COMMENT ON BUHARI: Afraid of possible backlash, Omo-Agege begs (Updated)

Twenty four hours after the Senate mandated its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and nine others over statements criticising the adoption of a report on the reordering of election sequence, the lawmaker has apologised.

Relying on Order 54 of the Senate Standing Rules, Omo-Agege, who was fidgeting when he spoke, said his comments were offensive. He said he was withdrawing the claims he made during the media parley.

Tendering his apology, Omo-Agege said: “Yesterday, I was not here. My colleague and my brother, Senator Dino Melaye brought a motion under Privileges which is in Order 15 of the Senate Standing Rules. Mr. President, I rose as a consequent on the debate on the sequence of elections in the Electoral Act amendment which was passed last week Wednesday.

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“In the course of that debate and subsequent upon that, I addressed the media at the press centre. I made certain remarks during that interview which my attention has been drawn to. The comments are offensive, not just to Senator Dino Melaye, but to the entire Senate.

“I rise to apologise to the leadership and the entire Senate for those remarks. I take back whatever I said. Thank you Mr. President.”

Responding, Ekweremadu, insisted that the embattled senator must however face the Ethics committee to clear his name.

He said: “He came under Order 53. In my views, it takes a lot of courage to do this. The matter has already been referred to the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. I urge the committee to quickly look into it so that we can have the report as quickly as possible. Then we will take a decision. Is that the wish of the Senate?”

By Ehisuan Odia …

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