NASS’ sweet clash of interests

That, it would appear would be the only way that the ordinary man’s interest would ever be put above parochial personal interest. And indeed, it is difficult to argue with those who say that God indeed is a Nigerian. Two strange decisions, coming out of the National Assembly within two days would reveal that indeed, […]

That, it would appear would be the only way that the ordinary man’s interest would ever be put above parochial personal interest. And indeed, it is difficult to argue with those who say that God indeed is a Nigerian. Two strange decisions, coming out of the National Assembly within two days would reveal that indeed, God works in wonderful ways, his wonders to perform.

First, the House of Representatives has rejected a request from Mr. President seeking approval for loans totalling $4.427 billion. The request had come from the president to improve power supply and other social projects. Curious indeed, because, while his boss, the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and himself had made stupendous allocations for alternate power source for Aso Rock in the 2010 budget, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan (as he then was), went to a Peugeot Automobile function in Kaduna and told Nigerians they would soon send their generators to the museum of antiquities. As I write, the town of Auta Balaifi, like many others, have not seen PHCN generated electricity for more than two months. Barring the usual traffic jam, Auta is only some thirty-five minutes drive from Aso Rock.

The House members, in a boisterous session queried what Mr President’s request and demanded an explanation for the depletion of the excess crude account. When Chukwuma Soludo asked the same question a few weeks back, Labaran Maku requested for his head on a platter. The reps showed they would have been keener if the loan was to service domestic debts which stands conservatively perhaps at $16 billion. If that money were to be paid, the few contractors left in the system would at least meet local obligations and perhaps, there would be less tension in the system. Let’s wait for the reaction next Wednesday at the contract awarding meeting to this strange rejection.

But by far, the sweetest brick-bat thrown from the legislature to the executive was last week’s rejection of President Goodluck Jonathan’s own “Third Term Bill.” It was a bill he despatched to the National Assembly seeking to unduly confer on himself the advantage of the candidate with the highest number of unelected officials as delegates to his party’s next convention. This is the second humiliating presidential shocker, the first being his own party’s refusal to make him a sole candidate and insistence on a zoning formula copiously written in the party’s constitution but unintelligently denied and derided by the aspirant and his supporters. No one is blinded as much as one who just won’t see. For now, the momentum is building and promises to blow up into an epic crescendo at the convention.

Dear God, one cannot afford to die before the 2011 elections! I mean, Mr. President wanted the National Assembly to accept his proposal to make all his special advisers, senior special advisers, adviser to the adviser etc etc automatic delegates. If that proposal had sailed through,the principle of fairness upon which the foundation of democracy is built and the promise of a free and fair polls would have been manifestly jeopardised. Having unelected officials as automatic delegates puts the other aspirants in serious jeopardy.

But now, the Senate has said a capital “NO” to Mr. President’s attempt to get the numerical upper hand at the convention of his own party. With that rejection, Mr. President goes to test his true popularity on an even keel with all other contestants in the party. Of course, he has a better deal than the others; the power of incumbency should never be underestimated in this game of numbers and besides, he had been adopted by some fringe parties with no single representative anywhere except on their billboards. So, Mr. President can take his popularity contest beyond the shores of his party, in case the contestants he claimed are ganging-up against him make good their threats to pull the red carpet from under his feet. But nothing would have been sweeter than to have the right of first refusal as they say from your party as an incumbent. It is clear Mr. President would not have that now or in the life of this national assembly.

This rejection by the Senate also means that the governors will go before anyone. Once they secure their nominations, these emperors would not honour any agreement, including ones made at Okija shrine even though they are now swearing on their mother’s graves that they want a breath of fresh air. God, indeed is a Nigerian. But let us not forget that this entire backlash is coming from our legislators not because they have suddenly become our true representatives, but because their demand for automatic tickets have been rejected by their party. Whatever their reasons, the Nigerian democracy is the better for this and it sure calls for celebrations – champagnes please!