ABUJA – Senate of the Federal Republic yesterday concurred with their counterpart in the House of Representative in taking over functions of the Kogi State House of Assembly, following seeming intractable crises rocking the Assembly currently.
The House of Reps had on the recommendation of its Committee report, condemned alleged impeachment of the speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly by a minority number and resolved to halt the crisis from escalating by shutting the Assembly.
In concurring with the Reps, the Senate condemned the “unconstitutional” impeachment of the Speaker and urged the police to provide enabling environment for the removal of all undemocratic ethos leading to breach of peace in Kogi Assembly.
Senate equally condemned alleged role by the Nigerian Police, in subverting provisions of the Constitution by providing cover for only five Honourable Members to the exclusion of 20 other members of the Kogi State House of Assembly to commit illegalities
Moreso, the upper federal legislative chamber urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to seal the Kogi State House of Assembly complex until final resolution of the matters involved is achieved.
The lawmakers took the decision following a motion of concurrence from the lower house. The National Assembly, particularly the Reps is constitutionally empowered to take-over and legislate for any state assembly, incapable of carrying out legislative business.
However, Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) told his colleagues that the matter is before a court and as such, Senate will be guilty of sub-judice if it goes ahead to grant the prayers from the House of Reps.
Senator Melaye added that Senate should properly guide the members of the House of Representative when they derail into illegalities.
In his contribution, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP Taraba) said that a lot of questions needed to be asked but since the motion is for concurrence, senate should in the spirit of bi-cameral legislature, concur with the lower house, adding “ The situation in Kogi Assembly is a kind of political brigandry that should not be accommodated”.
Senator James Manager drew the attention of his colleagues to the level of insecurity and political gangsterism in Kogi State House of Assembly widely reported on the media, saying “this is a matter of concurrence from the House of Representatives. Well, since this is a matter of concurrence, then let us concur”.
Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki however urged that just as Senate has concurred with the House, the takeover should not be indefinite.
He noted that the illegality in Kogi Assembly cuts across party lines, adding that taking cognizance of the degree of violence and insecurity going on in Kogi, the Police should quickly seal off the complex and ensure normalcy is restored within the shortest possible time.
