The Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, sparked a dramatic moment in the Senate on Wednesday after entering the chamber dressed in the traditional regalia of the Bachama Kingdom, complete with a neckpiece and a ceremonial staff described by some lawmakers as a spear.
The development drew the attention of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who used humour to address the situation.
He equally cautioned senators seated near Ningi.
Akpabio said: “Before I talk on this matter, I just want to say that the thing on his neck looks like a snake.
“And you people said he has a dagger.
“It is not a dagger, it is a spear.
“And a spear is even more dangerous.
“So please, distinguished senators, be careful and don’t go near Senator Ningi.”
The situation escalated when the Sergeant-at-Arms attempted to take custody of the staff.
Ningi resisted the move, insisting that the item was a sacred symbol linked to a traditional title recently bestowed on him.
He said: “There is no way this instrument will be given to the sergeant-at-arms.
“I will take it away myself. So leave me. I will take it away.
“You don’t know the importance of this and what it means.
“So go back. I will take it away myself.”
Explaining the significance of the regalia, Ningi said: “This regalia is not in any way meant to threaten anybody.
“This regalia is our tradition.
“I am now the Pampamo, which means the spokesperson of the Adamawa, of the Bachama Kingdom.
“And therefore, on their behalf, I see it as an honour.”
The senator also dismissed suggestions that he had breached Senate rules.
He said: “Like many people thought, maybe this is a joke. This is not a joke.
“This is Africa. This is Nigeria. And I’ve been in this National Assembly for close to 19 years.
“I cannot, on my own, violate the regulation of this chamber. As a sitting senator, I don’t think anybody will think I’m coming to harm anybody.”
Ningi further stated that the ceremonial item had already been used earlier in the day without causing concern.
He said: “I brought the spear for a photograph, and I did it with you, I did it with the leadership.
“It was not meant to harm anybody. This is a stainless instrument; it’s just a stick and a decoration for tradition. It’s an empty thing.
“The whip should have come and found out whether what I am carrying is harmful or not, but alas, that’s typical of him; he didn’t verify, nobody questioned it.”
Responding, Akpabio said the Senate respected cultural traditions but noted that such items should be formally introduced through established legislative procedures.
He said: “If you had taken the things outside and then, as you did under Order 42, a personal explanation.
“If you bring it in and now present it to us, it would have been wonderful, but outside that, I don’t think it’s an issue for us to debate.”
Ningi eventually agreed to remove the items from the chamber. As he walked out, Akpabio continued the light-hearted exchange.
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