DRAMA UNFOLDS IN SENATE AS LAWMAKERS CLASH DURING BUDGET DEFENCE
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HOTJIST NEWS
A quiet disagreement happened on Wednesday during the 2026 budget presentation for the Ministry of Works in the Senate, leading some lawmakers to leave the room.
The session was led by Senator Hanga, who is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Works Committee.
He took over because the main chairman, Mpigi Barinada from Rivers South East, was unable to attend due to being unwell.
The session started on a jovial note with presentations made by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, followed by questions and observations from Senators and Members of the House of Representatives.
Trouble, however, started when a verbal dispute between the Deputy Senate Whip, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi) and the Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Hanga (NNPP, Kano), snowballed into a shouting match among Senators during the hearing.
Nwaebonyi was making his remarks which some committee members considered too patronizing of the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, who many believe is his political benefactor.
The Ebonyi State federal lawmaker urged his colleagues to commend Umahi and President Bola Tinubu for the good job they are doing in the road sector. Senator Hanga intervened by asking him to round off his submission.
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Irked by Hanga’s caution, Nwaebonyi yelled at him, saying, “You cannot stop me from speaking after allowing Senator Adams Oshiomhole(Edo North), to talk for 15 solid minutes.
“Please don’t interrupt me because you allowed Senator Oshiomhole to spend not less than 15 minutes to make his remarks, observations and ask questions without any interruption.
“I’ve barely spent about 5 minutes and you are telling me to round off. I won’t and for your information, as a ranking presiding officer, I can takeover proceedings of this session from you.”
Angered by Nwaebonyi’s response, Senator Hanga yelled back by telling him he lacked such powers and went on to hit the gavel to stamp his authority over the proceedings.
Hanga’s action made Nwaebonyi even more angry, and he angrily said, “I am a ranking senator in the ruling party, and no minority senator can rule against me.”
Hanga responded by informing Nwaebonyi that the votes that brought him to Senate in June 2023, were 10 times higher than the one Nwaebonyi got from his Ebonyi North Senatorial District.
An attempt by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) to calm frayed nerves was rebuffed by Nwaebonyi who angrily shouted at his colleagues and stormed out of the venue.
Normalcy was, however, restored to the proceedings after comments by Senators Ali Ndume (Borno South), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) among others.
Before the incident, the Minister of Works had, in his response to alleged poor job on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaira-Kano Road, challenged the committee members for on-the-spot assessment of the project, saying he will resign, if found not up to standard.
He mentioned that out of the N3.245 trillion allocated for the ministry in the 2026 budget, N760 billion is set aside for new projects. These projects are spread across the six geo-political zones in the country.
He explained that these new projects are different from the four existing legacy projects, and also include the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri road.
He told the committee that the N7 trillion required to finish the road projects that were taken back by NNPCL will come from selling bonds in the domestic market.
Umahi told lawmakers that the ministry’s 2026 capital budget will focus on completing major highways and the four legacy projects started by the Presidency.
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