Two members of the House of Representatives from Delta State were pitched against each other on Thursday, when a Bill sponsored by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege came up for second reading.
The House was in the process of offering concurrence on the bill seeking the establishment of a federal polytechnic at Orogun, Delta State when the drama started between Hon. Nicholas Osai and Hon. Francis Waive.
Osai protested that he had sponsored a similar bill, however with the intent to have the polytechnic established at Kwale, Delta North, recalling that same was passed in November 2019 and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, but was reportedly negatived, wondering why another version of such bill would be endorsed by the House
About three weeks ago, Osai had raised a point of order alerting the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila that the new bill so listed on the oder paper as emanating from the Senate for concurrence was actually sponsored by him and passed by the House, but was rejected by the Senate when it was forwarded for concurrence, prompting the speaker to ask that it be stepped down
When the Bill came up again for debate on Thursday, Ossai, who chairs the House committee on treaties, protocols and agreements, accused the deputy senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege of marginalising his constituency in the establishment of federal institutions, as the proposed site of the polytechnic fell within his senatorial district.
However, Hon. Francis Waive in reacting to the development, faulted Ossai’s position arguing that his colleague should see the development of Delta State as a collective priority of all from the State.
He accused his colleague of “simply being emotional about a bill that seeks to advance the educational fortune of Delta State”, using partisan and sectional sentiments.
The lawmaker while listing a number of federal and state owned higher institutions located in Delta North also accused Ossai of politicising a simple matter of legislation ahead of the 2023 election in Delta State.
