A Parliamentary Je-June

A parliamentary Je-June



The House of Representatives kicked off last week with a faltering start in parliamentary procedures by predominantly fresh members who wobbled and fumbled along in the plenary. It was amazing how even old members joined in the macabre dance. For instance, when they moved motion, they forgot to second it, and when it was seconded it was out of tune with parliamentary standard.

Worse still old timers that mounted the high rostrum of leadership suffered stage fright and could not control the fresh members who obviously needed tutelage in parliamentary procedures. An attempt by one of them to fill the obvious gap was rebuffed and he was forced to sit down and enjoy the mellow drama in the hallowed chamber. When the House resumed on Tuesday, it immediately went into an executive session that lasted for over three hours. It was expected because all the new members left Abuja disappointed on June 7th with their pocket emptied. Some were even stranded in Abuja with the retinue of supporters who had followed them to share in the joy of inauguration.

But throughout the weeklong activities of retreat, training and lobbying for leadership positions, not a single naira flowed to the pocket of the lawmakers who are obviously cash strapped having exhausted all their savings on the electioneering campaign. But the spirit of hope kept them moving and it was not until it was glaringly clear to them that nothing was likely to come out of the purse of the National Assembly management to members that the sitting was wind up and adjourned till June 28 to allow members return back to their constituencies and get some fresh air.

But some, who were members of the five ad hoc committees set up by the leadership on selection, Welfare, Rules and Business, Media and Publicity and security were left behind; even for them, the entire three weeks was cash dry. Some even travelled out of Abuja officially without sitting or travel allowance but they kept faith in the leadership they believe was their choice. All these matters were discussed in the executive session and some of the committees submitted their reports for deliberations. The leadership also used the session to calm the nerves of members who were already getting fed up with the situation. In particular, those who were unable to secure accommodation used the session to air their frustrations. Yet it was not until Wednesday that the keys to their offices were handed over to them but that was even trailed by series of complaints by those who were uncomfortable with the offices allocated to them while they were left with the option of obtaining loans from the banks to get residential accommodations in Abuja.

So when the gallery was opened and journalists were allowed to enter, the speaker struggled with the gavel to call members, who were busy chatting with colleagues, to order and take their seats for the legislative business to commence. And when the Speaker eventually succeeded, the sound system was intermittently obstructed by GSM signals as members kept their phones switched on. While some were cautious enough to put it in silence, some members forget to do so and even take calls while the session was in progress. Many others were busy fondling with their sets while the speaker was presenting the legislative agenda for the 7th Assembly, some out of fatigue slept off before the Speaker completed the 23- page agenda which attracted a rising ovation from members. There was no doubt that the stress and frustrations of the past few weeks are already taking toll on members and they all have a lot on their minds to discuss with the leadership.

While moving motions, some members often got lost and clapped hands for colleague who moved a motion it was obvious that members have probably forgotten all they were taught at the retreat on parliamentary procedures rules and etiquette. But as the former Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiala said in a chat, “it was a teething problem, we will soon get over it”. The House of Reps is undoubtedly made up of men and women, who have distinguished themselves in their various careers but the legislative business is a unique terrain which needed to be studied carefully for proper conduct of members during legislative proceedings.

The 7th Assembly will, indeed miss some characters in the 6th assembly like Patrick Obahiagbon, also known as Igodomigodo for his jaw breaking vocabularies that on many occasions put life in the legislative business. Former speaker, Dimeji Bankole knew how to use him. Whenever he noticed that members were getting too serious or fatigue had set in as a result of long hours of seating, he would invite Igodomigodo for a comic relief and the house would be livened up again. Obahiagbon, a student of the Zikist school of thought was not usually moved by members reeling in laughter over his vocabularies. What of Dino Melaye that stirred the trouble water, Independent Ogunewe, West Idahosa and other brilliant lawmakers that contributed robust debates in the chamber and acted as stabilizers on many occasions. A whole lot of them except Idahosa and few others were swept away by the political Tsunami that passed through the country from the north to the south under a free and fair election.

