The Senator representing Anambra North, Dr. Tony Nwoye has challenged the Senate President, Chief Godswill Akpabio over his choice of minority leaders in the Senate.
Nwoye who is a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), rekindled the Aluta spirit when he asked Akpabio: “Are we your slaves?”
Trouble began after Akpabio announced Abba Moro, the senator representing Benue south, as minority leader and Osita Ngwu, the senator representing Enugu west, as minority whip.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members replaced Simon Mwadkwon, senator representing Plateau north and Darlington Nwokocha, senator representing Abia central respectively when their election was nullified by the Court.
While Mwadkwon, former minority leader, is a PDP member; Nwokocha of the Labour Party (LP) was the minority whip. Soon after Akpabio finished making the announcements said to be from the minority caucus, an altercation ensued on the floor of parliament.
Labour Party’s Nwoye, said it was unfair for the senate president to choose leaders for the minority caucus.
“Are we your slaves. Why would the senate president be picking leaders for us?,” Nwoye yelled at the presiding officer.
“You have done your worst. You have pushed us to the wall. Meaning what? It is unfair. It is not about me. It is about the institution of the senate.
“Every time, you keep on picking leadership for us. Are we your slaves? The way you were elected was the way we were elected. The highest you can do is suspend me.”
After some senators pacified Nwoye, Akpabio explained that the two minority leaders had shown the signatories of senators who agreed with the decision.
“Minority, put your house in order first,” Akpabio said. “The senate president can only work with what is before me. You have senator Abaribe and Aliero. Their names are not here.”
Akpabio added that he sympathises with minority parties in the senate.
Meanwhile, Anambra North constituents are celebrating Nwoye’s audacity, saying that he is the kind of person needed as a representative; somebody that has a voice, the acumen and cannot be intimidated by anybody.
