‘Moral’ crisis hits Parliament

Parliament which is expected to lead the way in integrity, honour and respect appears to be in moral crisis as both Majority and Minority accuse each other of being disrespectful.

Insistence from the Minority that the side should be respected by the Speaker of Parliament and the Majority, and the vice versa is a clear indication that respect is being endangered in the august house.

Prior to the approval of the 2017 fiscal year budget on Wednesday, the Minority Chief Whip and Minority Leader Muntaka Muhammed and Haruna Iddrisu respectively were on their feet to draw the attention of the Speaker on what they deemed unconstitutional in the process, but the Speaker “refused” to recognize them.

This development, which did not go down well with the Minority, generated some uncomfortable moment in Parliament, drawing a battle line between leadership on both sides. The Minority Leader demanded that the Speaker respected the Standing Orders of Parliament.

But the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu got offended and asked Haruna Iddrisu to apologize to the Speaker for passing “very offensive” comment about the Speaker. “One cannot raise finger against the Speaker to suggest that the Chair is being disrespectful to the Minority, it is unparliamentary,” he argued as he urged the Minority Leader to “moderate his language”.

In the heat of things, Haruna Iddrisu although withdrew his claims that the Speaker has shown disrespect to the minority, he maintained that the Speaker should respect the Standing Orders of the house.

Many people in the public gallery as well as members themselves appeared to have been taken aback on the level of acrimony that transpired in the house during that short period of exchanges.