Wednesday’s plenary in the Green Chamber recorded an unprecedented drama between Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his Deputy, Idris Wase. The two leading figures engaged in serious exchange of words.

During the plenary, Gbajabiamila announced that the Order Paper for Thursday be made not bulky to enable members attend the official Commissioning of the permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies(NILDS).

Prior to adjourning the plenary, the Speaker made it known to the house that the NILDS permanent site along Airport Road will be commissioned by 3.00 pm on Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He then asked the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business to see to it that the order paper does not contain too much business so that the House can adjourn early enough for the event.

But Deputy Speaker Idris Wase retorted by saying the primary business of the House was lawmaking and other official businesses, saying that the commissioning of NILDS headquarters was not enough to adjourn the House.

Wase said members willing to attend the commission could do so while the business of the House is not disrupted.

In response, 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.

Again, Wase fired back saying “Mr. Speaker, the House is not about I, but us”.

Gbajabiamila who first ignored his Deputy, made another announcement before returning to address him 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.”

Turning to the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Gbajabiamila said: “make the order paper light for tomorrow. This House will adjourn at 2.00 pm” while members present at plenary chorused Carried

Theliberationnews observed that the endorsement of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the 10th House has severed the relationship between the Speaker and his Deputy.

It was learnt that Wase had openly accused the Speaker of backing Abbas for the Speakership position.