Gbajabiamila, Wase clash during Plenary
… Says this is the first time deputy will oppose Speaker
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his Deputy, Idris Wase, openly clashed during plenary on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, over the Speaker’s announcement that the Order Paper for Thursday, May 25, 2023, be made lighter to allow members to attend the official commissioning of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) permanent site.
Before adjourning the session, the Speaker stated that President Muhammadu Buhari will commission the NILDS permanent site along Airport Road by 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
Wase, on the other hand, stated that the principal function of the House was lawmaking and other official work, and that the commissioning of NILDS headquarters was insufficient reason to adjourn the House.
Wase said members willing to attend the commission could do so while the business of the house is not disrupted.
But the Speaker said: “DS, maybe the importance of NILDS is not clear to you like it is to some of us. We are not adjourning the House for members to attend the commissioning. I said the order paper should be made lighter because I will attend the commissioning.
But Wase fired back saying “Mr. Speaker, the House is not about I, but us”.
Turning to the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Gbaja said: “make the order paper light for tomorrow. This House will adjourn at 2.00pm” while members present at plenary choruses Carried.
Gbajabiamila who initially ignored Wase to make another announcement returned to address him by saying “DS, I have been in this House 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.”
The endorsement of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the 10th House has created a sharp division between the Speaker and his Deputy.
Wase is said to have avoided attending the usual leadership meeting held before plenary everyday, while also shunning the Speaker’s procession to the Chamber.
He had openly accused the Speaker of backing Tajudeen for the Speakership position.