Akpabio’s insensitive disclosure

Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s insensitive disclosure of the financial incentives to senators has greatly caused a great deal of embarrassment and salted many Nigerians’ wounds.  Nigerians have always had a complicated relationship with their legislators. It has always been a classic case of love and hate.  The perception of insensitivity for the lawmakers has always […]

Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s insensitive disclosure of the financial incentives to senators has greatly caused a great deal of embarrassment and salted many Nigerians’ wounds. 

Nigerians have always had a complicated relationship with their legislators. It has always been a classic case of love and hate. 

The perception of insensitivity for the lawmakers has always inspired resentment among many Nigerians who think the legislators are overpaid and underworked. 

It has not helped that Nigeria is in such a bad place now. With more than 100 million of its 217 million citizens stewing in backbreaking poverty, the country has somehow managed to amass a mass of people seething with rage and resentment. 

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In his capacity as the occupant of one of Nigeria’s most important offices, Akpabio has shown an extensive and exuberant cache of carelessness and clumsiness. 

Under his watch, the Senate has been tasked with screening the 48 ministerial nominees of President Tinubu. Most of them have passed through the National Assembly with the barest hints of intensive scrutiny. 

But perhaps the culmination of Akpabio’s catalog of clumsiness as Senate president so far came recently when he publicly announced to the senators that the clerk of the National Assembly had sent tokens to their accounts to enable them to enjoy their leave. 

When his attention was drawn to what was a catastrophic gaffe, he backtracked by saying it was prayers that were sent to their emails rather.  

It brings Akpabio’s legislative wisdom into question. Nigerians have long known that apart from making largely toothless laws, the National Assembly is also a place where their common wealth is shared as largess to lazy legislators. But why rub it in? 

At a time when many Nigerians are feeling the pinch of poor government decisions and judgment, to mock Nigerians in such a cruel manner on the floor of the National Assembly is unforgivably shameful. 

The 10th National Assembly should be on a mission to redeem the image of the National Assembly according to Nigerians. Off the back of the disastrous outing posted by the 9th assembly, the 10th assembly should be eager to clean up its battered image. 

But it is doubtful that it can do that especially with Akpabio seemingly eager to front the jamboree. 

So many in Nigeria’s leadership problems have come about because democracy has faltered in the country with its basic principles of separation of powers and checks and balances failing to properly take off. 

It is a travesty that at the federal level, the executive is seen to be in bed with the legislature. Nigerians cannot help but think that the cordiality is rather a conspiracy to share their commonwealth among a few. 

In the states, most legislatures exist as mere appendages of the executive. It is little wonder then that things rarely work as they should. 

Kene Obiezu can be reached through [email protected]