Despite their shortcomings, the 6th assembly after all laid the foundation for an election that is celebrated all over the world today as free and fair and an assembly that is the true reflection of the nation’s politics. The 7th assembly is standing on that foundation laid by these men who were randomly condemned for their jumbo salary, internal bickering and corrupt acts. The two principal officers, of that assembly, Bankole, the Speaker and Nafada, his deputy are already on trial for the crimes of that assembly that will never be forgotten for the good and the bad, the law of necessity, the electoral Act amendment and the first amendment of 1999 constitution. What Nigerians are waiting for now is what will be written of the 7th assembly after the next four years.

Tambuwal: A new man in the block

Tambuwal: A new man in the block
By Sola Shittu.
Last week the intrigues continued on the race for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. After it was zoned to the South West by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Muraina Ajibola and Mulikat Akande-Adeola emerged in the race but the South West caucus of the PDP adopted Muraina as the chosen candidate of the zone leaving Mulikat in the cold to fight her battle alone with a slim support from the presidency perceived to be coming from the corner of the first lady, Patience Jonathan. But a new twist was added to the race by another group spearheaded by the North West seeking the Tambuwal/Ihedioha ticket as Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the House. Both Aminu Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha are the Deputy Whip and the Chief Whip of the House. Although the idea was not a new one but it was not until, Farouk Lawan, a Kano PDP lawmaker decided to step down for Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from Sokoto that the group began to take their campaign serious. Last week they joined Muraina Ajibola and Mulikat Akande-Adeola in chattering a private aircraft to tour the six geo-political zone venue of the just concluded retreat for elected lawmakers. The Tambuwal group is undoubtedly parading an intimidating array of supporters and big wigs in the House leadership as well as over 150 members of the first timer lawmakers. As a matter of fact, the fresh lawmakers has a representative in the person of Honourable Kumo from Gombe among the campaigners of Tambuwal. Let’s look at the Tambuwal team, Honourable Leo Ogor, Chairman House Committee on ..., John Enoh, Chairman House committee on Finance, former Deputy Minority leader and now Minority Whip, Honourable Sumaila Kawu, chairman house Committee on Public Petition, Honourable CID Maduabum among others. these lawmakers among others form the engine room of Tambuwal and there was no doubting the fact that the Deputy Speaker, Bayero Nafada has a hand in this project even though he was not seen with them but those close to Nafada are clearly in this project. They said they are not out to confront anybody but are going to engage government in the process of ensuring that the House produce the right leadership which is the choice of members. Sincerely speaking, among all the contestants so far, Tambuwal presents the most intimidating profile as a third term legislator who has worked closely with four speakers, Lion King Na’aba, Aminu Masari, Patricia Etteh and Dimeji Bankole. Indeed there is a leadership challenge in the House and the urgent need to address this is not in question. However the overbearing influence of the party and the presidency in the past has been the undoing of the House. At the same time, it quickly comes to mind that even after the exit of Etteh and the House had an opportunity to put their own man there in the person of Bankole, the question is does the attempt solve the problem in the house? It was obvious and too glaring that the House leadership was unable to manage the success of the Integrity Group after the election of Bankole. The group obviously immediately went to sleep like NADECO after the exit of military reign. As soon as they got themselves into office, they shared the committee portfolios among themselves and forgot the crucial role of calling the Speaker to order when stepping out of his boundary. Sincerely yours, they all goofed and share in the guilt of Bankole, however since they have realised their mistake and have made up their mind to correct it, I am of the mind that it is only a catalyst from a system that can destroy that system, the solution actually lies in every system. Indeed those who have successfully managed Bankole may provide the answer to the mess in the House right now if they are serious about it.
But there is an enemy in the House for Tambuwal in another group who has insisted that he who must come for the office of the speaker and indeed the leadership of the house must come with competence and integrity. In particular, the group is insisting that no member of the present crop of leadership in the House will be allowed to hold office because they want a clean departure from the past. The group have gathered up to seventy signatures of members who are committed to this course. “Our interest is to protect democracy, because it is democracy that brought all of us here. If you look at where Nigeria is coming from you will know that we have a responsibility to ensure that democracy is a success not only in Nigeria but the entire African continent.
“The whole world is looking up to this country to provide the leadership direction for the continent. If we fail, we would have disappointed our generation and the generation unborn and of course, the entire black race will surely not forgive us”, said the group.
Tambuwal is also having a big challenge from the presidency, particularly from the office of the vice president who sees the move by the Tambuwal group as an attempt to rubbish the office of the Vice President who is also from the North West. And again will this move not rubbish the long established zoning policy of the PDP? But can we jettison competency for zoning? Yet the Tambuwal group has perfected their plans, as they successfully adopted the open secret ballot voting pattern for the election of the speaker last week. Subsequent attempt by Ita Enang and some others to reverse the motion the following day proved abortive. As it is now, the speed at which event are unfolding in the House over the speakership race is very unpredictable and the truth is the chess table is open to both the outside and the inside power brokers in the House. The question is who will prevail, the House, the Tambuwal, the PDP or the presidency? June 7th is not too far to wait for.
The new song in the Tambuwal group is that Nigeria is ripe to chat a new course in the appointment of a round peg for a round role and if the revolution can start from the House and in this Speakership race then so be it.
END

