Rep accuses Deputy Speaker of ‘discriminating against’ new members during debates
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Cyril Hart on Tuesday accused deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu of discriminating against new lawmakers during debates.
Representing the Bonny/Degema federal constituency of Rivers under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hart was accused on the floor of the house during plenary.
The lawmaker claimed Ahmed Jaha, the legislator representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok federal constituency, moved a motion condemning the recent suicide bombing attack in Borno.
After the motion was moved, several lawmakers, including Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee on navy; Idris Wase, former deputy speaker; Babajimi Benson, chairman of the defence committee; and Dasuki Abdussama from Sokoto state, were recognized by Kalu to contribute to the debate.
Nearly all the lawmakers who contributed to the debate are senior members.
After the debate, Kalu was about to put the motion to a vote when Hart raised a point of order.
“You do not give preference to first-timers. You don’t,” Hart exclaimed loudly to the cheers of some members.
The lawmaker said “virtually all lawmakers” Kalu has recognised to debate the motion are “old timers”.
“This is what you always do. You need to allow first-timers,” he said.
Responding, Kalu said, “There is no discrimination in the parliament”.
He explained that lawmakers are recognised to speak based on their seating arrangement, adding that if someone is not in the designated row, they may be overlooked.
At this point, Hart staged a walkout from the chamber, shouting while doing so.
