BREAKING VIDEO: Akpabio, Dickson in heated argument over State of Emergency in Rivers

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Godswill Obot Akpabio, the president of the Nigerian Senate, and Senator Seriake Dickson got into a furious dispute on Thursday on the application of Senate Rules to the discussion of the State of Emergency in Rivers State.

In order to allow the Senate to debate the state of emergency before any other motion was presented for legislative action, Senate Leader Michael Bamidele Opeyemi moved to reorder the Order Paper when the Senate gathered for plenary.

Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State and representative of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, raised a point of order as Bamidele stood to highlight the pertinent order, but Akpabio was reluctant to comply.

In a humorous way, the irate Akpabio recalled how he had seen him on TV declare that he would not follow the Senate’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, despite Dickson’s insistence on using a point of order to draw the Senate President’s attention.

Akpabio said: “Senator Seriake Dickson, let’s not argue, if we argue it won’t be good for any of us.

“We are all distinguished people, you were a former governor, I was a former governor. Please turn off your mic and sit down. I watched you on television. You said, whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never go with you.

“I said you said whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never have your vote.

“I don’t know but if you have already made up your mind to go on television when the Senate has not done anything or considered any issue, I am not arguing with you, but I say, please allow me to preside.

Replying to the Senate President, Seriake Dickson said: “Mr Senate President, you know we must have mutual respect for all our colleagues, and I do have regard for you, particularly, as our presiding officer and I think that should be reciprocal.”

According to Dickson, he brought up the point of order to alert senators to the requirement that they enter a meeting behind closed doors first.

The Senate promptly entered a closed-door session when the Senate Leader made the move to do so and Senator Abba Moro, the opposition leader, seconded it.

Watch the video below

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