Some Aspirants for the position of the Speaker of the 10th Assembly and others showed their approval of the way the outgoing Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is handling the issue of those who will succeed him by kicking against the unilateral decision to adjourn legislative activities on Wednesday.
There is the allegation that some aggrieved member may be plotting to remove the Speaker
The aggrieved lawmakers alleged that the repeated adjournment of Legislative activities was to avert purported sinister move to impeach the Speaker over the imposition of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu as preferred Candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly.
Hon. Gbajabiamila presided over Wednesday’s plenary after weeks of recess. He reading two communications from President Muhammadu Buhari including:
The atmosphere at the green chamber changed after Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC-Ogun) raised a Point of Order, Rule 6, Order 1 and 2 on matter of privileges.
He said: “my point of order is that today as we speak induction program is ongoing at the ICC center which I am privileged together with other members to be part of Batch B.
“Last week because of this same programme the House adjourned, the plenary was not in session but today because of the plenary I have to be here while this programme Ia ongoing
“I cannot be properly accommodated on the Programme at the induction ground alongside plenary.
“That is why I am coming under order of privileges order 6,1,2,3. Mr. Speaker, my prayer is that the House do adjourn to allow us participate in the programme,” he said.
To this end, Hon. Isiaka urged the House to reconvene after the programme, saying, “I am not the only victim of this, there are other members who are complaining about their privileges. I so move.”
But reacting to the motion, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Wase, who is a member of the G7 countered Isiaka’s motion by arguing that the adjournment was needless.
He maintained that the adjournment was not proper, observed that the induction could be going on simultaneously with plenary just like it was done at the Senate.
He said: “I respect the view of distinguished colleague, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka who moved for the adjournment, but I think Mr. Speaker this institution have a lot memories.
“There have never been a time because of induction the House suspended plenary.
“I don’t know the rate of attrition in terms of those who are back to the House compared to those who are now not returning, that we have to adjourn the House because of induction.
“I think there are many issues in the country that we need to face and tackle, we are running out Mr. Speaker, we have just today and tomorrow for the week.
“We lost yesterday, I want to beg my brother to consider his own stand, he should know that in any way that there is no where in our own Rules that says that we are doing induction.”
He said the days for sitting in the House was clearly stated out in the House order.
However, the Speaker disregarded another member of the G7, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), who raised his hand and attempted to make input into the motion.
Also opposed to the motion, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP-Kogi) opined fairness dictates that if plenary could be adjourned for lawmakers-elect that were in the first batch of the programme, those in the second batch should not be denied.
He said having taken the route of allowing a group of lawmakers to attend the training, others should be allowed to as well.
Also speaking, Hon. Ademorin Kuye (APC-Lagos), observed that Members-elect can not afford to miss the training being different from previous programmes with the introduction of emerging innovations.
Speaker Gbajabiamila, before putting the question, noted that Hon. Isiaka raised a fundamental question noting that the induction programme is a right, not a privilege. According to him, if the lawmakers-elect in the first batch were allowed to attend the programme, the second batch must also be allowed, for fairness and equity.
Meanwhile, the Senate has been sitting since the induction of lawmakers began, while the House of Reps which reconvened on May 17 immediately called for adjournment after many postponements.
Speaking at the sideline of the plenary on the adjournment, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (APC-Kaduna) argued that the adjournment was to enable members and the Aspirants to consult widely.
“There is nothing abnormal. If you recollect in 2014, we had a situation of emergency nature that warranted the House of Reps to adjourn for very long time. And you know, at this time, most of the members are going round campaigning, and I believe that one of the reasons why Mr. Speaker thought it fit to actually adjourn is to enable members and contestants to go round and continue with their consultations. I think it is perfectly in order.
“We thank the Almighty Allah for granting us the opportunity to serve and be recognised by our party and President-elect as worthy of being the leader of this hallowed chamber.
“And I can assure you that we are doing everything humanly possible to consult with all the stakeholders – Governors, chairmen of parties, NWC, our contestants and everybody, so that at the end of the day, this election that will be coming up on June 13 will be rancour-free.
“And we are making a lot of progress. We are moving and surely, by the grace of God, we will reach the destination safely and successfully.”
On his part, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson averred that the adjournment of Legislative activities is a normal practice.
He said: “It is not a normal practice but we did it last week. A lot of members did not sit last week because the induction was taking place. The induction is for members to understand and to be abreast of what is happening in the country. So, we deemed it fit to extend that to this week’s batch as well.”
On his part, Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba (APC-Nasarawa) said he was aware of the alteration made in the House Rules to favour Gbajabiamila’s preferred candidate.
“There are some agitation by members because there is a particular alteration from the House Rules which it was conspicuously inserted and has never been deliberated upon at the plenary or in the vote and proceedings.
In the bid to clear airs on the allegation, he said: “Some members promised to take it up with him and to bring it as Order of Privilege in the House so that members would be able to discus why would the insertion be in the House Rules in the 10th Assembly.
“I think that might be the reason why he adjourned the House and that insertion was done probably to make the election seamless for his preferred candidate,” Hon. Nalaraba argued.