Between Muraina Ajibola and Mulikat Akande-Adeola

Between Muraina Ajibola and Mulikat Akande Adeola, a tale of two lawyers
By Sola Shittu
The outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole is undoubtedly under pressure at the tail end of his tenure as the Speaker of the 6th Assembly. His colleagues are mounting a lot of pressure for their last pay. Over two hundred and fifty of them lost their seats in the hallowed chamber to green horns lawmakers who will replace them at the 7th Assembly. Last Thursday Bankole fought a battle of his life and narrowly escaped the wrath of angry members who are bitterly complaining about the delay in the payment of their allowances. Some members who are bent on taking a pound of flesh from Bankole are not finding it funning that their money is hanging somewhere in a bank in the face of serious hardship confronting many of them now. Yet in the mist of all the heats and tension in the House, Bankole was able to flash his toothy smiles to member after a long drawn executive session and even jocularly predicted the ascension of Muraina Ajibola to the leadership ladder in the next few weeks. The question is whether Bankole has shifted his support for Bethel Amadi to Muraina after the office of Mr. Speaker was zoned to the South West.
That Muraina is in the race for the Speaker of the House is no longer a story but the real battle is whether Muraina , a practicing lawyer of many years, representing Ibarapa Central/North of Oyo State will be able to withstand his strong rival, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, also a lawyer and representative from Ogbomoso North/South/Orire in the same Oyo State. The battle became more complicated over the weekend when the South West caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met at former President Olusegun Obasanjo hill top residence at Abeokuta to endorse Obasanjo’s choice of Muraina as the candidate of the South West PDP for the office of Mr. Speaker. Even outgoing Governor Adebayo Akala, who is one of the key sponsors of Akande-Adeola was compelled to respect the decision of the caucus. But Obasanjo’s appearance on the side of Muraina has brought both the good and the bad to Muraina’s dream. But obviously the good is more than the bad in the sense that even though Obasanjo has made more enemies in politics than friends yet, his views are well respected by the PDP big shots both as a former president on the platform of the party and the Chairman Board of Trustees, BOT of the party. Obasanjo’s endorsement has brought the fear of external domination against internal influence in the business of the House. But there is another silent contestant who is rarely mentioned by observers of the happenings in the hallowed chamber of the House of Representatives. There are fie members of the PDP in the House from Oyo State, in the coming assembly but only three of them are ranking members namely, Muraina Saubana Ajibola, Mulikat Akande-Adeola and Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun. Abisodun’s chance of contesting for the exalted seat of Mr. Speaker was limited by the fact that he is a cross over member from the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN to the PDP where he obtained his return ticket. Like his two other colleagues, Abisodun is also not well known in the House because he has never been chairman of any committee and was not even prominent in any committee as Muraina, but he is regarded as the only level headed man waiting at a corner to see what is like to happen to the duo and the opportunity for him to come in. He has also been able to make a lot of friends among the lawmakers but how far that carry him, no one can tell. However, while attention is focused on both internal and external politics of the House, many are brushing aside the religious factor which is of stronger influence in the House. Many have argued that the true Speaker in the waiting is actually Mulikat Akande-Adeola who is expected to give the women folk a brilliant sense of belonging in the nation’s politics. Besides, her attachment to the first lady, Patience Jonathan who has been at the vanguard for women playing prominent roles in politics is a powerful influence for her. Mulika, like Muraina are not so popular in the House but in fairness to Muraina, his role in the power probe by the House committee on power led by Ndudi Elumelu in 2008 is a plus for him, just as his decision to write minority report against the Elumelu report did not also go down well with some of his colleagues in the House. However, unlike Mulikat, the power probe and the role of Muraina in it propelled him above his competitor. But Mulikat is also a lawyer with Master degree who also has the ability to communicate fluently in all the three major languages of Nigeria as well as being agraduate of ABU Zaria. while the religious factor favour both Muraina and Mulikat who are coming from Islamic religion yet, the Islamic religion places less emphasis on women playing a leadership role or even leading a prayer in the mosque or at home. This religious inter-play was a dominant factor in the removal of Madam Etteh the predecessor of Bankole even though nobody mentioned it. It has always being an underground factor that controls the votes of lawmakers in the appointment of Speaker. It will be recalled that Etteh’s exit was largely blamed on her being the choice of Obasanjo but the election of Bankole was based on being a muslim and the candidate of the Muslim north members and that was why it was difficult to remove him even in the face of serious scandals rocking the House.
The challenge before Muraina and Mulikat therefore is to go beyond external support of sponsorship to warming themselves to the hearts of their colleagues in the House who actually have the voting right in the election of Mr. Speaker. At the moment, the duo have shifted their base to Protea Hotel at Apo where they have their campaign offices. The exodus of member to the hotel is an indication of seriousness attached to the office of Mr. Speaker.

