A dramatic incident unfolded in the House of Representatives on Tuesday when Cyril Hart, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, of sidelining first-time legislators during debates.
Hart, a member representing the Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency of Rivers State, staged a walkout during plenary.
The contentious moment arose following a motion moved by Ahmadu Jaha, the representative for Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency in Borno State. Jaha’s motion condemned a recent suicide bombing that resulted in at least 32 casualties in Gwoza, North-East Nigeria.
Also Read
Gwoza Bombing: Police Boss Deploys Security Personnels to Borno State
According to Hart, the debate on this critical issue was dominated by senior, ranking members, effectively marginalizing newer representatives.
He pointed out that the contributors to the debate were predominantly the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Idris Wase, and the Chairman of the Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson.
“With all due respect, Mr. Speaker, each time you preside, you do not give preference to first-timers,” Hart remarked.
Hart expressed his frustration further by urging Kalu to embrace fresh perspectives from new members, stating, “You need to allow for fresh ideas. Some of us know more than the old-ranking members. Allow us to speak. This is always what you do, and I don’t like it.”
Despite his willingness to discuss the security issue, Hart was not given the opportunity to contribute, which intensified his discontent. In his defense, Kalu responded, “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.”
Following this exchange, Kalu put the motion to a vote, prompting Hart to leave the chamber in protest. Efforts by some of his colleagues to calm him were unsuccessful as he made his exit.
In the aftermath, the House directed its Committee on National Security and Intelligence to investigate the suicide bombing in Borno State, aiming to address the concerns raised by the tragic incident.
