Police in the Legislature

Nigeria police officer with a gun in the National Assembly

We have always known the Nigerian Police to be unprofessional and partisan in their actions and activities. Each time you wonder why there are so much police men within the precincts of the National Assembly whereas, like many other parliaments, the Chief Security Officer of such legislative house is the Sergent-At-Arms. Impunity indeed, is obviously the countless times the Nigerian Police have assaulted staff of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. You will wonder what the police where doing in the Rivers State House of Assembly or in Edo and Ekiti State Houses of Assembly. Have they now become quasi parliamentarians who are used only to impeach a Speaker WRONGLY or enforce a negative resolution? Well their unprofessional acts knew no limits when the privileges of the Speaker of the House of Representatives were been abused. There is always a precedence and a focal point. The legislature must be independent! Like the Capital Police in the US, the National Assembly must establish a proper Sergent-At-Arms that can enforce the security needs of the legislature; For what is the case now is that of the Police dictating the security direction in the National Assembly - a far cry from what obtains in developed democracies. I hate the sight of police officers within the National Assembly premises - they are overzealous, beggars (as they can even perform a brigade of guard for a paying legislator) and continuously harass members of staff. Their continuous negative antics spell doom for our delicate democracy. Legislators must act now to put the police to check, providing a sub-station for them (far from the sight of the National Assembly community) just to allow them receive law breakers within the National Assembly from the Sergent-At-Arms in readiness for prosecution. The Sergeant-At-Arms must also be made professional, hence staff in such department should be trained in areas of crowd control and even arms handling (international best practice). I am afraid if nothing is done, the police will gradually be attempting to kill our nascent democracy!!! Please save our democracy!!!!!

Tambuwal Defects...

Prologue

In the last 1 year or more, political activities in Sokoto state and Nigeria suggest that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal was going to cross the carpet to the main opposition party. This culminated in his recent meeting with stakeholders in Sokoto; described by many as the obvious manifestation of the Speaker’s romance with the All Progressive Congress party and his perceived defection plans.

On 28^th October 2014, the following historical event took place on the floor of the House of Representatives;

{After exhausting items on the agenda of the legislative day (otherwise referred to as the Order Paper) including passing a motion to immortalize Dr. Stella Adadevoh and compensate the families of the health workers who died after contracting the Ebola Virus Disease}

Speaker: The House Leader

House Leader (Hon. Mullikat Akande): ….this House may now adjourn to 4^th December, 2014

Deputy House Leader (Hon. Leo Ogor): seconds the motion to adjourn the House Sitting to 4^th Dec. 2014.

Speaker: (raises his gavel and pauses),”Before I hit the gavel on the motion for adjournment, I want to make this formal announcement to this House. Based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, and having regards to the development of PDP in my state, Sokoto State, I hereby announce my membership with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you, my colleagues, for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me for the overall national interest and development of our democracy. May Almighty God continue to guide us all.”

Legislators: Uprooooar!!!!!

Epilogue

Putting all political references aside! This is the first time in Nigeria that we will have a sitting Speaker of the House of Representatives defect to the minority opposition party. This is also the first time the Speaker of the House of Representatives will come from a minority party (given the present circumstances).

For me, Hon. Tambuwal ascended the seat of the Speaker beginning with a drama. His last days are gradually lowering the curtains to conclude the drama that started showing since that day. I can’t help but say, I am happy to be a living witness to these historical events.   

SEN. DAVID A. B. MARK: A LEGISLATOR AND SENATE PRESIDENT IN THE FACE OF ZONING AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

There has always been argument relating zoning political officers with mediocrity. As a demerit of the zoning formular, a lot of people feel apportioning political and government offices to sections of the country would boomerang to perpetuate incompetency and unpopular choices amongst the people.

Citing the case of Sen. David Mark for instance, we can imagine the wealth of experience the man has garnered since 1999 when he was first elected to the Nigerian Senate. Today, he and Sen. Bello Hayatu Gwarzo from Kano State remain the highest ranking senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria presently serving their fourth consecutive terms in the Nigerian Senate.

Back at home, in Zone C Senatorial District of Benue State where the Senate President comes from, there have been agitations in favour of zoning, which apparently presupposes that Sen. David Mark passes on the senatorial ticket of Zone C to another community or perhaps individual as is the African or Nigerian practice (federal character principle).

