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24hrs after Reps’ criticism, Senate cancels planned South Africa trip

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Twenty four hours after the Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila faulted plans by the Senate to send a delegation to the South African parliament, following attacks on Nigerians living in the former apartheid country, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has announced the cancellation of the planned trip.

Gbajabiamila, had at a press conference on Tuesday, said it would be wrong for the Senate to send a delegation to the South African parliament, since the the House of Representatives, had already taken a similar decision to send a delegation.

The House of Representatives Leader, had noted that if a similar decision had been taken by the Senate, the Lower Legislative Chamber would have cancelled its trip, instead of duplicating the same responsibility.

He had said that the failure on the part of the Senate to consult with the leadership of the House of Representatives, led to the duplication of responsibility by both chambers.

But arising from a closed door session which lasted for about 45 minutes, the Senate announced the cancellation of the planned trip, by its delegation, to South Africa over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.

Briefing plenary, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ekweremadu, who presided, said the cancellation became imperative to avoid multiple delegations to the Southern Africa nation.

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He said: “On our trip to South Africa, we noted that the House of Representatives insists on going to South Africa independently. We thought we could lead a single and harmonized delegation of the National Assembly to avoid the embarrassment of multiple delegations. The Senate, therefore, decided to pull out to allow the House delegation to proceed.”

The Senate had on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, resolved to dispatch a delegation of the upper chamber on a parliamentary diplomatic mission to the Parliament of South Africa to register the nation’s displeasure over the resurgence of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country and to dialogue with their South African counterparts on how to end the perennial attacks.

The resolution was sequel to a motion by Senator Rose Oko, tagged “Resurgence of Xenophobic Attacks and Extra-judicial Killings of Nigerians in South Africa”.

The delegation was to be led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. Others named on the aborted delegation were Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the Chief Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye; Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani; Senator Stella Oduah; Senator Magnus Abe; and Senator Shaba Lafiaji.

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0 Comments

  1. Margret Dickson

    March 8, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    What is wrong with house of rep and senate sending delegates at the same time? This shows Nigerian government is responsible and not happy with the treatments her citizens are getting in South Africa. Possibly, the executives should also send delegates.

    • Joy Madu

      March 9, 2017 at 1:05 am

      Yes he should become we are loosing soul everyday and it has to stop

  2. Animashaun Ayodeji

    March 8, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    House of rep insisted senate should step down and allow them go alone because they wanted the credit. These are lives of Nigeria citizens we are talking about, the federal government should go to any length in protecting them so far the citizens have not in anyway involved in criminal acts abroad. I hope they will find solution to it

    • yanju omotodun

      March 8, 2017 at 5:26 pm

      Medicine after death. We dont need their going to South Africa because it’s late already.

  3. Balarabe musa

    March 8, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Foolish lawmakers from different chambers. Both of them are not going to South Africa because they have concerns for Nigerians in the South Africa but just to catch funs and sleep with fresh South Africa babes. I see no reason why we have legislative body in Nigeria.

    • seyi jelili

      March 8, 2017 at 5:02 pm

      Aboki, you are right. Not that we should not have a legislative body, it is compulsory but we don’t need the two bodies but just one is okay. We are just wasting money on the two legislative bodies.

  4. Maitala Zakariya

    March 9, 2017 at 8:45 am

    Why do we need to send delegates to South Africa? Whats the function of the ministry of Foreign affairs? What is our Embassy in South Africa doing?
    I just see it as a means for all those “good for nothing” (pardon my choice of words) minded, so called Senate and reps members going specifically for the estacode and to just enjoy themselves. Period.

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