Crisis Averted As Reps End Session

A controversy that would have thrown the House of Representatives into another round of crisis was tactically and narrowly averted from snowballing this morning as the House wound down its 6th Session.

The Speaker of the House, Dimeji Bankole shortly after he declared the Plenary Session opened went ahead to dissociate himself from the allegations that he was behind a report in the media which was considered inimical to the image and interest of some members of the House.

Hon Dino Melaye citing Order 5(2) on the privileges of members insisted that the said report has been injurious to his image and that of his constituency and sought an official clarification from the House to set the record straight in the public domain.

Bankole however insisted that in consonance with the rules of the House, the issue had been declared officially closed by virtue of his earlier denial and ruling.

For some minutes, the issue threw the House into rowdiness with Melaye and some members shouting ‘order, order, order’.

Bankole insisted that the House was only prepared for its valedictory session as the 6th Assembly was billed to officially end the session today.

The Speaker was eventually able to sway the members towards his side and the rowdiness was eventually brought to an end.

With the dust settled, the House proceeded into an emotion laden valedictory session.

It took off with the clearance of alleged financial indictment against the former speaker, Patricia Etteh who was pressured into resigning her speakership position over her indictment by the Dave Idoko-led committee for allegedly spending N628m on renovating the official residence of the speaker without following due process.

In a motion, moved by Hon Ita Enang, the Rules and Business Committee Chairman maintained that after combing all available records in the House, there was no evidence to show that the Speaker Emeritus was ever indicted by the House for any financial misdemeanour and moved to place on record as such.

The motion which was seconded by Hon Uche Ekwunife was unanimously adopted by the House.

Etteh marked the memorable moment by waxing spiritual, singing and dancing in praises to God for the success recorded by the House.

As at the time of filing this report, the House was still at the valedictory session with members recounting their experiences at the House.

They particularly relished their achievements in the successful amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the tactical manipulation of the Doctrine of Necessity which ensured the empowerment of the then Vice president, Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

By Desmond Utomwen/Abuja