N’assembly not a banana republic... our laws must be obeyed - Yemi Adaramodu

Yemi Adaramodu, senate spokesperson and senator representingEkiti south, says members of the national assembly must obey laws guiding itsoperations. Adaramodu, a former journalist, spoke on Wednesday at aone-day capacity-building workshop for members of the senate press corps. He urged the press corps members to educate Nigerians on thesenate standing rules to avoid misconceptions over disciplinary actions takenagainst lawmakers during plenary sessions. The lawmaker explained that section 6 (1) of the senatestanding rules empowers the senate president to allocate and reallocate seatsto senators whenever necessary. Adaramodu cited the crisis involving NatashaAkpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, in February, as an exampleof how disregard for rules can create avoidable disputes. Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio had aheated exchange over a change in seating arrangements. She has since been suspended by the senate. “Journalists, like lawmakers, are supposed to have theknowledge of the standard rules together so that when somebody fails to observethe rules either in the senate or house of representatives, you let the publicknow in your reports,” Adaramodu said. “If you are supposed to sit on seat number 10 and you go andsit on seat number 13, you will not be recognised by the president. If theaffected person insists that he or she must be recognised, ‘katakata’ willsurely come up.” He stressed that seat allocations are not permanent and maybe changed by the senate president in line with rule 6 (1). “The national assembly is not a banana republic where thereare no laws. Our laws must be obeyed by us and understood by Nigerians, who areto be educated on them by those of you covering the senate,” he said. “Parliamentary reporters like those of you covering thesenate are expected to be educated and knowledgeable like lawmakers themselvesand even more knowledgeable.”

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