Wednesday’s plenary session featured an altercation between the House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase.
Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu were purportedly recommended by Gbajabiamila for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the upcoming 10th House, earning them support from the All Progressives Congress. Wase is a member of the G-7, a group of candidates who are upset with the APC’s leadership zoning mechanism and considering running against the party’s nominee. Wase is targeting the position of Speaker.
Gbajabiamila requested toward the end of the session that a light order paper be prepared for Thursday since the meeting ended by 2 p.m. so that members can attend an event at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Wase expressed his disappointment at the announcement, he said and I quote, “Mr Speaker, I am getting to realize this is getting so hilarious and we have lost quite a bit of time. For the sake of God, commission projects! Why do we need to put off a lot of our plans only to attend the commissioning of a NILDS project?
Gbajabiamila, in response, said, “Perhaps, you don’t appreciate the importance of NILDS like some of us do. I think NILDS is very important,” the Deputy Speaker interjected, “I have every information and idea of what NILDS is!”
“I want to beg, sir, that we should do our functions. Those who have the interest to go, they have the right to. But our main primary function in this parliament is to make law and our citizens should be our priority.”
The Speaker further stated, “It was set up by this same institution by statute. We are not adjourning the House to go to NILDS; what I said was, ‘Let’s try and make it light and leave here by two.’ If you want, we can resume by 10(am). We will do our work but we will adjourn this House at 2 pm. I will witness the NILDS (event) because it is important to me.”
Wase replied to the Speaker, “The parliament is about us, not about ‘I.’”
Gbajabiamila was stunned by the Deputy Speaker’s reaction and said,
“Mr. Deputy Speaker, this is the first time in history…This is the first time ever in history that a Deputy Speaker will be disputing what the Speaker is saying. I have served in this House for a very long period, probably even longer than anyone else here.
I do not understand what you mean by challenging, sir,” Wase retorted. Perhaps I should not contribute my efforts?”