However, today’s democracy where the legislature exists, ranking legislators remain imperative in the sustenance of democracy through lawmaking, representation and other modus operandi of the parliament. How then do we realize a legislature which has Senators and Representatives who have spent over 35 years in the business of governance and democracy? Obviously, zoning cannot and shall not encourage this kind of situation.

While the Senate President of Nigeria has received applause and commendations from different quarters on his exemplary leadership style in the Senate (evident by the smooth operation of the Senate since he took over and arguably the only Senate President who would have successfully served for two terms in Nigeria), most of his kin’s men feel Senator David has not adequately achieved his mandate as a representative of Zone C. Invariably, the man has dual portfolio, first, as the representative of the people of Zone C in Benue State and secondly, as Senate President of Nigeria. There is no gainsaying the fact that, the man David Mark has encountered challenges to remain in the Nigerian Senate since 1999. His successes at the polls and election tribunal put him amongst the most maverick Nigerian politicians of his time. At one time, his fellow contenders for the position where encouraged to step down, since it was more than just being elected as senator but ascending the height of the coveted senate president seat. Of course, the Idoma people would prefer to have the Senate President than a mere representative, given their marginalization in their quest for the position of governor of Benue State.

In the entire elective including other public service positions in Nigeria, the clamor for zoning persists. Issues such as greed, corruption and personal aggrandizement constitute the reason for zoning. This means that purposeful representation and leadership will likely do away with apportioning positions which in most times, disregard the best fit and competent candidate from assuming such positions. 

However, Sen. David Mark must also draw a line between a representative of Zone C Senatorial District and Senate President of Nigeria. One would have naturally imagined that as Senate President, it would be double advantage to his people, given his increased affluence to attract more dividends of democracy to his people, but agitations from some quarters suggest otherwise (I stand to be corrected!).

Hence, to what extent do we draw the line between self and community interest against national interest and development?

NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY IN THE FACE OF A GLOBAL SOCIETY

Wikipedia online posits that sovereignty, in political theory, is a substantive term designating supreme authority over some polity. The concept of sovereignty has changed in its definition and application over time. The current notion of national sovereignty presupposes four basic aspects consisting of territory, population, authority and recognition.

 

In a society like Nigeria, representative democracy ensures that the exercise of sovereignty is transferred from the people to those they have elected to form a legislative body called the National Assembly or the executive (where different arms of government exist) or a combination of the different arms of government.

Accordingly within the context of international law, sovereignty means that a government has full control over affairs within a territorial or geographical area or limit. Thus, determining whether a country is sovereign has not being specifically defined, and has being often times a matter of diplomatic dispute. In today’s global society, where partnership and interdependence of states or nations has become prevalent, absolute sovereignty becomes difficult to ascertain. This means that a state or country could have full national jurisdiction and sovereignty on some aspects like national airspace, territorial land and water but not territorial airspace, exclusive economic zones or the stretch of the seabed adjacent to the shores of the country.

International law is a set of generally accepted rules which become binding in advancing the relationship that exists between states or nations. It provides a framework for the promotion of stable and organized international relations. International law is primarily applicable to countries rather than individuals. However, state laws may become international laws when treaties delegate national jurisdiction to international law courts such as the European Court of Human Rights or the International Criminal Court. Hence, treaties such as the Geneva Conventions may require national law to conform.

The challenges of national sovereignty have continued to confront nations and international/regional blocs. One may wonder why enacting an anti-gay law cannot not be the sole preserve of Nigeria as an independent nation, but continuous to receive reactions from other countries like Britain threatening to cut ties with the Black Country. It is true that in recent times, there has been incessant global challenges including issues of terrorism that require collective efforts to deal with; however, within a recognized league of nations, lies their peculiarity in ways of doing things which includes culture, system of government, religious practice and socio-economic status amongst others.

A pertinent point to note is that while international treaties, pacts and agreements require national consent or ratification, the peculiar nature of countries is rather undermined during decision making, since most other smaller nations act as mere members and rarely contribute to the enactment of such universal set rules that tend to govern them.

Hence, to what extent nations are sovereign in the face of globalization, remains a concept that has to be defined in international law. The recent pull out of Gambia from the common wealth of nations is a rider which expands this debate.

Nations must act independently but not to the detriment of their neighbors or others, however, they must also assume sole responsibility in taking decisions that concern them especially to reflect the choice of the people rather than what these international organizations stand for. In this manner, international rules may remain guidelines as such, allowing member nations to deliberate with its citizens and consequently provide independent ways of doing their things.

