Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has threatened to disrespect the authority of the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye if his behaviour towards the Minority leadership does not change.
A verbal altercation began during the passage of the Special Petroleum Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2018 where Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak described the quantum of decrease in fuel prices as fraudulent.
This brought in the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu who had strong words for the Speaker after being made to stand on his feet for a while without recognition.
What further infuriated Haruna Iddrisu was the fact that the Speaker rather called the Majority Leader for his contribution, even though he, Haruna Iddrisu, had been on his feet for several minutes.
Following the sequence of events, Mr Iddrisu was finally given the opportunity to speak, where he expressed his disappointment.
“I am sad at the way you have treated me as Minority Leader. I stood up before the Majority Leader. You owe me that courtesy and that respect. Mr Speaker, even after hearing him you have still not decided whether to hear me or not I don’t want to ever disrespect you. But if you invite me I wouldâ€
Haruna Iddrisu for fear of being misinterpreted clarified his comments by saying, “I say I don’t ever want to disrespect him because I owe him respect. But, I’m saying he must respect me as Minority Leader and when I stand on the rules, he must as reciprocity allow me to speak.â€
Some members of the minority have criticized the Speaker as being a dictator and bias. The Minority Spokesperson on Communications, A.B.A Fuseini added his voice, “You cannot gag the Minority. The Speaker has no right whatsoever to prevent the Minority from having its say,†he said in an interview with Parliamentary press corps.
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