The relationship between Gbajabiamila and Wase has changed since the latter announced his bid to become the speaker of the 10th House.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m50dFgeiZi8

The speakership race for the 10th House of Representatives has caused a rift between Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Idris Wase—the latest being an open confrontation on Wednesday over the sitting of the House.

For four years, Messrs Gbajabiamila and Wase had a harmonious working relationship since 2019 with little or no public disagreement over issues. However, that has changed since the latter announced his bid to become the speaker of the 10th House.

Mr Gbajabiamila was said to have overlooked his deputy to endorse Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State. Since then, the relationship between them has deteriorated.

At the close of plenary on Wednesday, Mr Gbajabiamila directed the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), to include a few items on the agenda for Thursday’s plenary, citing a need to close plenary before 2 p.m. in order to attend the commissioning of the permanent site of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

“Chairman Business and Rules, let’s make the Order Paper light for tomorrow because we have this NILDS commission; it is very important — the permanent site of the NILDS. It is at 2:30. So it will be good if we close by 2 p.m,” he said.

But Mr Wase raised a point of order, questioning the rationale for the House to adjourn to commission a project instead of using the time to conclude the business of the 9th House ahead of the final adjournment of the House.

“Mr Speaker, I am getting to see this getting so funny, and we have lost quite a number of times. For the commissioning of projects, for God’s sake, why do we have to shelve a lot of activities that we have just to go and witness the commissioning of a project of NILDS? I want to beg, sir that we should do our functions.

“Those who have the interest to go, they have the right to. But our main primary function is this parliament and making the citizens a priority,” he stated.

The point of order raised by the deputy speaker caused a back-and-forth between the duo.

“Perhaps DS (Deputy Speaker), you don’t appreciate the importance of NILDS like some of us do. I think NILDS is very important,” Mr Gbajabiamila told his deputy.

Mr Wase, who was at this point on his feet, interrupted the speaker; “I have every information and idea of what NILDS is.”

Mr Gbajabimaila responded, “It was set up by this same institution by statute. We are not adjourning the House to go to NILDS. What I said was, let’s try and make it light and leave here by two (p.m.). If you want, we can resume by 10 (a.m.). We will do our work, but we will adjourn this House at 2 p.m. I will witness NILDS because it is important to me.”

Once again, the deputy speaker interrupted, noting that, “The parliament is about us, not about I.”

The speaker was visibly vexed with the open confrontation and said no deputy speaker has ever confronted the speaker in the open since the return of democracy.

“Mr Deputy Speaker, this is the first time in history – I have been in this House for many years, perhaps even longer than anybody here – this is the first time in history that a deputy speaker will be challenging what the speaker is saying,” he said.

Following another bout of back and forth, the speaker moved a motion that Mr Fulata should ensure that his directive is complied with. The Leader of the House, Ado Doguwa, seconded the motion.

Mr Doguwa was also in the race for the speakership but withdrew last week to obey the party’s directive on zoning and endorsed Mr Abbas.


Background into the race

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, endorsed Mr Abbas and Ben Kalu as speaker and deputy speaker.

The party’s decision is currently being challenged by Mr Wase and other candidates who formed the G7 coalition. The aggrieved lawmakers in the coalition, all APC members, include Yusuf Gagdi, Sada Soli, Muktar Betara, Aminu Jaji, Miriam Onuoha and Mr Wase.

Over the past couple of weeks, the G7 members have publicly challenged Mr Gbajabiamila, accusing him of trying to impose Mr Abbas on the next House.

Regarding parliamentary business, the row between Messrs Gbajabiamila and Wase has been affecting the business of the House as Mr Gbajabiamila often adjourned the House whenever he was not available to preside.

The rules of the House allow the deputy speaker to preside in the absence of the speaker. Before the speakership tussle, Mr Wase often presided in the speaker’s absence.

