CHAOS: Senators Go Violent Over Jonathan’s State Of The Nation Address

The Nigerian Senate relived a brief moment of its chaotic past
,Wednesday, after two members targeted each other at an irate session
over a proposed law compelling the president to deliver a state of the
nation address yearly.
Kabiru Garba Marfa, who represents Zamfara State, and Paulinus Igwe, a
Senator from Ebonyi State, set out for fisticuffs before they were
separated by several other senators who had deliberated the law for
hours without a decision.
The legislation, approved by the Senate and the House of
Representatives, has been rejected by President Goodluck Jonathan who
has raised concerns with several aspects ofthe bill.
As passed, the bill will make it mandatory for Mr. Jonathan and future
presidents to present State of the Nation address on the first
legislative day of every July before a joint sitting of the National
Assembly.
Also, both chambers will have the rightto summon the president if he
fails to appear in person on the date.
Mr. Jonathan said the bill, awaiting his assent since March,
contravenes the constitution which already spells out the conditions
for his appearing beforea joint session of the National Assembly.
The president offered to approve the bill if the timeline for the
address is adjusted to allow him 30 days after thefirst legislative
day; and if he is allowed the flexibility to inform the leadership of
the two chambers if he isunable to appear in person, and to have the
power to delegate the vice president to deliver the address.
While the constitution bars the president from amending a passed
bill,the senate's internal rule allows him; amajor issue which split
members aparton which to follow.
At a session to consider the request on Wednesday, lawmakers sternly
criticised the president for seeking an amendment only after the law
has been passed by both houses, and pushed for a veto of the
president's refusal.
"Sections 88 b and c. 58(of the constitution) says once a bill is
proposed by NASS, the president has three options. Let's take
advantage of Section 88, send it to the conference committee and let
them advise us if we should override the president's veto," the Deputy
Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said.
As the debates became unusually stormy, Mr. Ekweremadu proposed the
deliberation be suspended to allow formore consultation with the House
of Representatives and lawyers. The move was rejected by majority of
the members who feared deference may save the matter in favour of the
president.
When the Senate president put the question for an adjournment, those
opposed secured an easy win, and the chamber soon degenerated into
chaos with Messrs Igwe and Marfa trading barbs and aiming for each
other, refreshing memories of the years the senate was renowned at for
violence over repeated leadership change.
The duo were promptly restrained from attacking each other. It
remained unclear what particularly irked the twolawmakers.
The Senate later adjourned deliberation on the bill.
At a briefing later, Senate spokesperson, Enyinnaya Abaribe, denied
the brawl was over the president's address. He said the lawmakers only
reacted over a motion due for presentation on Thursday, which will
consider a planned arming of vigilantes in Zamfara State.
Senate president, Mr. Mark, urged for calm and cautioned that the
matter cannot be resolved through "the fists".