The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, and Senator Seriake Dickson engaged in a heated debate on Thursday over the Senate Rules regarding the discussion of the State of Emergency in Rivers State.
During the plenary session, Senate Leader Michael Bamidele Opeyemi proposed reordering the Order Paper to prioritise the debate on the state of emergency before addressing other legislative matters.
As Bamidele cited the relevant order, Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District and a former governor of Bayelsa State, raised a point of order. However, Akpabio hesitated to acknowledge it, leading to a tense exchange.
The angry Akpabio reminded Seriake Dickson in a witty manner, how he watched him on television saying he would not go the way of the Senate on the state of emergency in Rivers, even as Dickson insisted on getting the Senate President’s attention through a point of order.
Akpabio said: “Senator Seriake Dickson, let’s not argue, if we argue it won’t be good for any of us.
“We are all distinguished people, you were a former governor, I was a former governor. Please turn off your mic and sit down. I watched you on television. You said, whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never go with you.
“I said you said whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never have your vote.
“I don’t know but if you have already made up your mind to go on television when the Senate has not done anything or considered any issue, I am not arguing with you, but I say, please allow me to preside.
Replying to the Senate President, Seriake Dickson said, “Mr Senate President, you know we must have mutual respect for all our colleagues, and I do have regard for you, particularly, as our presiding officer and I think that should be reciprocal.”
Dickson said the point of order he raised was to draw the attention of Senators to the provision on the need to first break into a closed-door meeting.
The motion to close the door was immediately raised by the Senate Leader and seconded by the minority leader, Senator Abba Moro and the Senate went into a closed-door session.
