Rising from a closed session, which lasted almost an hour, the President ofthe Senate, David Mark, declared on Wednesday that federal lawmakers were prepared to sacrifice their blood, if necessary, to uphold the Constitution.
The Senate President was reacting to Tuesday’s fracas in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Senate broke into many camps over the crisis rocking Rivers State and its House of Assembly.
For the first time in the history of the Seventh Senate, the lawmakers had torely on Order 73 (1-4) of the Senate Standing Orders, where each member cast his/her vote on whether the chamber should urge the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to wade into the crisis or not.
At the end of the tension-soaked session, with consultations and criss-crossing among the opposition and ruling parties, it was a tight vote.
The ayes had 50 votes as against 47 for the nays to resolve that the Senatecan only urge the IGP “to take immediate steps to address the issue of the broken relationship between Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Commissioner of Police (CP), Joseph Mbu.”
But behind closed doors, it was gathered that a section of the chamber had actually argued that the Senate should urge the IGP to remove CP Mbu.
Rather than embark on the business of the day, Senate went straight into aclosed-door session, which lasted almost an hour, from where the senators resolved to condemn the fracas in the Assembly on Tuesday.
On resumption of plenary, the Chairman of the Petroleum Resources Committee (Downstream), Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, moved a motion vide Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules.
Mark allowed him to raise the motion,which allows a senator to make a personal explanation in the chamber.
Abe recounted the events of Tuesday to his colleagues, saying that for “63 days, the Rivers State House of Assembly has not been able to sit. This week, the Assembly got notice from the governor that he wanted to bring an alteration to the state budget, which prompted the Assembly to write the Commissioner of Police for protection…”
Rather than offer protection, mayhem ensued, said Abe, who also wondered how law and order could break downwhen the “Assembly is directly opposite the State Police Command onMoscow Road.
“This incident happened right under the nose of the police, who were believed to be there to protect the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly,” Abe alleged.
Having heard Abe’s explanation, an angry Mark condemned the treatmentmeted out to legislators in Rivers Stateand declared that the nation’s highestlegislative organ finds the situation “totally unacceptable…”
His words: “Clearly, what is happeningin Rivers State is an embarrassment to legislators across the length and breadth of this country and it is in the interest of Assemblies not to do anything that will portray legislators as irresponsible because that is not what we are. Clearly also, what is happening is totally unacceptable andit must be condemned in its strongest possible terms, in its entirety irrespective of who is directly involved or who is behind it.
“Senator Abe has raised a very seriousissue and it is proper that we take steps to ensure that the Rivers State House of Assembly is restored to normalcy so that they can continue their activities in terms of legislation. In order for us get the facts so that we don’t operate by the things that we see and hear from the media, it is appropriate to send our committee to investigate for us.
“I appeal to all the parties involved to sheathe their swords until we are ableto get a feedback from our committee and we are able to get a resolution. Let me state here in very clear terms that this Senate will do everything possible; even if it means sacrificing our blood to uphold the Constitution of this country.”
Thereafter, the Senate president beckoned on Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), to read the five resolutions taken at the closed session.
Twice, Mark called out the question and twice, the “nays” carried the day.
At this time, senators had got up from their seats and had clustered in groups.
More than 11 Senators, from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition parties, clustered round the Senate president, each offering his/her opinions on the matter.
This lasted for almost 30 minutes.
On resumption of plenary, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Babajide Omoworare, made history by being the first member in the Seventh Senate to call for division.
Omoworare explained to the Senate president that he was not satisfied with the voice vote.
He invoked Order 73 (1-4).
Upon citation of the order and in compliance with the rule, the Senate president ordered the security to “clear the lobbies and lock the doors.”
Mark declared thus: “For once, let’s test where we stand on issues.”
Omoworare then moved his motion and thereafter, Senate Clerk, Ben Efeturi, stood up and began to call on each senator to vote.
Rather than announce the result after the vote was concluded, senators broke up into another round of consultations, which lasted several minutes.
Three senators abstained.
They included Senator Kabiru Gaya, whose committee was mandated to investigate the Rivers State House of Assembly fracas.
Serving as the Chief Returning Officer, the Senate president announced the results.
He said that seven senators were absent while 47 members said “nay”, with 50 “ayes.”
The chamber, once again, erupted into another rowdy session.
Some Senators shouted, No! no!!
Ruling on the matter, Mark announced that those were the final figures, adding jokingly that whoeverwas not satisfied could go to the tribunal.
“This is the authentic figure…whoeveris not satisfied can go to the tribunal and I am the tribunal.”
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/rivers-crisis-well-sacrifice-our-blood-to-uphold-the-constitution-says-mark/

The election is still not here and we are witnessing such a disgrace, please tell me what 2015 will look like.

XFive: The election is still not here and we are witnessing such a disgrace, please tell me what 2015 will look like.

things that should be happening then are happening now, by then we would have a free, fair and peacefull election.

They're all one and the same. Election riggers trying to sound like saints.

Lordave: things that should be happening then are happening now, by then we would have a free, fair and peaceful election.

This is ridiculous.

k2039:
This is ridiculous.

Lol

''...defend the constitution with our blood...''

Pls wade into this senators pls.
Fyi, the IGP has nothing to do with this. Amaechi's call for the removal of the CP is more political than we think.
The CP is a man with credible characters and it will surprise you who this person is.
I just did an excerpt of a few of his personal life.

www.nairaland.com/1356183/cp-rivers-mbu-man-rivers

Pls tell Amaechi to grow up. What business does he have to walk amidst chaos to the State Assembly to demand for d mace.

Mr Politician..,hope you don't mean the blood of innocent Nigerians.

Lordave: things that should be happening then are happening now, by then we would have a free, fair and peacefull election.

let's pray it happens so but I can see too much desperacy on the path of everyone involved to hold to power all for selfish reasons. 2015 is already at d corner so we need 2 get things right as quick as possible in order to avoid bloodshed

nigeria jaga jaga, abeg which country go take me?

d light: let's pray it happens so but I can see too much desperacy on the path of everyone involved to hold to power all for selfish reasons. 2015 is already at d corner so we need 2 get things right as quick as possible in order to avoid bloodshed

well said brother

DivideUs: nigeria jaga jaga, abeg which country go take me?

I think you'd be very useful to Somalia

Lordave: I think you'd be very useful to Somalia

*falls from Iroko tree*

I just sidon dey look dem

Our dear country needs deliverance. .

are his fellow lawmakers safe, or have most of you them booked tickets to maybe burkina faso in case things go awry.