by Professor Femi Ajayi
The ‘Clowns’ and the ‘Monkeys’ that ushered in the 8th National Assembly Session are unable to handle legislative housekeeping in selecting their leaders and Committee positions. They resolved into physical combat typified of lower animals, refused to change from their kindergarten mindset; unfortunately portraying their distinguished motor parks touts, instead of facing the realities of lawmaking, in all ramifications. Nigerians hope for them to return from the recess with more matured mindset and sense of accountabilities to the Nation.
Clowns and Monkeys of the National Assembly
Unfortunately, Nigerians who voted for a change in the Nigeria political process, witnessed the 8th National Assembly session on a storming note. Naira continues to suffer pre and post-election trauma as many business men and women and billionaires moving out their funds from the economy, with the fear of ‘I will probe the moon, sun and star’. Ironically, members of the National Assembly resolved to combat over ‘who will get what’, sharing of the Nation’s wealth, positions and oil blocks, extemporaneously laying foundation for becoming a visionless rag tag National Assembly.
A less than two-year old APC and only a month as the ruling party, the National Assembly is demonstrating an assemblage of strange bedfellows of obstinate schemata, bleached with the monocratic direction of its leader, with no solid operational rules before it opened its door to several defectors. It is like diluting Ogogoro, Apentenshi, Noble, Star Larger, Guinness, and Burukutu with Palm Wine for a cocktail party. The nPDP is rebuffing the party directive in its leadership sharing formula, which is creating a deep narrow pit for APC administration.
Kicking against imposition of candidates, as demonstrated by the election at the Green Chamber, where APC’s choice of the Speakership was voted against by Honorable members; the 6′ 7″ titanic Bukola Saraki was most likely to have emerged as the Senate President without twirling into a car for four hours. Unfortunately, Femi Gbajabiamila, the choice of APC, REFUSED to reach out to all House members for the Speakership position, and left it with Tinubu, as the sole anointing leader, who could remotely control the House; unlike Saraki who personally contacted all Senators.
APC members might not like the bi-partisan arrangements reality at the Senate, for now, it might be advisable not to implement the transcripts of one-man-show of the Party by impeaching Saraki and his Deputy, Ekweremadu. It might be difficult for APC to harness the two-thirds support to remove the Senate President and the Deputy.
Tinubu: Jagaban of Borgu
The obnoxious development at the National Assembly started with the alleged meeting with the President, to solve internal conflicts within APC, at the International Convention Center in Abuja, when we believed Buhari was still with the G-7 meeting. Solidly 51 APC Senators enthusiastically responded to the call to meet with Buhari.
The President, employing his constitutional duty, was believed to have sent a letter to the Clerk of the House setting June 9, 2015 and 9:00 a.m. as the time that the 8th Legislature would commence sitting and elect its officers. Meanwhile, on June 6th, the APC leaders had orchestrated and forced a straw poll that produced Senator Lawan as President of the Senate, and Rep. Gbajabiamila, a protégé of Tinubu, as Speaker of the House.
The political last card came for the Senator Bukola Saraki and Representative Yakubu Dogara to carry out their conspiracy against Tinubu to publicly and vehemently oppose the results of the mock election. Before they realized what was happening where they were supposed to be meeting with Buhari, unopposed nomination at the Senate floor, brought in Saraki and Ekweremadu, as the Senate President and Vice President respectively; with the legal backing of one-third of the Senators forming a quorum to elect not to impeach; 38 out of 109, with about 59 Senators present; was really a ruse to cut Tinubu to size.
Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, played all political tricks and maneuvered the media for APC to win the Presidential election. Like Malcom X said, ‘the media is the most powerful entity on Earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses”.
The first-class Emir of Borgu, Niger State, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Senator) Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III [Mai Borgu], on April 2006, bestowed Senator Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, as Jagaban of Borgu and Yun Bana Jagaban of Borgu respectively. Tinubu and the Emir’s friendship dated back to when they were both Senators at the ill-fated 1992 Nigerian Third Republic, as well as resilient business partners.
Tinubu capitalized on the situation on ground and captured the ‘faithful’. The change mantra was accepted by the majority of Nigerians during the political campaigns. Unfortunately some unethical practices in the APC revealed at the National Assembly did not start with Saraki, and if care is not taken, it would not end with him. In 2011, we remembered how Jagaban went with Jonathan to the exclusion of Nuhu Ribadu who was the party Presidential candidate for ACN, was shafted at the dying minutes.
Tinubu ought to have read the handwriting on the wall that exporting his locally made treatment of an ailment, may not work for the more sophisticated Society. A School of thought is of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari is the party leader, as APC constitution does not recognize Jagaban as the national leader.