FAYEMI, FAYOSE AND THE EKITI STATE - A LAND TRULY OF HONOUR

 Ekiti like Kano state has never produced a governor who ran two consecutive term. Just like Kwakwanso came back to run a second term after failing to be returned for a consecutive term, Ayo Peter Fayose was also returned the second time but not consecutively in Ekiti State.

However, unlike Kano state where the erstwhile governor, Shekarau was always at logger heads with  Kwakwanso and never congratulated him, Fayemi a PhD holder and a true son of Ekiti and God called up his brother, Peter Fayose to congratulate him and wish him well as he prepares to steer the Ekiti ship once more. To Fayemi, the people of Ekiti were too precious to play politics of sentiments with. This is a high point in Nigerian politics. I have never seen a defeated candidate from the opposing party congratulate the winner in any election in Nigeria since 1999. Almost all election results are challenged in the courts except where the defeated candidate lacks funds.

I am particularly happy because the incoming governor of Ekiti state acknowledge the stance of his predecessor. He promised to visit the governor and together they will work towards the development of Ekiti, their fatherland. By this, the people of Ekiti state would see projects of Fayemi completed by the Fayose government. It is a sign for good things to come in that state. First, post election reactions saw that there was no too much talk about the PDP and the emerging APC, it was all about Ekiti. Secondly, Fayemi having accepted defeat, may not turn around to go to the courts. For this reason, Fayose would have a smooth sail steering the Ekiti ship. Thirdly, the electorates are for once victorious in a Nigerian election; it is therefore a big lesson to other parts of the country. lest i forget, INEC was not criticized so much in this election, which also shows that, the continuous experiment is beginning to earn positive result after all.

I congratulate Fayose, I congratulate Fayemi and above all, I congratulate the people of Ekiti State.

One of those times I rarely had a comment was when i saw this from the Ugandan President to my number one citizen...

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni’s Not So Subtle Message To President Jonathan

“I have never called the United Nations to guard our security. Me, Yoweri Museveni to say that I have failed to protect my people and I call in the UN: I would rather hang myself. We prioritized national security by developing a strong Army, otherwise our Uganda would be like DRC, South Sudan, Somalia or Nigeria where militias have disappeared with school children. It would be a vote of no confidence in our country and citizens if we can’t guarantee our security? What kind of persons would we be?” ~ Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni.

A MORE PRAGMATIC SOLUTION TO INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA

Whenever insurgents act - killing innocent people or abducting teenage gals and slaughtering young vulnerable students, the response is always, are these people senseless? Not even religion supports killing of innocent souls!

Yes, insurgents are illiterates and common sense becomes less or perhaps no longer common in their thoughts.

Government is to be blamed for this situation we have found ourselves especially in the way it has managed the situation, when in the initial instance, efforts were projected at trading blames rather than finding a more pragmatic action.

Does poverty influence crises or crises influence poverty? No matter how you intend to answer the question, one fact remains that poverty and violence are correlated.

It is often argued that 7 out of 10 youths in Borno state are illiterates i.e 70 percent of youths in that area have no formal western education or Tsangaya Islamic education. Upon growing up, when these youths are expected to contribute to their society (even if it is just fending for themselves and family), they are yet to find their footings talk more of, do something meaningful to the society. Of course everybody's vision in Nigeria including the uneducated always remain, how to get away from abject poverty.

With persistent poverty and government the only solution to poverty, its ineffectiveness and lack of people oriented policies have made people particularly youths look for alternative means of livelihood. Then came, a bloody but rich alternative to poverty in Borno - Boko Haram. With a vast population of youth in Borno languishing in abject poverty and no hope for a better tomorrow, insurgency unarguably became the viable alternative and path to heroism, power and self-enrichment. But government kept branding them as used and dumped political thugs...huh, yes some of them were political thugs and, with similar violent attributes, it was easy to assimilate in this new found group.
 

Overtime, I do not need to begin to highlight the reoccurring cases of violence in that part of the country and Nigeria at large. Government has continued to use force to tackle insurgency with little or no result; they are growing and are gradually spreading to other parts of the country. However, the root of the matter lies with the vast illiterate youth population in the state and country. Such that, as you keep killing them, more of them are being recruited.

