A mild drama unfolded on Thursday at the House of Representatives after the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, cautioned a member for openly faulting lawmakers’ conduct during plenary.
Ifeanyi Uzokwe, representing Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State, had raised a point of order to lament what he described as the growing lack of decorum among lawmakers.
Uzokwe said, “Every day we come here, Mr Speaker, we receive our children and visitors in the gallery.
“They are here to see how we conduct ourselves and learn from us. But most times, what we display here is not what they should see as an example of parliamentarians.”
While Uzokwe was still expressing concerns, Speaker Abbas swiftly interjected, warning that such matters should not be raised publicly.
The Speaker said, “If what we are going to discuss pertains to this chamber, we can do it in an executive session.
“We don’t need to wash our dirty linen in public. I don’t understand what we stand to gain. You can request an executive session to address issues about our conduct. This is not the forum for that.”
Following Abbas’s appeal, Uzokwe reluctantly withdrew his comments, signalling an end to the brief tension on the floor.
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