“In the parliament, sometimes you disagree to agree. But we will never get to the point of throwing chairs. The Senate is too mature, full of matured people,” Akpabio told State House Correspondents after closed-door talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Akpabio’s visit comes barely 24 hours after the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, stormed out of the chamber.
Trouble began minutes after the commencement of the day’s session when Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) raised a point of order to draw the Senate President’s attention to alleged procedural errors he (Akpabio) committed were yet to be corrected.
Ndume had referenced a motion on the need for re-opening the Nigeria-Niger border, which was moved by Senator Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South), which Akpabio allowed to be debated without first having the official title of the motion read as the normal procedure.
Ndume, standing on Order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, requested that the Senate President allow for the correction of any error made or observed during plenary.
While he spoke, Akpabio swiftly ruled him out of order, saying it could not be revisited since he had ruled on issues raised.
However, another senator, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), rose to sustain Ndume’s point of order by raising another point of order. Karimi was equally ruled out of order by the Senate president.
In a troubleshooting effort, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau raised Order 16, requiring a substantive motion to be moved by any senator seeking to correct or review an earlier decision.
Akpabio sustained this order, infuriating Ndume, who equally raised another point of order, particularly Order 54, to seek correction of the perceived error.
But Akpabio again ruled him out of order without allowing him to exhaust his line of argument.
Ndume picked up his documents and a few other belongings and stormed out of the Senate chamber.
His action, unexpected, led the Senate to dissolve into a closed session.
The drama comes as senators prepare to converge in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, for a retreat that began on Wednesday.
At the State House, Akpabio acknowledged that disagreements might arise in the Senate, but the majority decision will ultimately prevail.
“We are all working in one accord. There is no problem at all. Even if some people disagree with some of the happenings in the Senate, it is only the majority decision that is going to prevail,” he noted.
Akpabio further explained that any arising disagreements are swiftly handled in closed sessions, ensuring unity and solidarity are maintained.
Highlighting the Senate’s commitment to the nation’s interests, Akpabio remarked, “We are politicians, no permanent hatred but permanent interest. That interest is the interest of the nation.”
He emphasised the Senate’s role in supporting the President and his administration through legislation and oversight functions, all aimed at moving the country forward.
In his meeting with President Tinubu, Akpabio said he discussed the upcoming 10th Assembly retreat taking place in Akwa Ibom State.
He sought the President’s support for representation at the retreat, which was granted.
“I came to inform the President of the first 10th Assembly retreat which is taking place tomorrow in Akwa Ibom State,” the former Akwa Ibom Governor stated.
He informed the President of topics to be discussed during the retreat, including tax reform and strategies to bolster revenue generation.
The Senate President also relayed to Tinubu his personal travel plans to Angola for the internal parliamentary union and mentioned that he would be away from Abuja for the upcoming days.
He said, “We are moving the Senate all the way to Akwa Ibom for the next four days.
“Thereafter, I will be travelling personally to Angola to attend the internal parliamentary union, so before he sees me, it will probably take another nine days.
“So, I needed to inform him.”
