The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, on Monday apologised to pupils of the City Royal Secondary School, Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, who witnessed the free for all in the House on June 22.
The pupils were on excursion to the House to witness legislative proceedings when fighting broke out between supporters of the speaker and a group of lawmakers known as the Progressive-Minded Legislators.
The PML, led by Mr. Dino Melaye, had accused Bankole of allegedly misusing N9bn out of the N11bn voted as the capital budget of the House between 2008 and 2009.
The group had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and released documents it claimed contained details of alleged “contract inflation” to the public.
But the leadership of the House disapproved of the method adopted by the group. and said that the PML breached House rules by going to the public to scandalise the House instead of availing itself of internal mechanisms to resolve the matter.
The matter then turned ugly as members of the PML opposed a decision of the House to suspend them.
Pandemonium broke out in the chamber to the disbelief of the students, who watched from the gallery as the lawmakers punched, kicked, head-butted, slapped and threw instruments at one another.
Eleven members of the group — Melaye, Mr. Anas Adamu, Mr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, Mr. Independence Ogunewe, Mr. Solomon Awhinawhin, Mr. Austin Nwachukwu, Mr. Gbenga Oduwaiye, Mr. Gbenga Onigbogi, Mr. Kayode Amusan, Mr. Bitrus Kaze and Ms. Doris Uboh— were suspended indefinitely.
At the school, Bankole admitted before the pupils that members of the House exhibited a disappointing conduct before them on the day they visited.
The speaker also hinted that the suspended lawmakers might be recalled as part of efforts to resolve the crisis amicably.
The pupils had appealed to Bankole to consider recalling his colleagues in the spirit of reconciliation.
They had gathered at the school’s assembly ground in company with their proprietress, Mrs. Justina Onwe, to receive the speaker.
The school’s Moral Prefect, Master David Sunday, spoke on behalf of his colleagues, telling the speaker that they were impressed by his humility in tracing them to their school to tender the apology.
Sunday said, “We are very happy to have you around; your humility in coming to see us has created a landmark in our school.
“I want to use this opportunity to beg you to please, forgive the people that you have suspended, because you are a kind man, and God will bless you abundantly.”
A few other pupils also spoke, appealing to Bankole to recall the 11 lawmakers.
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