- His remarks come in response to criticisms surrounding the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Oduaghan for violating Senate rules.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has cautioned individuals not familiar with the workings of the Senate to refrain from making uninformed public commentaries on legislative matters.
Akpabio issued this warning on Friday while receiving a delegation from the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum, which paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja. His remarks come in response to criticisms surrounding the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Oduaghan for violating Senate rules.
The Senate President expressed concern over the growing trend of people with little or no knowledge of parliamentary procedures making misleading statements on television. He emphasised that the Senate’s action against Akpoti-Oduaghan was a unanimous decision and questioned why critics failed to acknowledge the absence of any dissenting voices within the chamber.
“You should try to know the facts before you start running commentaries on television. We advise members of the public to desist from making statements on things they do not understand, especially when they misquote Senate rules,” Akpabio stated.
Responding to comments by the leader of the delegation, Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, about how it took 46 years for a Niger Deltan to become Senate President, Akpabio reaffirmed the region’s commitment to preserving the position.
“The Senate President of today is not representing himself alone. He is representing a people who are crucial to the economic lifeline of this country,” Akpabio said.
He criticised what he described as external interference in Senate matters, arguing that individuals unfamiliar with legislative processes were being misled.
“I hear voices from Adamawa shouting, I hear voices from Kwara shouting, I hear some young people from the Southwest being used for something they don’t understand. They don’t know the rules of the Senate.
“You can’t be a herbalist and start quoting the Bible. You won’t know what to quote. If you haven’t studied Christianity, you cannot claim to know the Bible more than the Pope. The same applies to the Quran.
“But some people, like football commentators, sit down and say, ‘Ronaldo should have come from the left to score’ or ‘If you were Messi, you would have kicked from the center.’ They do the same on television when discussing Senate matters.”
Akpabio explained that understanding legislative procedures requires direct involvement. He noted that newly elected legislators receive a Red Book (for the Senate) or a Green Book (for the House of Representatives), which contains the Standing Orders that guide lawmaking, discipline, and decorum.
“When people are not informed about procedures and begin to debate provisions they don’t know, it worries me. However, we have internal mechanisms to settle our issues, and we will continue to do so,” he added.
Earlier, Jonathan Lokpobiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council, expressed concern over recent Senate developments, pledging the full support of the Niger Delta people for Akpabio’s leadership.
Lokpobiri also sought the Senate President’s intervention in the looming crisis in Rivers State, warning that it could escalate beyond the state and affect the entire Niger Delta region if not addressed.
Additionally, he raised concerns over key development projects, including the Coastal Road Project, the yet-to-take-off Maritime University in Oron, and the extension of the Warri-Itakpe rail line to Abuja.
In response, Akpabio assured the delegation that he and other Niger Delta senators would look into the Rivers State crisis and explore ways to restore peace.
Regarding the Coastal Road Project, he noted that the President had already addressed the issue, while promising to engage with relevant authorities on other concerns raised by the delegation.
“We will do our best to ensure that all concerns brought forward are properly addressed,” Akpabio assured.