After four days of debate, All Progressives Congress (APC) senators yesterday ditched party loyalty when the N4.642 trillion 2014 Appropriation Bill successfully scaled Second Reading in the Senate. There was no single voice of dissent when Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who led the session, put the question to his colleagues in the Upper Chamber.
But the budget is not out of the danger zone yet. Minority Leader George Akume warned, saying that “if filibustering does not achieve the desired objective, the party shall resort to other democratic measures.” He didn’t state what the “other democratic measures” were.
Recall that the APC had directed its members in the National Assembly to block all executive bills so as to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the Rivers crisis.
Following this directive, there was anxiety over the fate of the new budget and its consequent effect on the economy.
The APC senators, however, chose to ignore party affiliations and allowed the budget to pass through the Second Reading for its consequent journey to the Appropriation Committee which will also delegate the job to its 53 sub-committees.
But Sen. Akume reminded the chamber that although APC senators were not anti-people and so, would do everything to still comply with the directive from their party.
His words: “For those who claim that the APC directive is anti-people, our answer is that they should appeal to the Presidency who singularly holds the key to the resolution of this crisis.
“This directive is a legitimate democratic tool aimed at restoring the rule of law and constitutionalism in Rivers State to save lives of citizens. These reports are misleading as they variously misconstrue the real intention of the APC directive and the action of the senators.
“The APC directive is conditional upon the restoration of normalcy in Rivers State. APC senators, in acknowledgment of party supremacy and the patriotic nature of this directive are fully committed and determined to comply. If filibustering does not achieve the desired objective, the party shall resort to other democratic measures”.
In his remarks, Ekweremadu commended his colleagues for their contributions during debate on the general principles of the budget, adding, “this confirms that the Senate is united in issues of national interest.”
He, however, expressed hope that the House of Representatives would accelerate action on the budget and commit it to relevant committees without further delay.
The bill was forwarded to the Committees on Appropriation and Finance and given 21 days to jointly process and submit the report for passage.
-Sun News
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