Senate rejects motion seeking to debate Buhari’s Democracy Day speech

The majority of Nigerian senators Thursday voted against a
motion to debate President Muhammadu Buhari’s Democracy Day speech
in plenary.

The motion to scrutinise the speech was moved by Istifanus Gyang
(Plateau-PDP).

Coming under Order 52 of the Senate standing order, Mr Gyang
asked his colleagues, through the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, to
grant him the leave to present a motion on a matter of public
importance.

“The matter of urgent national importance I am bringing before
this Senate has to do with the democracy day speech of President
Muhammadu Buhari of the 12th June 2019. This speech is already in
the public domain. I am asking that in view of the interest it has
generated…,” he said.

The lawmaker was cut short by Mr Lawan who asked to seek the
consent of other senators to entertain the motion.
After putting the question, the majority of the lawmakers voted
against the motion and it was consequently shut down.

It is not clear which part of the speech Mr Gyang wanted to
raise.

Mr Buhari also promised to take 100 million Nigerians from
poverty to prosperity in the next 10 years.

Another motion shut down
Shortly after rejecting Mr Gyang’s motion, another senator, Uche
Ekwunife (Anambra-PDP), signified interest to present a similar
motion.

Mrs Ekwunife said she had earlier informed the Senate President
on presenting a motion on Mr Buhari’s speech but was asked to bring
it up as an amendment to Mr Gyang’s prayers.

She prayed to be allowed to present her motion since she could
not get the amendment opportunity as earlier arranged.

Mrs Ekwunife was asked to present her motion on another
legislative day.

Mr Lawan made this ruling on the argument that she raised her
point of order a little late as the Senate had that time proceeded
to the first order of the day.

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