The return of FOI bill

For more than eight times since 2007, the FOI Bill has suffered several deaths in the hands of the Nigerian lawmakers so much that many of them often refer to the bill as Abiku. Up till today the FOI Bill remains the longest bill in the House of Representatives. It has generated so much hatred and bitterness for itself among members who have vowed that the bill will never see the light of the day as long as they are still in the House. But recently, it begins to receive some concern and consideration among the lawmakers who have become the victims or can I say casualty of the lack of freedom of information bill in the country. At the time when the Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi began to deal a deadly blow on the lawmakers who were very close to election time, the Reps find no ally in the media or the Nigerian public who were already tired of National Assembly members. The media was awashed with all sorts of conflicting figures on the percentage of the national Assembly in the 2010 budget; indeed, the National Assembly was thoroughly humiliated on this singular matter. It was at this period that some members began to think that if the FOI Bill had been in place, then the media and indeed the public would have had access to true and correct information about the state of the matter. Some two weeks ago, the Information minister Mr. Labaran Maku called on the lawmakers to as a matter of necessity pass the FOI bill.
But the deed had been done already and the National Assembly was left to lick its wounds alone. However on Thursday last week, the bill resurfaced again in a dramatic way to the chargring of journalists at the gallery and it was number one on the order paper. Some few minutes after 11 o clock, the Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole appeared at the chamber, took his seat and with less than thirty members on the floor called on the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business Honourable Ita Enang, to move the motion for the re-committal of the FOI Bill to joint committee on Information and Orientation and Justice for public hearing with the ultimatum to submit the report within seven days. Enang speaking in support of the motion said “we are aware that several members have requested that this motion be brought to rescind the decision and recommit it to the Joint committee for scrutiny since the need has arising for the House to revisit the decision in public interest”. The voice vote received an overwhelming yeah against a lonely nay voice and the yeah have it. Immediately after the vote, Bankole left the chamber and the Deputy Speaker; Bayero Nafada took over the remaining business for the day. But the question still remains on whether the bill will not suffered the same fate of Abiku again when the report is submitted to the House for consideration and debate. Of course one also knows that if the House and especially the leadership is determined to put and en to this matter once and for all it can do it. After all, the NCC 2010 budget with its bogus sim card registration money scaled through amid hue and cries of protesting members. In 2007 the FOI bill was passed but was not sign to law by former President Olusegun Obasanjo because according to officials of the Presidency, “the bill got missing in transit between the National Assembly and the Presidential Villa”. Obasanjo cleverly refused to sign the bill at the tail end of his administration. Again the bill is coming back to the chamber at the tail end of another administration, why not sounding pessimistic on this matter I hope if the bill scales the huddles at the National Assembly it will not be lost in transit again between the Villa and the National Assembly. Honestly as a seasoned media practitioner, I have known no other profession for the past two decades, it will be my joy and indeed the joy of every other members of the fourth estate of the realm to see the FOI Bill sign into law for our generation, the generation to come and the memory of gallant soldiers of journalism who died at the battle front of war for the liberation of this country from the shackle of draconian leaders. The Dele Giwas of this world, the Tayo Awotunsin, my friend Bayo Ohu and many others who had suffered various degree of injuries both emotionally and psychologically and whose blood painted the road to Nigeria’s democracy red. It is true that the media is passionate on the FOI Bill and let me say with due respect to my esteemed readers that we absolutely have no apology for this. As a member of this noble profession I have seen and experienced what it meant not to have access to correct information especially from government quarters. Of course, the bill going by it name is not a media bill, let me go back to the presentation of Ita Enang motion again for the detail of the FOI Bill as captured by the House. Enang noted that the House had on November 14, 2007, by voice vote and pursuant to order XV, Rule 8, committed the Bill for an act to Make Public Record and Information more freely available, provide for public Access to Public Records and information, protect public records and Information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal Privacy, protect Serving Public Officials from adverse consequences for disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation and establish procedure for the achievement of those purposes and Related purposes thereof, 2007 to the committee of whole for consideration. So help me God who says then that the FOI Bill is a media whereas it seeks the protection of “serving public Officials” and “provide for public access to public records and information as well as protect public record and information to the extent consistent with public interest and protection of personal privacy”. I know the House and indeed the National Assembly has been boxed to corner on this matter and is seeking to redeem its image in whatever way. If however, passing the FOI Bill will be the only or one of the ways the National Assembly members will be able to raise their heads up again and stand tall before Nigerians then so be it.

