The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has advised individuals unfamiliar with the rules and procedures of the Senate to refrain from making uninformed comments about the workings of the Upper Chamber. His remarks follow the recent suspension of Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Oduaghan for breaching Senate rules.
Senator Akpabio made these comments during a meeting with the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum in Abuja. He expressed concern over the tendency of people without knowledge of parliamentary procedures to publicly discuss matters they do not fully understand, especially on television.
The Senate President questioned why such individuals, who were unaware of the Senate’s rules, felt compelled to comment on issues they knew little about. He further emphasized that the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Oduaghan was a unanimous decision, with no dissenting voices within the Senate. He encouraged the public to seek the facts before making public comments, particularly regarding the Senate’s decisions.
Senator Akpabio also addressed comments made by the leader of the delegation, Mr. Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, about the historic nature of having a Niger Delta Senate President after 46 years. Akpabio reaffirmed the importance of the Senate President’s position for the Niger Delta people, stating that it was crucial for the region’s economic interests and that no mischief from the opposition would diminish its significance.
He compared uninformed commentaries on Senate matters to people trying to quote religious texts without understanding them, stressing that without proper knowledge of the Senate’s procedures, such commentary was misplaced. Akpabio also noted that when newly elected senators are inaugurated, they are given a Red Book, which contains the Standing Orders that guide parliamentary conduct and lawmaking.
In response to concerns raised by Mr. Lokpobiri regarding the Niger Delta, including issues with the Coastal Road project and the Maritime University in Oron, Akpabio assured the delegation that their concerns would be addressed. He also spoke about the ongoing situation in Rivers State, expressing his intention, along with other senators from the Niger Delta, to help bring peace to the region.
