House in rowdy session (http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8955:house-in-rowdy-session-&catid=85:national&Itemid=340)
...as lawmakers want issues concerning Yar'Adua's health discussed The House of Representatives witnessed a rowdy session on Tuesday as some members raised issues concerning summoning Turai Yar'Adua over the state of health of President Umaru Yar'Adua and the deployment of troops on the night the president returned from Suadi Arabia. Mayor Eze, who raised the first point of order on the 'state of the nation' was interrupted by the speaker, Dimeji Bankole, when he asked him to "approach the chair" before presenting his debate to the House. The conversation which lasted for about four minutes also attracted Usman Nafada, deputy speaker and Tunde Akogun, house leader. Eze explained that all attempts to reach the speaker on phone and text messages was futile as he refused to pick his call and respond to the text messages sent on the point of order on Monday. After the conversation with the trio, Eze in his debate called for the intervention of the House by calling on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to call serving ministers, especially Dora Akunyili, minister of information and communications, to order, and not to heat the polity with their unguided comments. But in a swift reaction, Ali Ndume, minority leader, while trying to dissociate himself from the point of order was resisted by majority of the lawmakers. While reacting to the development, Bankole said "we are not debating this matter. I will want to appeal to our colleagues to take things easy. I know we will get to the Promised Land". After this, Patrick Obayangbon raised the second point of order, citing Section 218 of the 1999 constitution on the illegality of deployment of troops by the chief of army staff on the night President Umaru Yar'Adua returned to the country after about three months medical vacation in Saudi Arabia. The point of order was, however, short-lived as the speaker also asked him to approach the chair. After about four minutes of conversing with Obayagbon, the speaker asked him to inform the House of his decision. In response, Obayagbon said "after conversing with Mr. Speaker, I...". At this point, Bankole interrupted him, saying "you don't need to bring me into this, what is your decision?" The scenario, however, led to overwhelming grouse among the lawmakers for about five minutes. Unpleased by the prevailing situation, Samuel Sejero also raised a similar point of order where he accused ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua of breaching his fundamental human rights for coming into the country without proper notice to the acting president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and breaching Section 308 of the 1999 constitution. According to him, "Since the arrival of Mr. President, the press has been awash with stories that nobody has access to Mr. President because Mr. President is being detained and as a result of this, we need to invite the wife of Mr. President and other people who are responsible for his detention." While condemning the act, Sejero urged the House to summon the wife of President Umaru Yar'Adua over the issue.
Source: Businessday :: News you can trust (http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage)