By Joshua Egbodo
Abuja
There was pandemonium on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday, as members from the South-east zone protested the rejection of a bill seeking a Special Development Commission for the area.
Jointly sponsored by Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Chukwuma Wilfred, the Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, and Henry Nwauba, the bill was intended to establish the South-east Development Commission.
It was to be charged with responsibility of, among other things, receive and manage funds from Allocation of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructure damages suffered by the region as a result of the effects of the Civil War as well as tackle the area’s ecological problems.
Listed for debate earlier on Wednesday, the lead sponsor, Wilfred, was not on the floor to move motion for its second reading, and it had to be stepped down for yesterday.
A similar scenario played out when Speaker Dogara again could not see the lawmaker, forcing him to seek a motion from the Rules and Business Committee to call for its stepping down once more.
Many members from the South-east were visibly seen consulting with the Speaker earlier, apparently to ensure the bill scaled second reading.
The House, however, went into a rowdy session immediately after its stepping down was announced, as the South-east lawmakers, particularly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) extraction, started the protest, insisting that the bill be taken.
Several attempts by the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, to calm them down were not successful, as the rowdiness lasted for close to 20 minutes.
When normalcy was later restored, Dogara explained that the House would ordinarily not shut anyone out, stating that it was the decision of the House to step down the bill and not his’.
“If he was around he will take it (the bill). We can’t shut out any member. If he wants to still take it, he can, but we have to suspend our rules,” he said, and allowed a motion for a revisit on the bill.
There were signs that all might not be well when Ogor moved that the House rescinds its decision, but when it was put to a vote, the NAYS’ voices were more, but Dogara gave it to the AYES.
After some members spoke both for, and against the bill, it was yet another round of protests, as Speaker Dogara who had earlier put questions for voice votes, and having a glaring higher ayes, repeated the question after which the nays got the day, and he ruled in favour of the later.
