Teddy Oscar, Abuja
Members of the House of Representatives and Senate on Tuesday returned from a three-week recess, but, however, adjourned plenaries to honour Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, who died in the early hours of Thursday, June 12, 2014 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The two chambers had embarked on the break to mark the end of third legislative session of the 7th National Assembly on Thursday, June 5, 2014.
Addressing the lawmakers in the Green Chambers, speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, explained that members of the House would adjourn sitting in solidarity with members of the Senate, who are mourning one of their colleagues.
At the Red Chambers, however, the senators sat for few minutes to adopt the votes and proceedings of its last sitting, which held on June 5, 2014.
After the adoption, the Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, moved a motion entitled: Demise of Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.
Moving the motion for the Senate adjournment, Ndoma-Egba said: “while we were on break, tragedy befell this chamber with the sudden death of our dear colleague, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, the chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character, who died on the 12th of this month in Lagos on his way for medical treatment abroad.
“Distinguished colleagues, may I, in line with our tradition, move that this Senate do adjourn plenary till tomorrow (25th June 2014) in honour of our departed colleague.”
Consequently, the Senate adopted the motion, which was put to it for approval by the President of the Senate, David Mark.
Mark, in his short remark, told the senators that the chamber would devote the day solely for valedictory session in honour of the late senator, who represented Niger East during his life time.
He also hinted that Tuesday’s valedictory session would be attended by the Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, the family members of the late senator and other prominent Nigerians, especially the politicians, who at one time or another served as members of the National Assembly.
Mark also led other senators to sign the condolence register that was opened at the entrance of the Senate chamber, where he spoke to journalists.
“In Kuta, Nigeria and indeed the Senate have lost a very patriotic citizen, who at all times, joined hands with other patriots to move the country forward through whatever national assignment given to him.
“Specifically, the late Senator Kuta made the Senate Committee on Federal Character to be very vibrant and responsive to its legislative responsibilities in terms of making relevant agencies under it to reflect equity in federal appointment and distribution of resources,”Mark stated.
Aside the Senate President, the deputy Senate president, Ike EKweremadu, Ndoma-Egba, minority leader, Senator George Akume, deputy minority whip and many others also made remarks on the late senator, after signing the condolence register.
The Union reports that the death of Kuta is the third to occur in the 7th Senate.
Senator Gyang Datong died in 2012, while attending a funeral of his constituent members, who were allegedly killed during the invasion of some villages in his senatorial district by purported Fulani herdsmen.
Also, in June 2013, the Senate lost another member, Senator Pius Ewherido, who represented Delta Central Senatorial District.
