Drama As Speaker, Gbajabiamila, And His Deputy, Wase Clash During Plenary

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, was recently left fuming after his deputy, Idris Wase, confronted him over the sitting of the House.

Mr Gbajabiamila on Wednesday directed that the agenda on the Order Paper be few to allow him attend the commissioning of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies.

He stated that Thursday’s session must not exceed 2 p.m. to allow him to attend the event.

“Chairman Business and Rules, let’s make the order paper light for tomorrow because we have this — it is very important — the permanent site of the NILDS. It is at 2:30. So it will be good we close by 2pm,” he said.

But his deputy challenged his decision, noting that the House cannot afford to be wasting time on commission while the business of the House is left undone.

“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,” he said.

Mr Gbajabiamila was left fuming as he noted that no deputy speaker has ever challenged the speaker.

“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 challenge what the speaker is saying,” he said.

This fight may not be unconnected with the speculation that Mr Wase is leading other aggrieved members to impeach Gbajabiamila.

It would be recalled that Mr Gbajabiamila is backing Tajudeen Abbas for the speaker of the House.