CHOATIC SITUATION LEADING TO EXCHANGE OF BLOWS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Baraje and the governors arrived Room 0.28 at the House New
Extension, venue of the meeting, at about 3:30pm to brief the PDP caucus
of the House about the crisis in the ruling party. The two factions of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the
House of Representatives clashed yesterday during the visit of seven New
PDP governors led by the PDP factional chairman Kawu Baraje.
But as soon as the visitors were introduced, Rep Henry Ofongo (PDP, Bayelsa) shouted, "Point of order," creating a chaotic atmosphere for close to five minutes.
As a result some members of the New PDP came forward to take him out of the venue but other members aligned to Bamanga Tukur came to his rescue.
It was at this point that trouble started and members of the two factions exchanged blows as Ofongo pulled off his jacket.
However, some members waded in to intervene, while Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other principal officers of the PDP looked on.
When calm was restored, House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola, made her welcome remarks and Baraje was invited to deliver his speech. But members of the other faction did not allow a word he said to be heard, shouting "Bamanga, Bamanga. No way, no way."
The chaotic situation remained throughout Baraje's speech until when it was time for Tambuwal to speak.
However, when Tambuwal addressed the visiting New PDP team as "our leaders," the old PDP members resumed shouting "No, no, no."
Tambuwal called on both sides to sheath their swords and put Nigerians first, saying the crisis in the PDP has exposed the party's vulnerability.
Signs that trouble would break out came early during the day at plenary when Tambuwal announced that the Baraje-led PDP had requested to visit PDP caucus in the House.
Soon after Tambuwal read a letter to that effect, the House was thrown into a chaotic situation with members seen in clusters discussing noisily. Contrasting No(s) and Yes was the order of the day
But as soon as the visitors were introduced, Rep Henry Ofongo (PDP, Bayelsa) shouted, "Point of order," creating a chaotic atmosphere for close to five minutes.
As a result some members of the New PDP came forward to take him out of the venue but other members aligned to Bamanga Tukur came to his rescue.
It was at this point that trouble started and members of the two factions exchanged blows as Ofongo pulled off his jacket.
However, some members waded in to intervene, while Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other principal officers of the PDP looked on.
When calm was restored, House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola, made her welcome remarks and Baraje was invited to deliver his speech. But members of the other faction did not allow a word he said to be heard, shouting "Bamanga, Bamanga. No way, no way."
The chaotic situation remained throughout Baraje's speech until when it was time for Tambuwal to speak.
However, when Tambuwal addressed the visiting New PDP team as "our leaders," the old PDP members resumed shouting "No, no, no."
Tambuwal called on both sides to sheath their swords and put Nigerians first, saying the crisis in the PDP has exposed the party's vulnerability.
Signs that trouble would break out came early during the day at plenary when Tambuwal announced that the Baraje-led PDP had requested to visit PDP caucus in the House.
Soon after Tambuwal read a letter to that effect, the House was thrown into a chaotic situation with members seen in clusters discussing noisily. Contrasting No(s) and Yes was the order of the day
No comments:
Post a Comment