Two weeks ago, Mr Gbajabiamila adjourned the House indefinitely, citing the ongoing induction of members-elect of the 10th House. He was equally challenged by his deputy, who stated that the induction of members was not a genuine reason for adjourning the House.

Meanwhile, there has also been speculation of an impeachment plot targeted at Mr Gbajabimaila over the power tussle.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/600334-speakership-race-gbajabiamila-wase-in-public-spat.html

Gbaja is overreaching himself because of Tinubu's temporary 'victory'.

Am sorry Wase, but the Speakership is not for you............... Tajudeen Abbas is the People's Choice.

The Wise Man Gbaja, i throwaway Salute.

Old news....since yesterday..

Wetin do the mods

Nairaland...why

I don't get any of this, let's start from the beginning.

Their business.

Their wahala..

Make them just swearing in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come May 29.

I want to see Obidient tears 😭 everywhere.

They will start new topics..

Mugus..

The world has left them behind

What's Wase's issues exactly with Femi? He should rest please

This is an issue that can be settled amicably without beef. It is high time the deputy knows Gbajabiamila will not support him but the party, he should respect party supremacy and bury the hatchet.

Lol

abeg the can kill themselves for as long as i care

I wish the battle is for the betterment of the country, but No its their selfish interest. smh

Corridon:
Gbaja is overreaching himself because of Tinubu's temporary 'victory'.

See this Akpu Obidient
On Monday, you can't even protest at Eagles square.

DSS has caged you temporarily and Simon Ekpa's sit at home has caged you permanently.

Gbaja will be the head of the cabal in Tinubu’s presidency. The Lagos boys will try to hijack power. Remi will fight then dirty while Shettima will be used as a spanner by the core North.

Tinubu as at present doesn't possess the mental strength to withstand the rigor of Nigerian presidency.

Any fight, disagreement or debate such as this from most Nigeria politicians is never about the people but for their selfish interest. So choice wisely on whom to support otherwise stay neutral as I would advise.

Hmmmm....Wase is a good man (I live close to him). But, the powers that be have spoken, he should just let this one rest. God alone decides the fate of men.

Corridon:
Gbaja is overreaching himself because of Tinubu's temporary 'victory'.

cry cry baby

I pity Wase but I respect the party's decision.

The next APC Chairman is likely coming from Wase's zone, so he has to step down.

Ambition ambition ambition ambition

But my advice is Wase, should calm down and handle things with professionalism.

Most importantly, he should also know that whatever decision taken by NWC is for the interest of the party and national unity

God bless Nigeria
Peace!

Gbaja suppose slap him. What effrontery. Gbaja wey don dey house since 99 na hin wase or cisse wan dey rub shoulders with. Arinfin.

Omo all the best to all of them. Some people will be crying over this guys like they care about u or feed u in anyway. When u understand that all of them are after their pocket. If not one person will be governor, minister, senator, president and will still have nothing to show for it. but me I face my front and hustle

Make they enter ring make we see who sytong pass.... Fighting for their pocket definitely noy for the sake of the common man

IgboSomalia:


See this Akpu Obidient
On Monday, you can't even protest at Eagles square.

DSS has caged you temporarily and Simon Ekpa's sit at home has caged you permanently.

someone can’t commet I’m peace without these zombies attacking the person. Seun u need to sanitise naira land

Wase was right I'm in support of what he did but its too late now, he had 4years to speak up now he realised that they have work to do.

I see this people begining to fight themselves, I see Senators beginning to fight themselves as well, I see APC members Beginning to confess of how the election was rigged, I see revolution starting from the national assembly. I see Tinubu escaping Benin Republic, I see Peter G. Obi announce president of the republic of Nigeria. I see celebration everywhere. All this I have seen. Thanks

Gbajabiamila refused to support him for speakership.

That's why he's pissed.


It's not about the people.

agberos

I pity the Nigerian citizen who choose to remain like this because Femi gbaja have criminal case in United State but this guy remain top man in Nigeria politics