Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Thursday, December 12 walked out of the Senate chamber after Senate President Godswill Akpabio declined to entertain her motion regarding ongoing demolitions in the nation’s capital.
Kingibe had earlier notified the Senate of her intent to move a motion to probe the demolitions, and it was agreed that the matter would be discussed the following day. However, when her motion was not listed on the order paper, she raised the issue during the session.
Responding, Akpabio stated, “We took a matter of urgent public importance, and by our rules, we should only take one a day.”
“What I am saying is that you can always raise it, and when you raise it, we can put the question to our colleagues. Sometimes they would say bring it as a formal motion the next day.
“It is not on the order paper… so it does not appear that women are marginalised. Senate leader, can you refer us to the proceedings of the Senate?
“Because some of these things are about procedure. The Senate cannot go up and down. If we have already started the orders of the day, we cannot go back.”
Frustrated, Kingibe left the chamber in protest. She later returned and apologised for her actions. Following her apology, she was permitted to move her motion, leading the Senate to resolve to investigate the demolitions in the FCT.
The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), under the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has recently intensified the demolition of estates and shanties deemed “illegally” constructed. Wike has defended the demolitions, stating that some of the affected structures pose security risks to the nation’s capital.