In addition the Northern elements might not be too comfortable with Tinubu’s avowal of April 5, 2015, barely seven days after PMB unique win in the Nigerian presidential elections, acknowledged APC leader that brought Buhari his success at the polls; he single-handedly put Buhari in office. He repeated his theme again on April 22, in an article titled, “How the ‘Godfather’ of Lagos Could Shape Nigeria’s Government,” that “I am a talent hunter. I put talents in office, I help them.” He further claimed that, “I use the best hand, the best brain, the best experience for the job.”
Tinubu might have further worsened the feeling of the Northern political elites when he expressed his disappointment to Tambuwal, when the latter visited him early July in Abuja, “with what you did to Femi in the House, you have severed the umbilical cord joining you with the South-West.” Tambuwal shrewdly left with the statements that, “it appears this is not a good time to come and see you. I’ll come back again some other time.”
Saraki ascendancy to the Senate President might be seen as treacherous, especially with his alliance with PDP Ekweremadu, as Senate Vice President, would see Saraki as a dangerous and unreliable party man with one foot deliberately thrust outside the tent. Saraki led group has shown part of the change in the Nigerian political spectrum, Presidential system does not come with an established Opposition party. That was the method used by APC to wrestle power away from the 16-year of Nigeria new democracy foundation, laid by Obasanjo, built upon by Yar’Adua, and managed by Jonathan. There could be opposing views on issues before turning into laws. An average Nigerian political orientation is that of the British system.
The underrated in-depth of Saraki’s political sagacity and his political skills, proving to be truly a chip of the old bloc could not be advised to step down. Saraki ambitiously ascended to the number three spot in the country and asking him to step down is like putting water at the back of a calabash. Saraki is not a neophyte in this game as a two-term Kwara Governor, the hardcore Chair of the Governors Forum, when he faced multiple parties to address issues, and with the understanding of the Senate terrain, who took his political notes from being Obasanjo’s Personal Assistant with the Legislative assignments then. Saraki has enormous resources at his disposal, maintaining his principles, to manage the affairs of the Senate into a progressive positive conclusion.
That was an indication to Jagaban the new National Assembly direction; while his protégé got the House leadership with his threat of more violence, taken note from his experience from the 7th National Assembly fence climbing, in the name of defending democracy. Surprisingly, the House succumbed and made him the House leader.
The whole episode might not be against Tinubu per se, but against his officious influence in the party. Would Tinubu takes the Statesman approach, consolidating his accomplishments, not so egomaniac, before those, whose life depend on Jagaban, push him, through the rough road that leads to the pitch; like Mohmand Gadhafi of Libya despite his success stories for Libya?
Buhari, Tinubu
Regardless of the despondency of President Muhammadu Buhari with the leadership tussle at the National Assembly, he has honestly, without understanding the political terrain, accepted the principal officers as a fait accompli. He has endorsed the independence of the Legislature, not turning it into a rubber stamp Legislative body, as experienced in the later-day-saint of his colleague which Faith refused his elongated reign.
National Assembly independence will fairly and objectively address PMB’s administration agenda in tackling ‘insecurity; youth unemployment, through the revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining, as well as small and medium size businesses…pervasive corruption; fuel and power shortages; public service reforms; and the need to allow every tier of Government to exercise its constitutional responsibilities…’
The Senate seems to be the only surviving rescuer of PMB’s policies as Tinubu might have hijacked more than average of APC. Meanwhile, Buhari has to take caution on how he selects his Executive members.
Saraki might have rebelled against APC, teaming with PDP, which molded his political castle. His body language is encouraging team-work to address the issues affecting the country, not in an Opposition; quite different from the United Kingdom system, under the Monarch.
Unfortunately Nigeria always designed its own political process different from the rest of the world. Both leaders at the Senate and House should be watching their shoulders 24/7 as Nigeria political scene is unpredictable.
We hope APC would settle down to genuine governance. It should recognize the natural change in human beings as inevitable. The National Assembly is an independent arm of the government beyond any individual’s control. The Eighth National Assembly Session should get down to business as most Nigerians are despicably disappointed over the ten-minute passage of 47 bills at the close of 7th National Assembly session; hurriedly enacted into law the bill pronouncing mouthwatering retirement benefits and pensions for former Senate Presidents, Deputy Senate Presidents, Speakers of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speakers.
Nigerians want the National Assembly to be more accountable, run a better transparent legislative body, slashing of salaries and allowances, as some states unable to pay salaries of up to eight months, and cut down large inefficiencies government. Nigerians do not want a repeat of passage of Bills that public officials would have multiple stream of income life pensions from same source.
Tinubu played some remarkable role in the emergence of APC. Nonetheless, it is time to exit when the pitch sounds very high. No one has the monopoly of success. Jagaban should relax and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Unfortunately, honorable withdrawal is un-African.
Femi Ajayi is a Professor of Policy, Management & Conflict Resolution, at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
