The lawmaker representing Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency in Rivers State, Chisom Dike, on Thursday, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, read Dike’s letter to the House during plenary.
He said the lawmaker cited, among other things, the division in the PDP as the reason for his defection.
In the letter Dike described Gbajabiamila’s leadership as accommodating, and that the APC was the right party for him.
The lawmaker said, “I am finally home.”
There was, however, a mild drama when the Speaker asked the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, whether he had anything to say about the latest defection.
The House Leader, Ado Doguwa, quickly interjected and said, “we want to put you on notice that by Thursday next week there will be two more defections.”
The speaker quickly responded and said, “No! No!! We can’t have one-party state. We can’t continue like this! Hon. Elumelu, Minority Leader, you are quiet. Is everything ok? You want to say something?”
Elumelu simply said, “Mr Speaker, it’s very funny, how the APC-led government is intimidating people to join their party while Nigerians can’t sleep.
“There is insecurity in the nation. Today, Zamfara is locked out. Even Katsina is totally locked up.”
The speaker again interjected saying, “Minority Leader, do you want to bring a motion on security? The issue is the crossing of one of your members to APC.”
But Elumelu continued, “An Emir recently just installed has been kidnapped. Too bad, that an Emir who came just this week for a visa and went home to just get documents that will enable him to go for his medical checkup has been kidnapped.
“This clearly shows that the APC-led government is leading the nation very bad.
“The House Leader is busily bragging that people are coming to APC despite all the various cases of insecurity.
“It is until the APC-led government is able to provide security of lives and property, we can’t have a safe Nigeria as we speak.
“House Leader, you use mobile security because there is insecurity which the APC-led government has brought to our nation. Unemployment, infrastructural decay, are now worsening it…”
At this point the speaker said, “Point of order, can somebody please read order 9 rule 5?”
The House Spokesperson, Ben Kalu, read the rule as requested and said, “Debate upon any motion, bill or amendment shall be relevant, such motion, bill or amendment, except in the case of a substantive motion…”
At this point, the speaker ruled Elumelu out of order as he hit the gavel and said “minority leader, you are ruled out of order.”
Credit: Punch
Leave a Reply