… Gbajabiamila retorts this is the first time in history a DS is challenging a speaker
The cold war between the outgoing speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Idris Wase was openly displayed during legislative session on Wednesday.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that Gbajabiamila had endorsed Hon Tajudeen Abass to replace him as speaker to the chagrin of some lawmakers who considered Abass to be too unpopular to lead the HoR.
Both principal officers did not hide their hidden angst during plenary over the announcement by the Speaker that the Order Paper for Thursday be made lighter to allow members attend the official Commissioning of the permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies(NILDS).
Before adjourning the plenary, the Speaker announced the NILDS permanent site along Airport Road will be commissioned by 3.00pm on Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He asked the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business to ensure that the order paper was not clouded with the day’s business so that the House can adjourn early enough for the event.
But Wase fired back saying “Mr. Speaker, the House is not about I, but us”.
Gbajabiamila first ignored his Deputy, made another announcement before returning to address him saying “DS, I have been in this House like long enough to know that this is the first time in the history of this House that a Deputy Speaker will openly oppose what the Speaker says.”
Turning to the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Gbajabiamila said: “make the order paper light for tomorrow. This House will adjourn at 2.00pm” while members present at plenary chorused Carried.
The endorsement of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the 10th House has created a sharp division between the Speaker and his Deputy.
Wase us said to have avoided attending the usual leadership meeting held before plenary everyday, while also shunning the Speaker’s procession to the Chamber.
