A mild drama played out at the House of Representatives on Thursday when the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, blocked every attempt by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to protest the appointment of some minority principal officers.
Mr Ndudi Elumelu and Mr Kingsley Chinda had emerged as factional Minority Leaders, with the House recognising the former.
But ahead of Thursday’s sitting, Chinda had taken a seat reserved for the Minority Leader on the front row.
The Speaker’s procession entered the chamber around noon, alongside Elumelu.
As soon as Gbajabiamila opened the plenary, lawmakers began to chant Gbaja! Gbaja! Gbaja! But perturbed Chinda said, “Mr Speaker, point of order!”
Responding, Gbajabiamila said, “Without even asking what your point of order is, you are overruled.”
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Again, Chinda wanted to raise a point of order but Gbajabiamila stated, “I will not recognise you, you are not in your allocated seat.” Again, the chants of “Gbaja!” rent the air.
The Speaker swore in a new member. Shortly after, Chinda again wanted to raise a point of order.
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.”
Again, after a few activities, 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.”
When another member of the Chinda-led faction, Mr Mark Gbillah, raised a point of order to say, “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.”
Gbajabiamila interjected, saying, “Honourable Mark Gbillah, “Please look at your dictionary meaning of threat and the dictionary meaning of warning.”