile,
why should the problems of an internal feud withing a political party be the subject of debate in the houses of assembly? The purpose
of electing them in the first instance is to legislate good laws for Nigerian, to
represent their constituencies properly, and to bring dividends’ of democracy
back to their people.
It is
high time that our lawmakers must wake up to their responsibility.
No comments:
Post a Comment