Second chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly, the House of Representatives, is making moves to recommend the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema for a national award. This is in view of his contribution towards transporting Nigerians from South Africa in the aftermath of xenophobic attacks.
However, the Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, slammed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyeama. Gbajabiamila lampooned the Minister over his alleged refusal to honour the invitation of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
While speaking on a motion on xenophobia moved by Dachung Bagos from Plateau State, he reminded the Minister of the powers of the House to summon any Nigerian. Specifically, the Speaker disclosed that this is in line with provisions of Section 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution.
The Speaker explained that the Air Peace chairman, who was supposed to be at the Green Chamber at the sitting, had to supervise the movement of other Nigerians in South Africa.
He said: “He has been invited, he was supposed to be here today. I thought that the House should commend him. So he will be here tomorrow for us to commend him on behalf of Nigerians.”
On the minister, Gbajabiamila said, “The minister has been asked on several occasions since this incident broke, by the foreign affairs committee and by the leadership of the House, for a full and proper briefing On what transpired to enable us to address the issue properly.
“It is unfortunate that the minister has not responded to the invitation and even when the chairman wrote on behalf of the leadership, he did not respond.
“I believe we are one government and we are here to serve the interest of Nigerians. And I want to use this platform to send a direct message to the minister that he needs to respect the invitation of the committee of the house.
“I would want to refer him to the provision of the constitution in sections 88 and 89. I will be discussing with Mr President on this issue.”
1stNews
