Drama in Senate Chamber as Okorocha loses his cool

Senator Okorocha provoked in Senate house

The Nigerian legislative chamber has always been known for its ability to produce drama unexpectedly during a legislative session.

This time it was rather between Senator Rochas Okorocha and the sitting Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

It all was engineered after the Senate President had switched off Imo West representing Senator, Rochas Okorocha’s microphone to halt the Senator from speaking during the screening of ministerial nominees.

It was a move by Ahmad Lawan to stop Okorocha from interrogating one of the nominees, Goodluck Nana Opiah of Imo State.

The move brought about the former Imo State governor’s fury as he quickly demanded to know the reason why he was being silenced as opposed to granting another lawmaker, Francis Onyewuchi Ezenwa the privilege.

Countering Okorocha’s appeal, the Senate President instead through cautioned to the Senator against breaching the agreement reached in the chamber’s closed-door session.

In the aftermath of the screening, the nominee, Mr. Opiah revealed he held no grudges with the Imo State senator, insisting instead that the ex-governor had meant well in the course of the conflict.

Opiah served as former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly as a member representing Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

He currently serves as Commissioner for Petroleum Resources.

Others confirmed nominees by the Senate are Ikoh Ikechukwu, Abia; Umana Umana, Akwa Ibom; Ekumankama Nkama, Ebonyi; Umar El-Yakub, Kano; Ademola Adegoroye, Ondo and Odum Udi of Rivers State.

Proceedings of the Red Chamber were ultimately adjourned till after the Sallah break with a 3 week gap before they reconvene.