There was a mild drama at the senate during the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees, on Thursday.
Senators Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) clashed over the nomination of former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The confrontation broke out during the second day of the scrutiny of the 65 career and non-career nominees submitted to the Senate last week.
Omokri, seated quietly in Room 301 of the National Assembly complex, where the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs was screening the nominees watched as the two lawmakers bickered in one of the most tense exchanges of the ongoing exercise.
Trouble began when Oshiomhole rose to comment on Omokri’s nomination.
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“I cannot be intimidated by people who go here and there. After all, we see people on television questioning this list,” he said.
But Ndume immediately interrupted, insisting the session must adhere strictly to parliamentary procedure.
“The procedure is that if there is a motion on the ground, it should be seconded. If it is not seconded, it’s dead,” he declared.
But Oshiomhole refused to stop. “Just allow me to continue. Mr Chairman, please, protect me,” he said, raising his voice.
Th Committee’s Chairman, Senator Abubakar Bello (APC, Niger North), however, struggled to restore order, reminding Oshiomhole that his time was running out.
But Oshiomhole said, “We cannot pretend we have not heard stories concerning this nomination.”
But Ndume responded, “There is no petition before us. The Senate is not a joke!”
The argument escalated, with Oshiomhole taking a swipe at his colleague, saying, “When I talk, those who have not been governors should listen.”
But Ndume replied to him, “You never dreamed of becoming a senator when I became one.”
Senator Bello, consequently calmed the situation allowing the screening to proceed.
