Senate President, David Mark promises to resolve looming crisis in Senate

             
Senate President David Mark on Wednesday promised to resolve the looming crisis in the legislature, following the defection of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to the All Progressives Party (APC).

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on which platform the speaker rode to the house, is protesting the development with a call on him to resign.

The News of Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mark made the remark while addressing other senators at plenary.

“I will do all I can to resolve the current impasse, although the matter is already in court of law; so we cannot, therefore, discuss the issue formally here.

“I want to assure you that I will do the needful to protect and defend the legislature at all cost,’’ he said.

Following the speech, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egbe, the Senate Leader, moved a motion for adjournment of proceedings until Oct. 11.

According to Ndoma-Egba, the adjournment is necessary to give quality time for the PDP caucus to conduct an important meeting.

Proceedings had been cut abruptly on Tuesday for the group to conduct its meeting.

However, the members of the opposition parties in the senate had described the action as “retrogressive”.

Speaking to newsmen after the proceedings, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu (APC-Ekiti), spokesman of the APC-Senators said “standards have not been maintained in the floor of the senate lately.

“Standards should be brought into the process of legislation for us to be taken seriously. The opposition would like to continue with the plenaries but for the over bearing power of the majority”.

According to him, the frequent adjournments of proceedings will not help the country.

“It is wrong to stop proceedings at plenary abruptly; we have come from far places to represent our constituents to make laws for the country.

“Unfortunately, we are the minority; the minorities would have their say but the majority would always have their ways; that is what is playing out here,’’ he said.

On the security situation, Ojudu said the senate should have been weary of the occupation of some territories by the Boko Haram insurgents, instead of playing avoidable politics.

“Mubi has been taken by the insurgents, Yobe and many villages in the North-East are under the occupation of the insurgents, so this is the time to unite and fight back,’’ Ojudu said.

NAN reports that six fresh bills, fixed for first reading, two for second reading and four reports for considerations, were deferred. (NAN)