Outrage as Senate makes U-turn on Stella Oduah

THERE was outrage on Thursday as the  Senate rescinded its resolution to have  the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah,   appear  before  its members over the  October 3 Associated Airlines’ plane crash in Lagos.

Oduah  is now to appear before the Senate Committee on Aviation alongside the Chief Executive Officers of  the aviation agencies under her ministry.

The Senate Leader,  Victor Ndoma-Egba,  who moved a motion for the lawmakers to have a rethink on the invitation of the minister, had  argued that the  action was based on the Senate Standing Order 53 (6) which empowers  it to reverse its decisions.

He also explained that   the decision  was earlier  reached at an  executive committee meeting of the Senate last week.

Senator Ganiyu Solomon, who seconded the motion,   said,  “At  the executive session last week, the senators were unanimous in the decision  that  the resolution should be rescinded and that the minister should rather face the aviation committee.”

There was however  deafening silence when  the Senate President, David Mark,  called for  comments from the senators and none of them offered any contrary opinion.

When  Mark   requested votes from his colleagues on whether to approve or reject the prayers contained  in the motion,  all of them voted in support.

The    Senate  decision  came  on a  day that one of the victims of the    Associated Airlines’ plane  crash    and  the Ondo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Deji Falae, was buried in Akure.

Ndoma – Egba  had last week informed his colleagues that Oduah and the  executives of the   aviation agencies would be received  during Thursday’s plenary.

But the  Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session last week, had   said the  minister and her team would not be received because Mark was  leading the  Federal Government delegation to   support   the Golden Eaglets in the United Arab Emirates.

He said the Senate President had signified his intention to personally preside over  the session on Thursday(today).

The Chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee,  Hope Uzodinma, later explained   why the  senators   made   a U-turn on  their earlier decision to have   Oduah appear before them  during  Thursday’s  plenary.

He said the  action would enable the Senate to carry out a thorough investigation into other issues affecting  the Aviation  ministry  and its agencies   instead of limiting the probe to the October 3 plane crash.

Uzodinma  said, “You will recall that the invitation to the minister was just in relation to the crash of the Associated  airline plane. Now, during this period, fresh issues emerged which called for a holistic and well researched investigation.

 “As it is the practice of the Senate, such investigation is better started from the committee and then the report will be submitted to the plenary.

 “This is exactly what the Senate has done now. I think it is proper and it is in order and it is in accordance with the Senate rules.”

 He described as untrue, insinuations that the Senate leadership was under tremendous pressure from the Presidency to give Oduah, a soft landing.

 The committee chairman  said, “I don’t know where you people heard  that  but what

I have just said is in order and that is the rule and that is what we are doing and that is what is authentic and that is out now from me to you.

 “I told you that the invitation was just in relation to the plane crash involving Associated aircraft, the Senate became worried that there were these repeated occurrences  of air crashes and that they needed to know what is happening in the sector.

 “Now, being insensitive to the opinion and feelings of the people would not be good since fresh issues have emerged and  that this would push us to details and  so that we can carry out a full scale investigation.

 “The Senate has now, in its wisdom, decided to go into full scale investigation so as to be able to look into the sector very holistically with a view to bringing to bear,  a permanent solution. And that is exactly what we are going to do.”

 Asked when Nigerians should be expecting  the committee to invite the minister, Uzodinma said, “well, the timetable will be worked out as soon as we meet at the committee level.

“We have a meeting this  Thursday(yesterday)  afternoon at the committee level just to design a template for that.”

It was however gathered that  decision of the Senate to reverse itself  might not be unconnected with the fact that   its  leadership  was not favourably disposed to embarrassing her.

Investigations  revealed that highly placed individuals had been mounting subtle pressure on the Senate  leadership since it resolved to invite Oduah to the plenary.

It was learnt that the leadership of the Senate felt  that  many outspoken senators, especially  those in  the opposition camp,  might  seize the opportunity  to ask questions or make comments that might further embarrass  the minister and the Peoples Democratic Party-led  Federal Government.

A  source in the Senate ,  who pleaded to remain anonymous,  said, “From the look of things, the leadership of the Senate was not too keen about sanctioning the woman.”

Asked why none of the Senators made any comment when Mark offered them the opportunity, the source replied, “Everybody had read Mark’s  body language  and  felt that making comments  could attract sanctions.

“The Senate president, according to his deputy, had during   plenary last week Thursday said he would want to be present when the minister would appear. So how come the tone changed suddenly?”

Human  rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), and  the Chairman, Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association,Monday Chima, however, flayed the U-turn by the Senate.

They   said the move was part of the plan by the Senate and the Presidency to sweep the matter under the carpet.

PUNCH