After weeks in hidding, embattled daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, on Thursday made a dramatic return to the Senate
Senators literarily fell over themselves to either hug or shake her hands as she stepped into the Senate chamber at exactly 10: 40am.
Dressed in a spotted brown and white adire skirt and blouse, Iyabo as she is fondly called; sat close to Senator Eme Ufot Ekatte to receive several of her colleagues who took turns to pay her solidarity visits.
Soon after the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark declared the business of the day open, Iyabo was given an opportunity to second a motion by Senator Ayim Ude for the adoption of the votes and proceedings of Wednesday�s session.
Obviously reeling from the rare public display of affection, Iyabo raised Order 43 of the Senate Standing Orders 2007 (as amended) to make a personal explanation.
She said: �The personal explanation I would like to make concerns my issue with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that is on-going. I would like to use this opportunity to thank my colleagues.�
At this point, Mark said: �O.K., Senator Obasanjo, just say thank you��
Undeterred, Obasanjo-Bello said: �No sir. It goes beyond that. I want to thank all members of the National Assembly, Senators especially the leadership of the Senate, they were wonderful.
�I want to thank even the members of the opposition for the way they have supported me. I want to assure you that I have not done anything that would bring down the honour and integrity of this chamber.
�And I will never do anything that would bring down the honour and integrity of this chamber.�
Mark subsequently �inducted� her into the league of comrades in the Senate who according to him, �have gone in and out of prison.�
Senator Uche Chukwumerije commonly called �comrade� however objected to this.
He said �Let me concede this, when we (comrades) go to the police station, we are always bitten by mosquitoes. In fact, we always fend off mosquitoes from all parts of our bodies throughout the night.
�When I saw Obasanjo-Bello this morning, I looked at her closely and I didn�t see a single mosquito bite on her. In fact she is a VIP comrade.�
His remarks sent most senators roaring with laughter.
Obasanjo-Bello had been having a running battle with the EFCC over allegations that her committee took N10m out of the N300m of the Ministry of Health unspent funds.
But the issue is now before an Abuja High Court which admitted her to bail.