If Nigerians ever thought that nobility found its way into the nation’s high offices with the conduct of the last general elections, the unfolding drama in the National Assembly, has banished that thought. If Nigerians ever hoped that high offices would ennoble their occupants, the disgraceful conduct of some APC lawmakers who conspired to torpedo the election of the new Assembly leadership, have indicated how misplaced that hope was. Rancorous and highly distracting, the fallout is a sickening reflection of the despicable depth of politicking in Nigeria and testifies to the incapacity of the governing class to even self-govern. This is bad for Nigerian democracy; this is not how serious nations do things. It is just as well that the APC has read the riot act against the clandestine election of Sen. Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and House Speaker respectively.
The bizarre development is also a damaging comment on the abysmal failure of the governing APC to meet the very basic requirements of unity of thought and action, discipline and coherence. This is best illustrated by the fact that the crisis is engineered by greed and ambition of some APC lawmakers who refused to submit to the dictates of the party on whose platform they were elected. It is a shame that individuals in whose hands the destiny of Nigerians is placed can hold a rancor-free mock election into their own leadership and desperation for power would not allow graceful concession of victory to the winners! It speaks volumes about their credentials as democrats. Contrary to the desire of Nigerians who rallied behind the APC war cry of change, the APC has become another distraction, turning its internal troubles, fueled by ego and vanity, into the trouble of Nigeria and its people. This is evidently a betrayal of trust and a great disservice to the nation.
Against the euphoria and hope for change engendered by the last election, what transpired in the Senate was indicative of leadership dysfunction and a failure by the president to exercise control over his party’s caucus. The theatre of the absurd that unfolded on Tuesday saw Sen. Bukola Saraki (APC-Kwara Central) sworn-in as President of the 8th Senate, while Ike Ekweremadu (PDP-Enugu-West) was sworn in as Deputy Senate President. Saraki’s swearing in by Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa, followed his nomination by Sen. Ahmed Yerima (APC- Zamfara West) and seconded by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West). Saraki was elected unopposed by 57 out of 108 senators-elect. Ekweremadu was sworn as Deputy President of the Senate, after he polled 54 votes to defeat Sen. Ali Ndume (APC- Borno-South), who polled 20 votes, while one vote was declared invalid. Fifty-one (51) senators, including Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North), were absent when Saraki was elected. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Lawan alongside other supporters had allegedly gone for a meeting with the President aimed at resolving the impasse among the contenders.
The bizarre development has challenged sundry observers of Nigeria to query the meaning of politics in the country. If there ever will be a vote of “presidential distrust”, then this must be it. And it is truly regrettable. The APC leadership had endorsed Sen. Lawan to be the next Senate President and Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila as House Speaker. It is an indication that the party moved to consolidate its election victory strategies (President (Daura), Katsina, North West), Vice President (Ikenne, Ogun, South West), Senate President (Yobe South, North East) and House Speaker (Lagos, South West). But it is a pity that Saraki and Dogara, propelled by greed, decided to subject themselves to a reversal of party discipline. For a man who decamped from the PDP to the APC; and to whom much has been given; much was expected. The election was anything but dignifying; not only did it drag Saraki’s reputation to a new low, it took down the reputation of the office he purports to hold as well. It’s a shame!
The debacle in the Senate is representative of corrupt, greedy, and conscienceless politicians who gain power only to use it to serve themselves. The rapacity for political power is translated into avarice for filthy lucre and a sustained impoverishment of the citizenry. Indeed the brazenness has become so widespread and has become something of a culture of governance. In the face of the current debacle, the APC has been an untold embarrassment. Instead of calling its senators to order, it stands idly by, helplessly as its officials are used against each other by the PDP to break the party into factions. This is no time for prevarication; the APC must ensure Saraki’s election does not stand, or face irreparable reputational damage.
In jurisdictions where the current style of government is borrowed from, elections into leadership positions in the legislature are more or less procedural. The desperation, to the point of blackmail, with which the PDP endorsed aggrieved APC candidates for leadership positions in the legislature is however baffling. And the point must be made that, the practice in other climes does allow for direct involvement of opposition legislators only in the case of a coalition government. But as is the case with the Nigerian politicians, ideas are borrowed and implemented with all the wrong motives – self-interest, group interest and everything in-between.
By their defiant decision to feather their own nest, Saraki and his supporters have shown utter insensitivity to the prevailing conditions of the average citizen as well as a lawless arrogance of power. Given that this is a new government which took power less than two weeks ago, it is difficult not to conclude that their primary and foremost motive for public office is pecuniary benefit. This is a pity because rather than signalize a new and better dispensation, this action falls squarely in line with the attitude and behavior of most of their former counterparts in the 7th legislature. Indeed, if as it is popularly stated, democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people, then Saraki and Dogara-led NASS are defying Nigerian democracy.
It is a crying shame that so soon after general elections, Nigerians are being provoked by their so-called elected representatives. They cannot but wonder in amazement if these are the same persons that begged to serve and were duly obliged with a mandate to govern for the greatest good of, not the elected only, but the greatest number in the polity. If the behavior of the rebel senators is a sign of things to come, then Nigeria may be in for rough times. And the blame will lie squarely upon the self-seeking political class. The hold-up by Saraki and his gang is an affront on the sensibility of Nigerians and creates the impression that the wrong people are in the National Assembly.
By this circuitous rigmarole to get elected after losing the straw poll, Saraki and Dogara reinforced the image of Nigeria as a country with deeply dysfunctional institutions where bizarre things can happen. The APC leadership is sufficiently outraged by this malign display of indiscipline and anti-party activities, to summon the courage to vow that the party will resolve the matter using all constitutional and legal means available to it. This barefaced exercise in self-indulgence should not be allowed to stand. Nigerian lawmakers need to be told that governance is about the people and not about their prebendal privileges. To assume this mindset is to misunderstand the goal of governance.