Two senators – Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) and Ali Wakili (Bauchi Central) – on Tuesday engaged in a hot exchange to the extent of dragging each other’s attires after the former was ruled out of order at the plenary by Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Marafa had raised a point of order to press home his demand for the reconstitution of the new committees following his submission last week that the manner of the composition violated provisions in Senate Standing Orders.
But he was ruled out of order by Saraki after referring Marafa to Order 53(6) of the Senate rules which provides that reference shall not be made to any matter that had already been concluded.
Having been ruled out of order, Marafa walked out of the chamber to brief the press on his grievances but he was followed to the chamber by Wakili who was vehement to stop him from briefing the press.
The move led to hot exchange between them resulting in both of them dragging each other’s attires. Below are the details of the episode:
Wakili: You have come here to disgrace the Senate again. Is this what you want to do for the next four years?
Marafa: I will, I will. Because I am not working for you.
Wakili: You cannot sit down there and fight against the Senate.
Marafa: I am representing Nigeria and representing my people. And let me tell you, even the nonsense thing they are saying about suspension, nobody can suspend a senator.
Wakili: You are playing to the gallery. You are playing your script. Who has ever spoken about your suspension?
Marafa: Let us talk about issues.
Wakili: I have discussed all these your issues in today’s Mirror.
Marafa: Mirror, which kind Mirror? Let us do it (address journalists).
Wakili: Newspaper.
Marafa: Who, my own?
Wakili: Yes.
Marafa: Ku samun Mirror (Get me National Mirror). I will respond to it. We raised issues. And we give orders (rules) and point of constitution order.
Wakili: That is not what your constituency sent you here (to do).
Marafa: Are you one of them?
Wakili: We are talking of poverty, education. You are wasting your energy here on useless point of order. I am warning you.
Marafa: It is not useless. You can’t say that order is useless.
Wakili: I will go to your constituency and see what you have done there.
Marafa: Go back. I will go to your own. I was in politics before you when you were wearing uniform (both senators started dragging each other’s attire at this point).
Wakili: Gentlemen of the press, there are issues bedevilling this country…. (Marafa interrupts him).
Marafa: Even if you are not God-fearing, because they made you chairman, a bloody newcomer chairman of a committee. That is why you are talking this way. I am not doing anybody’s game plan. I am speaking the minds of Nigerians.
Wakili: Come, you are a storm in the Senate teacup and a gadfly.
Marafa: I told you I was in politics when you were wearing uniform (still dragging Wakili’s attire).
Wakili: Leave me, look at it. That is not the issue. How old are you?
Marafa: It doesn’t matter.
Wakili: Let go.
Marafa: (Talking to journalists). He said he raised issues in National Mirror. Let him say the issues. I will respond to them here.
Wakili: You see, your experience has not helped you. It (Senate rules) says that where such a matter has been decided, you cannot raise it again.
Marafa: That is nonsense!
