SONA 2020: Minority stays off the Debate in Parliament

Members of Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament has refused to take part in the debate in Parliament on the President’s State of the Nation Address delivered to Parliament last Thursday, February 20, 2020.

Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, told Parliament that, in keeping with the principles of their boycott of the President’s address, they have waived their right to second the motion on the matter and to abstain from the debate.

“Our principle is that we are not participating in this. We will not be speaking to this,” he told the House on Tuesday.

It would be recalled that the Minority group on Thursday walked out on the President before he could even settle in Parliament to deliver his address on the state of nation, citing matters of insecurity, injustice and nepotism by the President and his government.

At a Press Conference shortly afterwards addressed by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrissu, he said they had walked out because of the “fascist and authoritarian tendencies” of the President.

As evidence to the minority’s claim, the Minority Leader cited the President’s alleged support of the Electoral Commission (EC) in the compilation of a new voters register against all advice from some political parties, CSOs and opinion leaders; his refusal to implement the report findings of the Emile Short Commission on the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence; and the persecution of business men associated with the NDC.

There was a one sided debate in the House on Tuesday by the Majority side while the Minority Members only sat in their seats listening to them.

The Majority Members who spoke on the matter on the Floor took the opportunity of the abstinence of the Minority to cast innuendos at them in order to provoke them into calling for a point of order, but they restrained themselves until the debate was officially suspended for the day.

Source: Clement Apology || africanewsradio.com