Posted on July 21, 2016 by Trace Reporter The furore witnessed in the Nigerian Senate last Tuesday has again thrown up indications that the severed relationship in the event that produced the current senate leadership is yet to abate.
Two senators in the upper legislative chamber, Dino Melaye and Remi Tinubu had engaged in altercation at the close-door executive session,
where unpleasant remarks were learnt to have been exchanged in the senate chamber.
The incident which had left many Nigerians in awe over what they described as “a new low” in the nation’s lawmaking house, is generating divergent reactions on what could have caused the brawl.
While some have argued the purported impeachment plot drew the lawmakers against each other, findings have shown that the senators who are sharply divided over the manner of emergence of the leadership of the senate are yet to reconcile.
Mr. Melaye, a strong supporter of the Senate President, who is averse to hostility sustained by the other camp against the leadership of the senate, had advanced a stiffer sanctions but Mrs. Tinubu, wife of the national leader of APC, the party they both belong, Bola Tinubu, seen to have much influence in the camp kicked against it.
In the event of the senate leadership emergence, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who has majority in the house had positioned how it will produce the President of the Senate but the emergence of Mr. Bukola Saraki altered the permutation.
Mr. Saraki, also a member of APC had emerged against the choice of the leadership of his party and has since been faced with stern opposition which had divided the senators along loyalty lines.
Those who supported Mr. Saraki had insisted on the independence of the upper legislative chamber and vowed not to bow to external influence, while those who agreed to the party’s leadership stand have
remained adamant on towing the party line.
The disagreement of the senators on the leadership tussle which has remained unresolved, findings shown was responsible for the latest clash that was witnessed in the senate last Tuesday.
There were insinuations that during the senate leadership tussle, Mr. Saraki, who is disturbed by the lack of support given to his aspiration by the party leadership had intended to back out of the race but was convinced by his supporters led by Mr. Melaye who assured him of victory should he challenge.
It was learnt that the decision of Mr. Saraki to go ahead with the contest, altered the permutation of the leadership of the party and also denied Mrs. Tinubu her rumoured ambition of becoming the Majority Leader of the Senate in the 8th Assembly.
According to a South West chieftain of APC who shared some insight on the renewed crisis in the senate but pleaded anonymity, said the daring manner of Mr. Melaye in the event that Produced the leadership of the senate, still angers Mr. Tinubu, whose purported influence in the senate was thwarted.
The source said “What I can see from the confrontation between Melaye and Yeye (Remi Tinubu) is that the outcome of last year senate leadership tussle is yet to heal. I believe you all know the role he (Melaye) played, which was daring and almost embarrass the party.
“I think that may be what is responsible for the fresh crisis. You cannot challenge Asiwaju (Tinubu) either directly or indirectly and expect him to let you off the hook. Melaye himself knows this and may be that was why he quickly went for the jugular, by inferring Asiwaju (Tinubu) in his verbal exchange with Yeye (Remi Tinubu).
Mr. Melaye who lend credence to that fact said when addressing a press conference that “But because they are yet to heal from the wound of defeat of election of the Senate President and because of my key role in this exercise, where she (Remi Tinubu) and her husband (Bola Tinubu) called me severally to appeal to me to back off Saraki and I say I will not back off Saraki.
“I will continue to support Saraki, he is my brother, he is my friend and I will continue to support him. And this will not change today, it will not change tomorrow, it will not change in this four years of our stay in the senate.
“Every human being can have an ambition. It is not a crime to be ambitious. Saraki has an ambition to become senate president and God endorsed it,” Mr. Melaye stressed.
While the clash is yet to recede, as Mrs. Tinubu on Monday made a formal application to the Inspector General of Police, for police protection, hence, accusing Mr. Melaye of threatening his life, the APC is yet to wade into the issue.
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