The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, clashed in the chamber during the plenary on Wednesday.
Gbajabiamila had reportedly recommended Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the coming 10th House, leading to their endorsement by the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Wase, who is eyeing the seat of Speaker, is a member of the G-7, a group of aspirants aggrieved with the leadership zoning formula of the APC, which plans to adopt a member to run against the party’s candidate.
Towards the end of the session, Gbajabiamila asked the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata, to prepare a light order paper for Thursday as the sitting should close by 2pm to allow members attend an event at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Miffed by the announcement, Wase said, “Mr Speaker, I’m getting to see this is getting so funny and we have lost quite a number of periods of time. For the commissioning of projects for God’s sake! Why do we have to shelve a lot of activities that we have just to go and witness the commissioning of a project of NILDS?
“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.”
Gbajabiamila, in response, saying, “Perhaps, DS, 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!”
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 2pm. I will witness the NILDS (event) because it is important to me.”
Rising again, Wase replied the Speaker, “The parliament is about us, not about ‘I.’”
Shocked by the Deputy Speaker’s outburst, Gbajabiamila said, “Mr Deputy Speaker, this is the first time in history…I have been in this House for many years, perhaps even longer than anybody here…this is the first time in history that a Deputy Speaker will be challenging what the Speaker is saying.”
Wase fired back, “I don’t understand what you mean by challenging, sir. That I should not make my contribution?”
Our correspondent had reported earlier on Tuesday that strong indications had emerged that the relationship between the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House had gone from bad to worse, as Wase was allegedly shunning meetings and interactions with Gbajabiamila.
A source in the leadership of the House, who confirmed Wase’s recent disappearance in the leadership processions into the chamber on Thursday and Tuesday, said the Deputy Speaker is “angry” with the Speaker.
Meanwhile, 63 members-elect of the 10th House of Representatives in opposition parties have endorsed the anointed candidates of the ruling APC, Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively.
The spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who led 62 other members-elect in minority political parties, announced the endorsement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ugochinyere, who is member-elect representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, therefore, called on “my colleague members-elect who are still in the race to stop and join the prefect of the class, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to steer the ship of the 10th Assembly to beat the records of the other Houses in performance and achievement for Nigeria.
“Our common goal now should be beyond party and partisan politics, and totally focused on Nigeria and her greater good. We want the best and we have selected the best and importantly, the selection is by merit.
“I do not speak for myself alone. I speak for the 63 like-minded honourable members-elect of the opposition family, who have agreed on a common vision for the 10th Assembly. We will transform to the TBK Group. Our 63 votes without any dissent or abstention will go for Hon. Tajudeen Abbas. In the coming days, Nigerians will come to know the identity of the TBK Group and will also feel our impact.”
According to the CUPP spokesman, Abbas possesses all the needed qualities to be the next Speaker of the House.
Ugochinyere said with 43 bills in the 8th Assembly, Abbas had the third highest number of bills, while in the 9th House had 74 bills.
He added that “21 of those bills have been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Member-elect representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, a member of the Labour Party, Amobi Ogah, also stated that, “For the first time, we are trying to make history. I’m supporting Abass and Kalu not because APC picked them; Abass and Kalu have the capacity and competence.”
