The National Assembly resumed today September 20, 2016 and Nigerians are ready to see the second season of the ‘intriguing’ proceedings in the hallowed chambers.
Before the Assembly went on its eight-week vacation, there were issues on ground that had only been laid to rest, so it could be tackled with renewed energy on resumption. For the House of Representatives, the attention of Nigerians would be immediately focused on the issue of budget padding that took the House by storm before it went on recess.
About three weeks ago, while the the Assembly was still on recess, it was officially revealed that Nigeria had slipped into a recession. So both the Senate and the Reps would also have to brace up to the new realities of the Nigerian economy.
With all this revelations and others which were not mentioned in the intro, here are some lawmakers that Nigerians will give more than the usual attention as the National Assembly resumes.
Senate President Bukola Saraki:
Before the vacation, the senate president was under trial before an FCT High Court for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Rules 2015. He was standing trial alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, and his former deputy, Bernard Efeturi. The trial was adjourned and a date for the resumption will also be given in September. Will he survive the trial? Time will tell. However, undeterred, the senate president in his resumption address indicated that the debates in the Senate will be focused on bringing the economy out of recession.
Ike Ekweremadu
Like the Senate President, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, would also be on the radar as Nigerians will be waiting to see where the forgery case preferred against him would lead, as his trial resumes on September 28. Can he survive the trial and maintain his seat in the Senate?
Dino Melaye and Oluremi Tinubu
A dirty brouhaha reared its head just before the Senators went on vacation in July and the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye was in the middle of it along with the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Oluremi Tinubu. It was a dirty fight that saw Nigerians debating and taking different sides on the social media. As the Senate resumes, eyes will be on both senators. During the vacation, Melaye announced that he has been blessed with a new child. He also posted many pictures on twitter in August after arriving in the US, all the pictures were captioned with words of faith, showing that the senator has now found faith in God.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Senator Dino Melaye turns pastor in the US, read his biblical messages
He also announced that he had gone back to school with a picture of himself in Ahmadu Bello Univesity. A combination of all these new things in the Senators life would definitely get Nigerians watching him with keen interest to see the changes manifest. Or will the fight continue?
READ ALSO: Dino Melaye welcomes new baby, SEE photos of the newborn
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara
“Budget padding” was one new vocabulary Nigerians added to their dictionaries at the tail end of last legislative session. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara had been accused of inserting extraneous items into the budget illegally. The matter had been raging hot before the House went on break, some have even called for the resignation of all the Speaker and all others concerned. Dogara was accused of the misdemeanor alongside the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun. Nigerians will want to know what happens as soon as possible.
READ ALSO: Why Jibrin believes justice will be served in budget padding case
Former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin
Jibrin is the whistle blower who accused Speaker Dogara of padding the budget. Several times before and during the National Assembly’s vacation, he called for the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, to resign. Throughout the vacation, Jibrin was busy engaging Nigerians and explaining to any who care to listen why and how he intends to fight the budget padding war till finish.
READ ALSO: What Hon. Jibrin is doing on social media will surprise you
He had also accused some other people in the house, including Minority leader, Leo Ogor and former Chairman House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Oluwole Oke of being on the side of Dogara. No wonder Nigerians would be keen to know what will become of the Reps member. Will he get ‘justice’ he wants? all fingers are crossed.
READ ALSO: Why Minority Leader Leo Ogor is a corrupt bully − Jibrin
Ben Murray-Bruce
The Senator representing the Bayelsa East constituency, Ben Murray-Bruce would be watched keenly. He had been in the forefront of the campaign to grow Nigeria’s economy by supporting home grown solutions.
READ ALSO: Cowboy style? Murray-Bruce ‘considering buying a horse’ to beat fuel price hike
#BuyNaijaToGrowNaira had trended on social media with the outspoken senator as one of the major influencers. Now that the Senate is resuming to a Nigeria in recession, will the Murray-Bruce still be an advocate of buying Naija? Will his huge experience in the business world before coming to politics come into play at this critical time in the nation’s existence? Nigerians are watching out.