You don't solve a problem at its tail but where it begins from. A more pragmatic way is to win a perceived competition between the government and insurgents on who shall engage the youths first - for if they continue to remain idle, their loyalty goes to who comes first to rescue them out of poverty. Government has killed enough! or will they kill the entire Borno people if everybody there is labelled an insurgent? Something else has to be done - I therefore commend the decision of government to increase zonal allocation of funds for the North East, but it has never been the issue of allocation of funds but implementation of developmental programmes meant for the people. Once you engage these vulnerable youths to more honorable and productive ways, the possibility of resisting a bloody option becomes high.

If killing remains the only option, i fear we might be heading towards another civil war. Its high time we stop compromising issues of insecurity.

A BLOODY CELEBRATION STAGE

In 2010 we celebrated 50yrs after independence; 3 years later some Nigerians and some part of the world joined to celebrate the centenary year (100 years of existing as a united federal state).

Amidst these celebrations is a nation in crisis, a nation crying blood and full of languish. And I can’t help but ask who constitutes Nigeria? Political leaders or the people?

Once upon a time, October 1^st was a memorable event. For me, there was no school first of all; then I and my peers would head to watch or match past the Nigeria Police band and the parades of several other military and para-military formations. Very colorful indeed! For the elder ones like my parents, of course a NATIONAL holiday and by 7am they are glued to their TV sets ready to watch and listen to the Chief Executive of Nigeria or our state give a broadcast.

Morally, you don't elaborately celebrate a birthday in your house when there is a death or an eminent one by the corner...perhaps Nigeria doesn’t have morals but Nigerians do!

Is it the killings in the North East or the Fulani invasion in Benue and other North-Central states? Or are we referring to the season of letters from our obsolete leaders pointing fingers at each other playing the blame game or the alleged N6bn collected from 6m NIS job applicants and the subsequent callous statement made by the Minister of Interior regarding unemployed YOUTHS being so impatient to the extent of losing their lives? What about the Speaker of the House of Representatives accusing the President’s body language of supporting corruption or the governor of Borno alleging that members of the Boko Haram Sect are more armed than the famous Nigerian Army? To say the unimaginable, the fulanis also shot at the Chief Security Officer of Benue State. Meanwhile, Alh. Asari Dokubu a typical Niger Delta (ex) militant who alongside his cohorts have been feeding fat on the national treasury would wake up and make a statement like, if Goodluck does not get re-elected come 2015, there will be BLOODSHED. Yet no body questions such authority!  Again, the federal government exhibited their mastery in deceit, and came up with a national conference (apparently to divert attention from their sabotaging white collar policies and programmes) even when there is a legislature to determine everything that concerns us. It is rumored that about N7bn of taxpayers’ money is being voted to orchestrate this event. Gradually  the fuel queues are coming back with national dailies already anticipating a new petrol pump price of N140…hear Allison Deziani Madueke “we MUST deregulate the petroleum sector…”. With which modalities put in place; perhaps we are also encouraged to insist on cooking gas.

These association of elites make us (the ordinary Nigerians) pay so much that even when you struggle to plan, struggle again and pay the stipulated bill, they are angry and would inflate the price the next day. Take for instance, parents sent their children to Unity schools in Yobe state. Some of them met death and the lucky ones who escaped were transferred to other close by Unity Schools, only for them to be asked to pay for the cost of transferring them to their new schools! May the soul of Aliyu who saw death and told his father he wasn’t returning to school only for him to be coerced by his parents to resume school and in obedience met the death he was almost avoiding, rest in perfect peace!!!

While I can go on and on and on to seem as if our blessed country is the darkest of the horses, I implore all Nigerian youths to begin conscious attempt at understanding that we hold our future and that of our generations yet unborn in our hands, only if we agree with one voice that APC, APGA, PDP, LP, AP etc are all the same. Funny enough this enemy of the ordinary Nigerian youth is aware that one day we may have nothing to eat and perhaps think of eating them; they have conducted themselves under different platforms so we don’t catch them in one place at a time. Where does the wrangling in the legislature between opposing political parties take us to? Same position I guess! At the last Ministerial nominee screening, a brave young Senator from Zamfara or so, apparently campaigning for a youthful and vibrant leadership in Nigeria asked a certain, His Excellency Alhaji (Amb) Aminu Wali if he thought it wise to appear once again in the Senate chambers to be confirmed as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after close to 30years or even more (when the Senator was pretty young up until now that he has become a Member of the red carpet chamber) of holding top government position including being a Minister and an Ambassador in many countries instead of positioning himself akin to political leaders of the then Northern Nigeria; the amiable President of the Senate, the one who knows every part of the National Assembly where there are banana peels stood to Alh Ambassador’s defense, “the time of the youths will come”. Too bad!!! Well, Matteo Renzi an Italian born in 1975 once suggested those Italian politicians who were of the same generation as Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi should retire; today he is Prime Minister of Italy! Hmmmmm!!!

