Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has entreated the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to desist from the authoritarian leadership style and chart the path of inclusiveness as done by Speaker Alban Bagbin.

According to him, the Speaker on Wednesday displayed the magnanimity of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in his decision not to overturn the ruling made by First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu over a motion to probe into government’s Covid-19 expenditure in his absence.

Mr Suhuyini, speaking on JoyNews on Thursday noted that the Speaker had the power to overrule his deputy’s ruling and admit the motion to constitute a bipartisan committee but rather urged the Minority to follow due processes as stated in the House’s Standing Orders.

For him, this approach which prevents conflict is what government should aspire to emulate.

“What has been happening in Parliament, especially in relation to the Speaker and how his rulings are overturned and this being the second time for me shows the magnanimity of those of us in the National Democratic Congress and I think the government must learn from it.”

“The Speaker is in charge of the House and on the two occasions that the Deputy Speaker overruled his decisions, he could have shown power. He could have come back to undo what the Deputy Speaker did and you know what that would have resulted to? Some form of power play and conflict.”

“I’m saying the government must learn from that kind of approach instead of always wanting to show we are in charge and people can go burn the sea or hug the transformer.”

Interacting with host of AM Show, Benjamin Akakpo, the Tamale North MP noted that government should learn to work together with others and also accept the different views shared.

“So you are broad-minded. You take their decisions even when you disagree with them in a way you do not bring about conflict. There must be a way for you to work with people you even have authority over without having them feel small,” he added.

Addressing the House on Wednesday, Speaker Bagbin described as “unconstitutional, illegal and offensive” Mr Osei-Owusu’s decision to dismiss a motion he had admitted to constitute a bipartisan committee to probe into government’s Covid-19 expenditure.

He explained: “Although our standing orders are silent on this, many standing orders and rules from several sister Parliaments provide persuasive rules that suggest that when Deputy Speakers are acting as speakers, whatever happens in the House is that officer’s responsibility. The Speaker cannot be called upon to overrule it.

Similarly, the reverse is also the case, that when a Speaker is in the chair, whatever happens in the House is the Speaker’s responsibility and the Deputy Speaker or Acting Speaker cannot be called to overrule it”.

Despite noting this, the Speaker said “I shall not be taking any steps to overrule his decision to dismiss the motion as moved by the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee.”

The Speaker’s action according to Mr Suhuyini is commendable. “I commend the Speaker for that and we all need to learn from that attitude,” he said.