Obasanjo's Way of Laughing

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has a unique way of addressing issues of national importance. Recently, Obasanjo was quoted by the Nigerian dailies that "I Dey Laugh". when he was asked about the Northern consensus aspirant, Atiku Abubakar who will contest against President Goodluck Jonathan in the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) primary coming up in January next year. To average readers who do not know the meaning of "I dey laugh", it is Nigeria's pidging English version of "I am laughing". it is a direct transliteration of "Erin N pami" in Yoruba language, a major ethnic group language in Nigeria. Whenever a Yoruba man says "Erin N pa mi" in response to a question, it is a loaded statement with weighty words. But usually, such comment is an irony and can sometime be metaphorical. it could mean that such a person is a living dead man. Now, let's look at the situation in Nigeria, is it not laughable enough for our country to still be in this situation where governance is more of politics than provision of qualitative service to the people, provision of basic amenities of life and the rest. It is also ironical that such laughter is coming from Obasanjo against his Vice for his eight years rule. the laughter is an unfolding event, many laughter are still on the way as we move closer to 2011 general election. So I dey laugh oooooooooooooooooooo.

Mastering Fear

Mark Twain wisely observed, "Courage is the resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear." Fear grows if it is not controlled. It is not pleasant to live life in fear. We doubt ourselves and everything about us. We develop a negative frame of mind. It does not have to be that way. We do not allow our little children moping about bad things. We try to train them to be hopeful and positive. We can do the same for thoughts. fill your mind with thoughts of courage and stories of courageous deeds and people and you will become that way. Eliminate that which causes fear by channeling it into thoughts of being brave. Then Live It. The Bible tells us to prepare our minds for action; be self- controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Open Your Heart

"The human heart, at whatever age, opens only to the heart that opens in return," stated Maria Edgeworth, a 19th-centurty writer. And certainly we have each experienced, from others or within ourselves, a closed heart. It is difficult to remain open because of the trust that is required from both sides. This element of trust we must have toward our fellow man is an important lesson and challenge we all face. Our life is built on trust in many small ways. Opening up to someone is one way to practice the trust we must feel for God and Christ.
To open one's heart does not mean complete exposure of all we are to everyone we meet. Instead, it means being friendly, ready to talk, smiling and inviting. In its purest form it means showing respect and concern to others. The Scriptures tell us that we will reap as we sow (Galatians 6:7). And truly, when we open our hearts to others with wisdom and discretion, they will come toward us. Give trust a try.