It is regrettable that it seems blur as to a possible period of genuine change when government shall begin to exist for the common man in Nigeria, since some of us, either direct descendants of the ruling class or benefactors of system irregularities have continued to dine and wine with them only to share tokens of remnants when they meet with us and feel that the journey is almost smooth. After all they are currently being anointed to succeed their parents and godfathers.

Is it true that we were once called the jet age? If it is true then our children are obviously of the Rocket Age! However, a computer literate population of youths is continually being led by traditionalists in Nigeria…and we think all is right. I remember Fela’s suffering and smiling and I am also smiling.

All hope is yet not lost. In Osun, Ogbeni Rauf is thinking like us, he saved hundreds of millions of Naira to produce unique tablets (not slates, lol ) for school children (instead of painting his picture on textbooks in preparation for re-election in his state). He is definitely of the older generation but obviously has the future of his children at mind and would never undermine their thoughts or decisions. But another state governor of Benue who began his political career in the House of Representatives a little above 30 years (as acclaimed) was caught telling his people bluntly (i.e. if you like it or not) he can’t pay teachers minimum wage because the state allocation compared to other states like Rivers is meager! Gosh where lies the abundant and redundant resources of the food basket state that could yield enormous IGR? Gov. Rochas once acclaimed he is feeding the school children in Imo state in addition to free education from an enormous security vote.

How long shall we continue to celebrate when there is hunger, sufferings, mutual suspicion, deceit and deaths on the stage?  We must uncover this thick lid covering our sight for change is now and when next we gather please don’t discuss the latest cars when you are trekking or Justin Timberlake when you have confidently left tomorrow to take care of itself.

Act now and we shall once again be attempting to save our youths and democracy in Nigeria.

STILL ON THE CONFAB

Before now i have always argued against the current National Confab or Conference being anchored by the President Jonathan administration.

Today a list of 492 delegates have been SELECTED by whatever criteria to decide the future of Nigerians (even when there is a Legislature i.e the National Assembly saddled with such mandate).

Perhaps i do not need to begin to x-ray the resume of most of these delegates...ex governors, senators and past leaders who one time or the other had the opportunity to err the positions they intend to present at the impending Conference. Of course we can take solace in the inclusion of pressure and interest groups but how far they are able to influence the outcome of the Conference remains for us all to see.

Some of the issues emanating from the selection of the delegates show clearly that the Nigerian people are not entirely represented in the imminent Confab... for instance the Itsekiri people are not happy they were not selected to form the delegation from Delta state; we also have the Igede and Etulo in Benue state who currently face the same situation; over 20 political parties or associations are also aggrieved they were not involved. Hence, how representative is this National Conference in proffering a collective and representative output to save our democracy and country. Of course, the Tiv man from Benue will hardly portray the position of the Etulo man just as the the Ijaw man who has been at logger heads with the Istekiri man ever present a fair scenario for both tribes in Delta state.

Apparently, the National Assembly, a clear cut legislative institution has been designed to represent a large population of the Nigerian society, but it was jettisoned and its powers usurped, perhaps in a bid to provide jobs to the teeming Nigerian population..old and young to reduce the unemployment rate.

That is one problem- of composition of delegates! the other lies with the legality of the outcome of the Conference. Rumors have it that the Conference shall be conducted akin to  legislative procedure, in my own opinion a MOCK LEGISLATURE where we have substantive National and State Assemblies!

Don't forget that N7bn has been earmarked for this purpose.... and i hear the delegates are being contemplated to be accommodated in a hotel in Abuja; some of who feel they should be paid the sum of N4m per month for accommodation since they do not want people to know where they will be residing for want of confidentiality! And i ask, if you were sent to represent a people in what is seen as the limelight for a future Nigeria, would you suddenly become invisible! God bless Nigerians; protect our youths and save our democracy!!!