By Christiana Ekpa
A heated confrontation erupted on Tuesday on the floor House of Representatives as Speaker Tajudeen Abbas clashed with Hon. Obi Aguocha of Abia State over the deteriorating health of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The exchange, which lasted over seven minutes, began when Aguocha raised a matter of privilege, lamenting that his letter dated August 26, addressed to the Speaker, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and President Bola Tinubu, seeking urgent medical intervention for Kanu, had gone unanswered.
Speaking on thecmedical reports from the Nigerian Medical Association, the lawmaker warned that Kanu was suffering from multiple organ deficiencies and dangerously low potassium levels, describing his condition as “a matter of life and death.”
“This is not politics,” Aguocha said. “It is a fundamental human right. Nnamdi Kanu has not been convicted of any crime and deserves protection under the constitution.”
But his passionate appeal met resistance from Speaker Abbas, who questioned the use of a “point of privilege” to raise the issue.
“If it is something specific to the office of the Speaker, Honourable, I find it intriguing that you come by way of privilege to demand action,” Abbas remarked, insisting that Aguocha could have handled the matter privately since he had “unfettered access” to his office.
The Abia lawmaker pushed back, insisting he had visited the Speaker’s office and was acting within his rights under House rules. “Mr. Speaker, it is a matter of life and death,” he repeated.
Abbas, however, stood his ground, ruling Aguocha out of order and directing him to “be guided.”
The exchange drew murmurs across the chamber, with several lawmakers appearing uneasy over the Speaker’s handling of the emotional plea.
