The House of Representatives on Thursday witnessed a near-violent session following the rejection of a bill, seeking for the establishment of South East Development Commission, sponsored by Hon. Toby Okechukwu
The Bill was rejected by majority of lawmakers after an intense debate that lasted for about two hours. Lawmakers who rejected the bill, including Hon. Muhammad Sani Abdu (APC Bauchi) and Hon. Muhammad Garba Datti (APC, Kaduna) stated claimed that the bill, coming at a time when South Easterners are agitating for Biafra independence was suspicious.
They further rejected the claim by the proponents of the bill that the region was largely marginalized; stressing that the reference to the civil war in the bill could also create division in the country.
The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara who presided over the day's plenary, subjected the bill to voice vote after the debate and majority of the members voted against it. The rejection almost triggered violent clash between Reps members from the East and the North.
Proponents of the Bill including HON. Okechukwu had claimed that the bill if passed would further entrench unity and engender even development since the region has so far been marginalized.
