Commotion rocked the Red Chamber on Tuesday as Senator Danjuma Goje, APC–Gombe Central, went head-to-head with Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a dramatic, non-restrained confrontation that stalled plenary for over 30 minutes.
The drama began the moment Akpabio swept into the chamber, took over from Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and instantly summoned Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and others for a hush-hush meeting at the Chair, right in the middle of plenary.
Citing Order 55 (12)(a), Goje who was not having it, rose furiously and called out the Senate President on the spot.
“Interaction is not allowed except to move the business that we have been called upon to do.
“Mr. Senate President what you are doing is unparliamentary. You are disturbing the business of the Senate. You cannot be holding a separate meeting when the Senate is in session.”
Akpabio beckoned him to approach the Chair, which he refused bluntly.
“What I’m trying to say, Mr. President, is that what is happening now is unparliamentary. What you are doing here is unparliamentary. You should have done this outside. When we come to the Parliament, we do parliamentary business.
“I want you to listen to this. What we are doing here, everything is at standstill now. We are not doing business,” Goje fired again
Akpabio muttered, “noted.”
“Noted but not sustained”? Goje shot back.
Attempts to pacify him failed, as Goje insisted the senators crowding around Akpabio “should leave there so that the Senate will move on.”
Akpabio tried one more olive branch, an invitation for Goje to join the meeting.
The former Gombe governor rejected it instantly.
“I don’t want to be part of it. I’m opposed to this one. I will not come. It’s unparliamentary. It’s wrong”.
Akpabio then revealed the reason for his urgency.
“I just want to inform you that today is the Armed Forces Emblem Launch which will take place at the Presidential Villa.”
But by then, the damage was done; tensions had boiled over, the chamber was in uproar, and the Senate had witnessed one of its most explosive face-offs yet.
