POLITICS
“…..since the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern provinces in 1914, Nigeria has existed as one country only on paper, it is still far from being united. Nigerian unity is only a British intention for the country.”
The drama that erupted in the course of electing leaders of the Upper and Lower Chambers of the country keeps generating issues which no one can be too sure about its landing point. It is obvious that most Nigeria politicians are peripatetic in nature solely for their pockets.
The expected drum of fortunes under the leadership of General MuhammaduBuhari hasn’t sounded aloud. Asides the appointment of Femi Adesina as one of the spokesmen, meeting the Presidents of neighbouring countries and the movement of the Military Base to Maiduguri, no other significant success has been recorded within his few days in office as the President. In fact, the ministerial and other appointment lists has generated controversies in some quarters. We are all Nigerians; we understand the nature of things before Buhari came in, so we also don’t expect miracles so fast.
However, the hope of hearing a louder sound from the drum is gradually fading away with the crises that befell the ruling APC party upon who to become the Senate President and the Speaker for the lower chamber.
20 YEARS POUNDED YAM COULD BE SO HOT
People may forgive, history will not forget.
At first, the emergence of Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the seventh Assembly was never the wish of the then ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party. ‘Late’ PDP pretended to exhibit egalitarianism, which was not true. The Speakership was zoned to the South West geo political region of the country thinking to have atleast one of the top six (6) citizens across the zones. On a good day for PDP, Mrs. MulikatAkande or Saubana Muraina should have become the Speaker but miscalculations threw them off balance.
The ‘sharp’ APC instructed her members to vote against the wish of the PDP so that no strong citizen will come from the South West which has been the home base of the All Progressives Change (APC). With strong permutations, Rt. Hon Tambuwal emerged.
BukolaSaraki and Yakubu were now the sharp strikers. They were fast enough to use the same political calculations used by the APC in 2011 to get what they wanted despite it was against the party’s wish. Getting simple majority as stipulated by the provisions of the constitution became easier for them especially when their brothers in PDP publicly declared support for them. That can’t be free anyways; there is no free lunch even in Freetown. They voted against Ahmed Lawan representing Yobe North Senatorial District and Femi Gbajabiamila of Surulere, Lagos Federal Constituency which were APC preferred candidates for the position of Senate President and Speaker respectively.
Perhaps, some claimed that the election took place without the legal proclamation of the Senate by the President. Nevertheless, we now have leaders for both chambers In 2011, it was Speaker for the opposition, this year, it was both Senate President and Speaker. Indeed, what goes around comes around.
WHO FOOLED WHO?
The crises that encroached the People’s Democratic Party months before the 2015 general election earned people like BukolaSaraki, Aminu Tambuwal and ten other senatorial candidates defection to APC. These among others were never bench warmers as far as PDP politics is concerned but their pockets are their target. Saraki, a former governor of Kwara state under the platform of PDP felt the party couldn’t fetch him what he wanted, hence he opted for APC. Certainly, Buhari ‘Tsunami’ procured him a ticket and later emerged as the Senator elect for Kwara Central Senatorial District.
Jagaban and others were too much in a hurry to become the ruling party, that all defectors were accepted into the party without considering interior motives. They felt BukolaSaraki will influence Buhari success in Kwara. Without hesitation, he clinched the ticket. APC thought he will just be an instrument to be used and dumped. Saraki was sharp. He was very clever. He came peaceably with his agenda. They were carried away by name, and allowed him to stay. Now, he has won their brothers and the party can no longer act as one. He has put knife in the things that held them together and they are gradually shredding apart.
Three days was not too diminutive for APC to call his Senators and Representatives elect to order. Having made a public declaration by the PDP to support their sons -BukolaSaraki and YakubuDogora, Jagaban- and the leadership of the party should have put a strong political permutation in place beyond absenting themselves from the elections, knowing fully well that it is a game of number. Boycotting the elections was not the best idea to stop Saraki and Yakubu. In fact, their absence also makes Hon. Ike Ekweremadu of Enugu west Senatorial District and Yusuf Lasun of Irepodun, Olorunda Federal Constituency to return as the deputy Senate President and emegerd as Deputy Speaker respectively.
HE HAS KILLED, HE MIGHT KILL AGAIN.
One of the fears of some APC supporters is that of PDP rebirth. Just 57 Senators votedfor Saraki to emerge as the Speaker, the impeachment of the senate President will require at least 73 Senators, which is two-third majority. Do you think this is achievable?
For the PDP Senators who gladly voted for their defectors, what do they stand to gain? No one can be too sure, he might defect back to PDP within months since they are invariably the number 3 and 4 citizens of the country. These are also key positions in the leadership of a country like ours; there will be more power and resources to resuscitate the almost late PDP.
He maneuvered his way to serve as thegovernor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011. He became a Senator in 2011 and re-contested during the last general elections. He was smart enough to become the Senate President even against the wish of his party.
Now that Osun and Oyo governors refused to pay salaries, residents of these states have been thinking of going back to their olds ways. Truly, APC want to develop Nigeria, but you can’t develop the country without first developing the people.Who knows if by 2019, Rt. Hon. AbubakarBukolaSaraki thinks of vying for the number 1 citizen of the country? He has killed, he might kill again.
BUHARI, THE MAN AT THE CENTRE
Regardless of that happened; the most important figure is the President, General MuhammaduBuhari. It is worth of note that General MuhammaduBuharibefore the elections, promised toremain neutral throughout the process as he isnot interested in who will emerge victorious. Hefulfilled that promise by refusing to interfere in the elections outcome. Upon conclusion of the elections, many especially the supporters of theopposition maintained that President Buhari isfeeble and chaotic. Some even accused him ofinexperienced for not interfering to ensure thatthe choices of his party were respected in theelections. According to them, by not interfering, the president has given a huge opportunity to the opposition to comeback in 2019.
Many may not beaware that the ‘political gap’ seen between Aminu Tambuwal and former President Jonathan was catalyzed by the direct interest of Jonathan in ensuring that Tambuwal was not elected which however failed. That created wide gap between Tambuwal and the former president which made both men to see themselves as political enemies. If Jonathan remained neutral and expressed his readiness to support whoever the house elected, Tambuwal would have worked closely with him and he would not think of joining the opposition. President Buhari must have learnt from that and decided to maintain his neutrality. Anyways, he has nothing to lose if he will not be seeking re-election. All he wanted was to become the President, which he is today.
The happenings concerning the leadership of the Chambers refuse to be Nigerians concern; fulfillment of manifesto promises by General MuhammaduBuhari is their target.
Oluwafemi A. Adesopeis a writer, entrepreneur and graphics designer. He is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, IndyPress Organization and simultaneously the Features Editor of CivilPress Organization. ‘Sope is a Civil Engineering student whose passion for journalism span through politics, health, relationship business and sports. He is currently the Features Editor, Edtech Watch Magazine, Ibadan.
Contact: 08177291455, boigodfemi10@gmail.com or via Facebook: Oluwafemi A. Adesope
