'Foolish' Nigerian senate strike

The federal capital territory minister has ruffled some feathers in the senate

The Nigerian senate has gone on strike for two days - demanding President Olusegun Obasanjo sacks a minister who called them foolish.

Outspoken minister for Abuja, Nasir El-Rufai, is one of President Obasanjo's most controversial appointees.

He has been criticised for ordering the demolition of illegal structures in Abuja, as well as dismissing hundreds of workers in his ministry.

The senate is often locked in bitter battles with the government.

The senate rejected an apology made by President Obasanjo on behalf of the minister.

Fool

Senator Uche Chukwumerije told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that nothing short of the minister's departure would assuage the anger of the senators.

Mr Rufai has led a construction boom in the capital Abuja

"Most of them felt very affronted, very insulted," he said.

"Nobody likes to be called a fool."

The senator said the incident was most unfortunate as he viewed the minister as a "brilliant young man".

In October last year, Mr El-Rufai told a senate corruption investigation that two leading senators asked him to pay $414,000 for them to confirm his appointment.

This corruption allegation was one of the first made by a senior government minister against his peers in Nigeria - ranked as the world's second most corrupt country.