In what appears like a humbling of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, has overruled him by accepting the petition from the Mutual Union of the Tiv in America.
Wase had earlier rejected the petition while he was presiding as the Speaker when the petition as first presented by a lawmaker from Benue state, Mark Gbillah.
The Tiv people in Diaspora had complained in the petition that the Nigerian government has not shown seriousness in rehabilitating the displaced people of Benue state made homeless by herdsmen activities.
Wase flatly refused to accept the petition on grounds that he did not spell it out clearly.
He had said: “Honourable Gbillah, did you say Tivs in America? What do they know about Nigeria? What is their business? They can’t sit in their comfort zones and know what is happening in Nigeria.”
Following the backlash, Wase later claimed that the petition did not follow the appropriate procedure for it to be accepted.
But on Tuesday, March 23 plenary, However, Gbajabiamila who presided over the plenary said the House of Representatives was against discrimination against citizens, regardless of where they reside.
“I believe this is the same petition that has been causing a lot of misunderstanding,” noting that “the misunderstanding came from the issue of signature.
“Having cleared that misunderstanding, please, go ahead and lay your petition to be given proper attention.
“Thank you Honourable Mark Gbillah for your patience,” Gbajabiamila said.
