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… We don’t discriminate against Nigerians -Gbajabiamila
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has assured all Nigerians of equal treatment by the Green Chamber.
He said the House would not discriminate against Nigerians, whether living in Nigeria or abroad, adding that everyone would be accorded equal treatment and respect as a Nigerian.
Gbajabiamila spoke in the plenary of the House on Tuesday in a reaction to the petition by the Mutual Union of the Tiv in America, which was earlier last week rejected by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase.
The petition, which sought the intervention of the Federal Government to resettle Tiv people displaced from their ancestral homes by herdsmen, was brought to the House by the member representing Gwer-East/West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Rep. Mark Gbillah.
However, Wase had dropped the petition, citing non-compliance with House rules and procedure.
But, on Tuesday, the speaker clarified the “misunderstanding” surrounding the petition and admitted it for hearing by the House.
He explained that the misunderstanding arose from the observation that the petition was not signed by the petitioners.
The speaker asked Gbillah whether the petition had been duly signed, and the lawmaker replied, “Yes, Mr Speaker.”
Gbajabiamila also clarified that the deputy speaker did not hold anything personal against Nigerians living in the Diaspora, pointing out that Wase had been a major promoter of Diaspora Voting.
Gbajabiamila stated, “The House of Representatives does not discriminate against anyone, wherever the remotest part we may be; we remain Nigerians.
“I think the misunderstanding came from the issue of signatures, and I must say that the deputy speaker of the House, Rep. Ahmed Wase, has been one of the champions for Diaspora Voting and was also involved very much in the creation of the Diaspora Committee in this House some years back.
“So, I think it’s clearly a misunderstanding. Please go ahead and lay the petition and it will be given proper and due attention.”
The petition was subsequently admitted and referred to the Committee on Public Petitions for hearing.
