Death, yesterday, crept into the Senate wing of the National Assembly with the collapse of two persons during plenary. While a ministerial nominee from Kaduna State, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, came down unexpectedly during his screening but was revived, the Tribune Newspaper correspondent, Tijani Adeyemi, who was covering the proceedings, also went down, but unfortunately couldn’t make it.
Before commencement of the screening of the three ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for consideration by President Bola Tinubu, Adeyemi suffered a cardiac arrest in one of the National Assembly’s shuttle buses but died before he could get to the SGF clinic where he was immediately rushed to. He was confirmed dead at the SGF office before his body was moved to the National Assembly’s clinic.
While Adeyemi’s body was still kept at the National Assembly’s clinic awaiting evacuation for burial according to Muslim rites, one of the Ministerial nominees, Balarabe Lawal collapsed after making his presentation and while waiting to field questions from Senators. The nominee slumped around 1:50p.m. after he introduced himself and highlighted his achievements so far in the private and public sectors.
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After he slumped, senators rushed to the podium to save his life. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, screamed and asked for water, sugar and Coke to save the nominee’s life. He was quickly put back on his feet by the Sergeants at Arm and a few senators like Opeyemi Bamidele and Elisha Abbo. Akpabio then directed that the Senate go into a closed-door session immediately.
In a swift response, the doctors at the National Assembly clinic, who were still documenting vital information on Adeyemi given by some of his colleagues, rushed to the Senate Chamber to revive Lawal, with some equipment carried for them by one of the journalists.
There was confusion in the chamber when the doctors rushed in with their first aid equipment to revive the ministerial nominee, who was already made to sit.
The Senate resumed sitting at 2:55p.m. after the ministerial nominee from Kaduna was whisked away from the podium of the chamber.Upon resumption of the sitting, the ministerial nominee from Ondo State, Ayodele Olawande, was invited to the Senate chamber for screening. Lawal was placed at a corner of the chamber where a medical team of the National Assembly administered treatment on him.
The Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said Lawal slumped during the screening as a result of fatigue.
“The three nominees that came today have been confirmed. Two of them stood throughout but unfortunately one of them when he started before the screening, he did well, he submitted his resume and he is the current Secretary to Kaduna State Government. He has a very rich resume.
“Unfortunately, due to exhaustion and fatigue, he had a little health hiccup and we had to drop him, we had to bring him down, let him just get himself together, then he was put together.” Adaramodu said when the ministerial nominee was resuscitated, he wanted to continue with the screening but the Senate leadership prevented him.
“He even wanted to continue but the Senate said look, because of the exhaustion, just go and seek further medical attention and then rest.”
Meanwhile, the body of Adeyemi was laid to rest at the Gudu Cemetery in line with Islamic rites.
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President of the ninth Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in a condolence message to the family and the Senate Press Corps, mourned his sudden death. He said: “As a reporter, he was known for his remarkable talent and dedication. He had an unwavering passion for journalism, and his commitment to delivering accurate and compelling narratives deeply resonated with those who had the pleasure of reading his work.
“Beyond his professional achievements, Adeyemi was a genuine and compassionate individual. To the best of my knowledge, he approached his work with empathy, seeking to understand the unique perspectives of the National Assembly, which he covered for many years.
“To the family he left behind, the Editorial Board of Tribune Newspaper, and the Senate Press Corps, please, accept my deepest condolences and know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult period. May the memories of Adeyemi provide comfort and strength during this time of grief.”
Also, Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed shock over the death of Adeyemi. In a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Bamidele condoled Adeyemi’s family members, management and staff of Nigerian Tribune, Senate Press Corps and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) over his sudden death.
– Guardian News
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