Yemi Adaramodu: N’assembly not a banana republic… our laws must be obeyed

Yemi Adaramodu, senate spokesperson and senator representing Ekiti south, says members of the national assembly must obey laws guiding its operations.

Adaramodu, a former journalist, spoke on Wednesday at a one-day capacity-building workshop for members of the senate press corps.

He urged the press corps members to educate Nigerians on the senate standing rules to avoid misconceptions over disciplinary actions taken against lawmakers during plenary sessions.

The lawmaker explained that section 6 (1) of the senate standing rules empowers the senate president to allocate and reallocate seats to senators whenever necessary.

Adaramodu cited the crisis involving Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, in February, as an example of how disregard for rules can create avoidable disputes.

Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio had a heated exchange over a change in seating arrangements.

She has since been suspended by the senate.

“Journalists, like lawmakers, are supposed to have the knowledge of the standard rules together so that when somebody fails to observe the rules either in the senate or house of representatives, you let the public know in your reports,” Adaramodu said.

“If you are supposed to sit on seat number 10 and you go and sit on seat number 13, you will not be recognised by the president. If the affected person insists that he or she must be recognised, ‘katakata’ will surely come up.”

He stressed that seat allocations are not permanent and may be changed by the senate president in line with rule 6 (1).

“The national assembly is not a banana republic where there are no laws. Our laws must be obeyed by us and understood by Nigerians, who are to be educated on them by those of you covering the senate,” he said.

“Parliamentary reporters like those of you covering the senate are expected to be educated and knowledgeable like lawmakers themselves and even more knowledgeable.”