In what many perceive as a show of sour grape, the wife of Senator Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Remi Tinubu, Wednesday snubbed the Senate President, Bukola Saraki who emerged President of the Senate 24 hours ago, to the chagrin of Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership who had pushed for Senator Ahmed Lawan.
Mrs Tinubu refused to shake hands with Saraki as the new Senate President performed his first official function Wednesday: swearing in of the 28 absentee lawmakers . Senator Saraki, shook hands with the senators. When he stretched his hand to Mrs. Tinubu, she ignored his hand, but responded instead with a bow to the embarrassment of the Senate President.
Some of the senators who were sworn in on Wednesday include George Akume representing Benue state, Ahmed Lawan representing Yobe north and Mrs. Tinubu.
The deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, raised a motion that a message be sent to the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, letting him know the presiding officers of the 8th Senate – Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
He also raised a motion saying that six organisations be informed that a quorum of the senate has been assembled and is ready to receive correspondences.
The bodies are the African Union, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Economic Community of West African States parliament.
Others are the Pan African Parliament and the Association of Senate, Shoora, and the equivalent Council in Africa and the Arab World.
The senate adjourned till June 23.
