A member of the House of Representatives, Cyril Hart, walked out on plenary on Tuesday after accusing the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, of ignoring first-timers during debates.
Hart, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, made the allegation a few minutes after the lawmaker representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, Borno State, moved a motion condemning the recent suicide bombings which claimed lives in the North-Eastern State.
The motion elicited debates from many lawmakers including the Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Idris Wase; the Chairman, Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson and a host of others who were recognised to speak by Kalu who presided over the plenary in the absence of the Speaker, Mr Tajudeen Abbas.
Most of the lawmakers given opportunity by Kalu to contribute to the motion were ranking members of the legislative chamber.
“You do not give preference to first-timers. You don’t”, Hart voiced out his frustration to the admiration of his colleagues, many of whom, applauded his intervention.
“Virtually all those who spoke are ranking members. This is what you always do. You need to allow first-timers to make their contributions,” Hart added,
In his response, Kalu 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 put the motion to a vote. Miffed, Hart staged a walkout from the chamber, rejecting entreaties by some of his colleagues who tried to pacify him on his way out.
