Senate President Bukola Saraki was yesterday attacked with allegations of tyranny and recklessness in the composition of senate standing committees.

Senators Kabir Marafa (Public Relations officer) and Suleiman Hunkuyi (Secretary) who are spokespersons of the Ahmad Lawan-led Senate Unity Forum (SUF) challenged the announcement of the standing Committees made by Saraki on the floor of the Senate last week declaring it as illegal.

According to the two lawmakers, the leadership of the Senate erred by not seeking the approval of the entire senators before announcing the Committees.

Trouble started when Marafa raised a point of order and cited Constitutional provisions to back his claim.
The Zamfara Senator had immediately after the adoption of votes and proceedings of last Wednesday raised his point of order and alleged that tyranny was taking over the Senate.

He said that it was wrong for the Senate President to have announced the committees when the selection committee was not properly constituted.

Hunkuyi said the exercise was done in futility.

After the prolonged presentations, Senate President Bukola Saraki told Marafa he had noted the observations and would refer the matter to the Selection Committee. He however ruled Hunkuyi out of Order, as according to him, he had ruled on the matter while responding to Marafa.

In a swift reaction, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi, said that the committees were approved during the adoption of votes and proceedings.

He stated that no lawmaker had the power to declare any proceeding in the chamber null and void.


Tribune