Bature Umar and Tokunbo Adedoja
23 August 2000
Abuja — Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na'Abba yesterday had to plead with his colleagues to agree to a Joint Sitting of the two chambers of the National Assembly in honour of President Bill Clinton on Saturday.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Chijioke Edoga, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the closed door session of the house which preceded the presentation of the motion on the visit said the Speaker had to plead with the house members before they consented to the joint sitting with the Senate.
Edoga disclosed that almost the entire House was against the American President's address of the National Assembly in view of Obasanjo's uncomplimentary remarks against members of the National Assembly.
The motion on Clinton's Visit to the country and his proposed address the National Assembly which was later presented by the House leader, Hon Mohammed Wakil was however adopted by the House unanimously.
Arguing in favour of the motion which was moved by Hon. Sule Yari Ghandi, Wakil said the country would benefit tremendously from the visit saying that the House needs to honour him by allowing him to address the National Assembly.
He also called the attention of his colleagues to the fact that the US had contributed significantly in the entrenchment of the present democratic set up in the country.
In a related development, the House also resolved not to allow any minister to enter their chambers during Clinton's address on August 26.
This, according to THISDAY sources was one of the decisions reached during the closed door session of the House yesterday which deliberated on the visit.
The source explained that the House decision was in apparent response to the shabby attitude of the Ministers towards members of the National Assembly and in conformity with their rules which gives them the right to determine who enters their chambers.
The source disclosed, that the House has decided not to allow any non elected person on Nigeria to enter their chamber.
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