Two senators: Onyekachi Nwebonyi, senator representing Ebonyi north, and Rufai Hanga, representing Kano central, clashed engaged on Wednesday during a joint budget defence session of the senate and house of representatives’ committees on works with the ministry of works.
The session, which was chaired by Hanga in his capacity as vice-chairman in the absence of Mpigi Barinada, the committee chairman, proceeded smoothly with presentations by David Umahi, minister of works, and contributions from lawmakers.
However, the altercation began when Nwebonyi, while making remarks largely praising the minister and urging colleagues to do the same, was cautioned by Hanga to round off his comments.
Angered by the interruption, Nwebonyi said, “You cannot stop me from speaking after allowing Senator Adams Oshiomhole to talk for 15 solid minutes.”
“Please don’t interrupt me because you allowed Senator Oshiomhole to spend not less than 15 minutes to make his remarks and observations and ask questions without any interruption,” the lawmaker told Hanga.
“I’ve barely spent about five minutes, and you are telling me to round up. I won’t, and for your information, as the ranking presiding officer, I can take over the proceedings of this session from you. That is the protocol.”
Hanga, who is the senate deputy minority whip, responded by insisting that Nwebonyi could not assume control of the proceedings and struck the gavel, directing him to stop speaking.
The exchange escalated when Nwebonyi said, “I’m a ranking senator of the ruling party that cannot be ruled against by a minority senator. You cannot tell me what to say.”
Hanga fired back, saying the votes that brought him to the senate were “10 times higher” than those secured by Nwebonyi in Ebonyi north.
He also accused Nwaebonyi of “bootlicking his boss”, in an apparent reference to the senator’s political alignment with the minister, as both men are from Ebonyi state.
Normalcy was restored following the intervention of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, and Akin Alabi, chairman of the house committee on works.
Earlier, Umahi urged lawmakers to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road following allegations of poor work.
“I will resign if it is found not up to standard,” the minister said.
Umahi disclosed that out of the N3.245 trillion capital vote earmarked for the ministry in the 2026 budget, N760 billion is allocated to new projects across the six geopolitical zones.
He said the new projects are separate from the four legacy projects and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri road.
The minister assured lawmakers that the N7 trillion required to complete road projects earlier withdrawn by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) would be sourced from the domestic bond market.
Privacy5 years ago
News5 years ago
News5 years ago
Opinion5 years ago
News5 years ago
News4 years ago
Sports4 years ago