Former Nigerian Minister of Education and also, former Vice President of the World Bank, Ms. Oby Ezekwesili, on Thursday lambasted members of the House of Representatives for the violence on the parliament floor.
Ms. Ezekwesili said the lawmakers owe their children, who watched their actions on television, an apology. She stated this in a series of tweets by @obyezeks, which she targeted at an account that appeared to belong to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
“@doyakubu what message do YOU think those children took away from you and your colleagues today? Sadly, they will NEVER forget today,” she said.
“How many of you agree that members of House of Reps owe those children who had to watch their embarrassing brawl a BIG APOLOGY @doyakubu”.
It may be recalled that on Thursday, members of the House of Representatives physically assaulted one another over election of House principal officers. The parliament broke into two factions, with one supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the other backing the speaker, Yakubu Dogara. Mr. Dogara had defied his party, APC, and with block vote from opposition members of the PDP defeated his party’s candidate for speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila. His rejection of nominees by the APC for post of House Leader and others available for lawmakers elected on the party’s platform, caused the violence.
Ms. Ezekwesili, a former education minister, described the violence as a mockery of democracy.
“@doyakubu Fighting/wrestling in the sanctum of democracy just makes a mockery of democratic ethos of disagreeing without being disagreeable.
“@doyakubu No progressive society in the league of those our lawmakers like to visit got their status WITHOUT DISCIPLINE .As in DISCIPLINE,” she said.
She called on the senate president, Bukola Saraki, and Mr. Dogara to get feedback from citizens on the actions of the National of Assembly.
“Senate President @bukolasaraki and Speaker @doyakubu must get this FEEDBACK from citizens. When will 8th # NASS FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE? WHEN?” she tweeted.