Reps Throw Punches over Baraje’s New PDP

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Uncategorized Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

Fracas at Nigeria's lower house of parliament

The African Examiner,

members of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives in a free for all fight

There was an uproar on Tuesday in the Nigeria’s House of Representatives as lawmakers clashed over the visit of the Alh. Kawu Baraje led faction of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and their seven governors.

Our correspondent reports that lawmakers loyal to both Tukur and Baraje’s PDP threw some punches and chairs in attempts to support their faction.

A member from President Jonathan’s Bayelsa state Rep Henry Ofongo started it all when he attempted to disrupt the meeting.

According to him, only Tukur is the authentic chairman of the party noting that the leadership of the house should not have granted them audience.

This move did not go down with some lawmakers from northern parts of the country, loyal to Baraje and few south-south lawmakers, led by Rep. Dakuku Peterside and Andrew Uchendu loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi as they bundled Rep. Ofongo away from the meeting.

Seven governors, Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Abdul-Fatai Ahmed (Kwara) attended the briefing which was said to have been organized to find a lasting peace to the lingering crisis of the party.

Our Correspondent reports that after fray nerves calmed, Speaker Tambuwal urged members and politicians to avoid making inflammatory statements capable of threatening the country’s peace and unity.

His words:

“It is important as politicians to constantly remind ourselves that the democracy we have belongs to the entire Nigerian people and not to politicians alone.

“While acknowledging that the political party is the vehicle through which we pursue our ambitions and aspirations, we must all conduct ourselves strictly within the confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Law.

“I make bold to say that within the allowable region of error, we card carrying members of Political parties contribute not more than 25% of the population, we must therefore abstain from heating up the polity unnecessarily.

“We must not take the rest of Nigerians for granted; we must not overstretch our goodwill and we must not overtask the patience of Nigerians.”