Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday warned some factional minority leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, not to cause problems in the House or they will regret it.
The warning came even as he blocked the members from bringing up issues connected to the parallel principal officers produced by the minority parties on Wednesday.
Mr. Ndudi Elumelu and Mr. Kingsley Chinda had both emerged as factional Minority Leaders. However, the House recognised Elumelu as minority leader.
At Thursday’s plenary, before the procession of the House leaders, Chinda took the seat reserved for the Minority Leader on the front row. Meanwhile, Elumelu processed into the chamber with the Speaker and other officers of the House.
After the opening prayers, Gbajabiamila approved the votes and proceedings of Wednesday, noting that the adoption was in line with Order 9 Rule 4 and Order 10 of the House’s Standing Rules.
As he spoke, he was cheered by many members in the chamber, who chanted Gbaja! Gbaja! Gbaja!
Angered by what was going on, Chinda sought to raise a point of order. He said, “Mr Speaker, point of order!”
He was however rebuffed by the Speaker, who responded; “Without even asking what your point of order is, you are overruled.”
A second time, Chinda wanted to raise a point of order and again Gbajabiamila replied, “I will not recognise you, you are not in your allocated seat.”
The altercation drew further cheers from members as chants of “Gbaja!” filled the air.
The Speaker then went on with the business of the day, swearing in a new member.
Shortly after, Chinda, again sought to raise a point of order.
This time, visibly angered by Chinda’s insistence, Gbajabiamila said, “I am going to make this point and I am going to make it very clear: there are allocated seats. If you are not seated in your allocated seat, you will not be recognised; number one. Number two, I want to make it again, abundantly clear; I am pleading, do not test the resolve of this House. Do not test the resolve of this House. You will have cause to regret it.”
At this point, an APC member from Abia State, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, raised a point of order to lamenting the crisis in the newly inaugurated House reminding members that they were elected to address important and urgent national issues.
He called for the investigation of a member, Mr. Gogo Bright, who on Wednesday removed the mace from the rightful position in protest against the announcement of Elumelu as the Minority Leader citing Order 6 and Section 19(b) of the Legislative Privileges Act which state bar lawmakers from disrupting legislative activities, violent acts, among others.
“I am not one of the ranking members, I am just one of the new members who came here because of specific interest, to add my own quota to the making of laws; not to learn how to fight or how to become violent. Yesterday, I was psychologically threatened; I was traumatised by the events that played out in this house. It is supposed to be a hallowed chamber. While I was seated here, I saw many ranking members who we respect so much, especially Honourable Bright from Rivers State who went for the mace.
“It is an attempt to destroy the integrity, the sacredness of this House. I saw that play out yesterday and I felt so bad. I was to ask: Are members now allowed to become sergeants-at-arms or play their role as provided in our order. My prayer is that this House constitute a committee to look into what happened yesterday.”
In his ruling, the Speaker said it was a matter of privilege, which would not be subjected to a debate, but recognised that the action by Bright was “a breach of our individual and collective privilege.”
He said, “We will refer the matter and the gentleman who he (Kalu) specifically named to an ad hoc ethic (and privileges) committee, the membership of which would be made before the close of sitting today.”
He therefore set up a committee headed by the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Peter Akpatason, to look into the mace matter.
A member of the Chinda-led faction, Tajudeen Yusuf, raised a point of order to notify the House that the votes and proceedings of Wednesday earlier approved by Gbajabiamila did not contain the letter signed by 99 opposition members nominating Elumelu and others as minority and principal officers.
In response, Gbajabiamila said, “Your point is noted.” Again, Chinda attempted to raise a point of order.
Gbajabiamila responded, “Honourable Chinda, do not try my resolve. You are not on your allotted seat, so you will not be heard today.”
Another member of the Chinda group, Mark Gbillah, raised a point of order saying, “With all due respect, I consider my privilege breached by the comments you made which appear to contravene the law, that seem like a threat you’re making to the honourable members of this House.”
Responding, Gbajabiamila said, “Honourable Mark Gbillah, “Please look at your dictionary meaning of threat and the dictionary meaning of warning.”
Several other members of the minority faction who attempted to raise issues, received the same treatment from the Speaker.
