Senate Suspends Omo-Agege , Buhari’s Main Supporter

His earlier plea for mercy notwithstanding, Senate on Thursday suspended for 90 days, its member representing Delta Central Senatorial district, Senator Ovie- Omo Agege for castigating the Upper Chamber on opposing the re-election bid by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate also outlawed the “Parliamentary Support Group for Buhari,” under which Senator Omo Agege and some of his colleagues had operated in recent months in demonstration of their allegiance to the Nigerian President.

Omo-Agege and 9 other Senators had earlier criticized the stance by the Senate on re-ordering of election time-table for the 2019 general election in which case the National Assembly election was ordered first, followed by that of the State Assembly elections and lastly the Presidential election.

The Senate took the hard stance against Omo-Agege after it adopted the report of its committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions on a complaint by Senator Dino Melaye that he had insulted the Senate leadership through a press conference, claiming that the amendment to the INEC Act 2010 was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Although Senator Omo Agege had apologised during Senate Plenary, his colleagues took offence that he, nonetheless proceeded to court to challenge the decision of the Senate to refer his case to the ethics and privileges committee.

Some Senators who were opposed to Omo-Agege had even recommended 181 days of suspension against him for disregarding the committee and heading to court.

Incidentally, Senator Ovie-Omo Agege is also a member of the senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions.

However, punismnemt for the embattled Senator was pegged at 90 days following intervention from Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, and Senator Kabiru Marafa who pleaded for leniency on his behalf.

President of the Senate Dr. Bukola Saraki while ruling on the matter, urged his colleagues to exercise more caution whenever they engage in any action or commitment.

He said, “I think in this chamber, if we want to talk about who has the right to even say he is chairman of the parliamentary support group for Mr. President both by action and by what we have done, I think I have the right to be that than anybody else here. But those of us that understand the politics, that because of some times, our own peculiar interest, we desire sometimes that we are holier than thou or more committed but at the expense of others, that is not something we should tolerate.

And I believe that in an institution like this, we must show that discipline, but at the same time, there must be compassion. We must show that such group must be suspended. The case in court also, must be withdrawn. And in consideration of that, we can look at the leniency of what was recommended.”

The President of the Senate also gave insight into the implications of the resolution reached based on the consideration of numerous factors touching on the matter.

“what that is, I think by that we would have captured one, no more of this kind of groups in this senate, two, the issue of court actions, three, to show that we are not in any hurry to take anybody away from this family, and four, we must lay example by showing that there is discipline, and apply some form of discipline in this matter.”

Senate also adopted a resolution mandating Senator Ovie-Omo Agege to withdraw the case he instituted in court against the Senate and the President of the Senate.

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