Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police on Wednesday arrested All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
TheNewsGuru reports Omo-Agege was arrested following an invasion of the National Assembly by suspected Omo-Agege sponsored thugs in which the mace representing the symbol of authority of the Senate was carted away.
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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Prince Christopher Agaga has taken the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami to task over the violations of the country’s constitution that led to the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from the Senate.
Agaga in a statement made available to the press condemned the Senate’s decision to suppress the right of Senator Omo-Agege to expression. He said the decision meant that the Urhobo ethnic group has been left without representation.
“For as long as the Minister of Justice does not rise to the occasion to proactively stop the constitution from being desecrated and shredded so long shall we have this regime of impunity that has now become the forte of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives as a cog in the wheel to the growth of democratic culture, governance and development of the country,” Agaga said.
He went further to say that “Now we are having on our hands a repeat too many to condone, in the latest imperial action of the Senate, in suspending an elected senator who is the voice and mouthpiece of more than two million people of Delta Central Senatorial District with a backlash that could debilitate the weak fabric of our federation especially with the perception of constituents hard hit by the suspension order that they are being technically excised from Nigeria, there cannot be a more apposite time than this for the Minister to rise up to the challenge by initiating legal measures to arrest the ugly and disgusting situation with a view to reassuring the people of Delta central senatorial district who have vowed to protect their rights recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Africa Charter on Human and people’s right that they are valued and recognized as an integral part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
“In the past that was the trend that helped grow democratic culture and values as witnessed by instituting of court cases by state governments against federal government and vice versa on issues they considered as encroachment on constitutional provisions.
“This is the time to go back to the regime of deploying legal measures to curb the excesses of people and organs/ institutions of government. This option is far more rewarding than the Gestapo approach of using anti corruption agencies to harass and intimidate people the hallmark of president Obasanjo’s government still flickering in this government with little success to show for it because President Muhammadu Buhari is not gifted with a sadistic temperament for such abusive actions.
“Nigerians can still remember the number of Senate presidents, governors and PDP national chairmen illegally removed from office by Obasanjo’s barbaric practices. We therefore call on the Attorney General to always do the needful to protect our democracy and restrain people from advocating and calling for autocratic measures of Obasanjo that should be trashed forever,” the statement further read.
The President General of the Urhobo Progress Union Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga, has urged the Nigerian Senate to immediately lift the suspension placed on the senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ovie Omo-Agege.
Olorogun Taiga, who made this plea in a press statement, said the Urhobo Nation, the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, could not be without representation in the senate for such a long and critical time.
“Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is the only senator representing the entire Urhobo Nation. For him to be absent at this critical time is unacceptable to the Urhobos.
“Elections are almost here, we are discussing the way forward for Nigeria and there are many other critical issues, including the invasion of Urhoboland by Fulani herdsmen.
“We need Senator Omo-Agege in the senate to protect and defend the Urhobo interest we sent him there to do.
“All the UPU is asking for is the reinstatement of Ovie Omo-Agege and the UPU is ready to work with the senate to ensure his prompt recall,” Olorogun Taiga added.
Olorogun Taiga said the Urhobo Nation was the greatest loser in the suspension of Senator Omo-Agege and urged all Urhobos, irrespective of political affiliations and whatever would have happened before, to work towards the lifting of the suspension.
It would be recalled that the senate suspended Senator Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days last week.
The office of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has responded to the suspension of the Delta Central Senator by the red chamber, saying the Senator remains unfazed and remains an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda.
TheNewsGuru reports the Nigerian Senate during plenary on Thursday suspended Omo-Agege for 90 days over the remarks he made at a press conference that the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act which changes the sequence of elections set by INEC is targeted at President Buhari.
“The issues acted upon today by the Senate are pending before a court of competent jurisdiction and therefore subjudice.
“It is the Senate’s view that the issues be withdrawn from court for an amicable resolution to hold. Until a resolution is reached, it is better to respect the court processes by not commenting on them,” a statement signed by Senior Legislative Aide to the Senator, Prince Efe Duku, and made available to TheNewsGuru read.
Although the Senator on February 21, 2018, apologized to the Senate over his comments about electoral act Amendment, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges had recommended in its report that Senator Omo-Agege be suspended for 181 legislative days.
“We note that as part of the resolution of the issues, the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki ruled that the Parliamentary Support Group, PSG, (Senate) for President Muhammadu Buhari should be disbanded.
“This should be a matter for the over 50 members of PSG to decide, possibly with President Buhari on whose behalf they openly work as Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic.
“In the circumstance, we appeal for calm and assure that as a fervent believer in the rule of law, our Senator is in positive spirit.
“He deeply respects the institution of the Senate and his good friends in the Senate. He will never undermine them.
“He remains an ardent supporter of Mr. President’s agenda for a better nation for all and will continue to work assiduously for his re-election,” the Senator’s aide further stated.