There was a mild drama in plenary at the House of Representatives on Tuesday following a disagreement between Rivers lawmaker, representing the Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency, Cyril Hart, and deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu.
Hart had accused Kalu of discrimination against new lawmakers by ignoring them during debates on the floor of the green chamber.
Earlier in plenary, the lawmaker representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, Borno State, Ahmadu Jaha, had moved a motion condemning a recent suicide bombing which claimed not fewer than 32 lives in the Gwoza area of the North-East state.
The Rivers lawmaker, alleged that he was ignored by the deputy speaker who was presiding despite indicating his interest to contribute to the motion.
In his words, Hart, said “I have noticed Mr Speaker, with due respect to you. Each time you preside, you do not give preference to first-timers”
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency of Rivers State representative in green chamber, further accused Kalu of only recognising ranking members during plenary in the house.
“The mover of the motion is an old, ranking member. Virtually everyone who contributed here were ranking members,” Hart added, citing the Chairman, of the House Committee on Navy, Idris Wase; the Chairman, the Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson; and other ranking members who contributed to the motion.
The visibly angry lawmaker further urged Kalu who presided over the plenary in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, to learn to accommodate fresh ideas.
“You need to allow for fresh ideas. Some of us might know more than the old-ranking members. Allow us to speak. This is always what you do and I don’t like it,”
Hart had indicated to contribute to the issue of Gwoza suicide bombing, saying it affects all Nigerians as it borders on national security but was not given a chance.
In his response, Deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided, said , “Thank you very much. There is no discrimination in the parliament. It depends on when you raise your hand and the area you are focusing on. Sometimes, we give one per role.
“I was also a first-timer at a time and I know that I was not discriminated against.”
The presiding speaker, went ahead and put the motion to a vote without allowing contribution from Hart.
Hart then staged a walkout from the chamber, rejecting pleas by some of his colleagues who tried to pacify him on his way out.
The house has mandated its Committee on National Security and Intelligence to probe the suicide bombing in Borno State and report back.
