Senate’s trials and our nascent democracy

Anywhere around the world, the legislature provides the pillars for democratic institution. It’s the most important part of democracy; so it is in the best interest of democracy to protect the institution of the National Assembly. In Nigeria’s own democracy example, it appears the reverse is the case. Political heavyweight in the executive corner of […]

Anywhere around the world, the legislature provides the pillars for democratic institution. It’s the most important part of democracy; so it is in the best interest of democracy to protect the institution of the National Assembly. In Nigeria’s own democracy example, it appears the reverse is the case. Political heavyweight in the executive corner of power have been busy deflating the strength of what should be a shield for democratic elements.

Instead of working for democratic institutions, politicians are busy doing otherwise. But we must learn this time that when we do that, we are not ultimately pulling down Sen. Bukola Saraki, it is the legislative institution, and the nascent democracy itself. We would come and go, but we must give support to that institution, because that is what represents that people. 

The collective will should be to put a strong institution in a place that Nigerians would begin to respect it, and say yes, they are doing things that affect lives, they are above board. If you look at the last two years, when we talk about corruption, unlike before, there is no scandal of any corruption issues in the National Assembly. Maybe something happened and people in the National Assembly were caught doing this or that, no such thing. These are issues that came into the Senate before, like the management of funds of the National Assembly, or scandal in trying to cover up something, or allegations that monies were shared. 

Those kind of things are not things you see in this Senate. We should try to continue like that. It might take time, having a procedure that was opaque, it is not overnight that the system would win the confidence of people. But  Nigerians should be thanked for their patience and understanding, people are beginning to see and appreciate the work of the national assembly, and no matter what you say about the Senate, you might not like them, but look, they are people that get things done. These are people that have the capacity and ability to make things happen. They are there to make things happen, not here to gloss over things, or make sensational issues; they are there to improve the lives of our people and that is what they have evidently been doing.

It does not really matter the level of conspiracy against the figure and personality of President Bukola Saraki, who’s have been quite illustrious to Nigeria’s democratic institution, yet has also been the most persecuted. The new political bait to fall this great Nigerian, like the many others, in the past is deemed to fail, no matter the figures of influence who are involved.

When Senator Bukola Saraki recently raised alarm on the floor of the Senate over a purported plot by the IGP to implicate him using ‘coerced’ cultists, fine citizens know that another political warfare against democracy was up the sleeves of spoilers. Quoting him verbatim, the President of Senate had told the house, “My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently. Last night, my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the State law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

“According to the information available to the Governor, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters. The plan, as the Governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government, and in particular, myself, in their new statement.

“This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities. In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities”.

Like the CCT trial, Nigerians know that this is another round of fraud, and are therefore not fooled. Recall that, the other day, the court agreed with the  CCT  that on 15 counts of the 18  charges  filed against Dr.  Bukola  Saraki,  it  was proved beyond reasonable doubt that the evidence were based on hearsay that lack probate value. Notably,  it  averred like the  CCT,  that the information used in putting together  the  charges  against  Saraki  by the Federal Government, did not connect  Saraki  with  the  charge s  as demanded by law.

It  further held that the Federal Government  erroneously  came to the conclusion that the  onus  to  prove  the 15  charges  was  on the defendant whereas  it  is established fact that the party that  alleges  must be the one to  prove  beyond reasonable doubt. Beyond the legal aspects of this matter which have put the judiciary  on the spot  once again, the timing of the judgement is believed to have  corroborated  notions that the case may begin to suffer the burden of the weight of politicisation.

 This is made more real given the current political permutations in which Saraki is regarded as one of the men, who wield the influence to define 2019 polls. Knowing how high-profile  cases  are used as tools for  political  bargaining in Nigeria,  the projection  could  be   that  for as long as the asset declaration  case  remains,  Saraki  can  continue to be put under check and close control. Whichever of the calculations is at play, many  believe it is not right to drag the judiciary into a  political  battle.

 It is already being argued in some political quarters that the  cases are being used to tame  Saraki’s  political tentacles especially his  rumoured  presidential   ambition and likely defection. Whatever reasons, real or imagined by the persecutors within the executive parlour of power, we all must know that what appears a fight against the person of Bukola Saraki, is actually a fight against democracy and ultimately, against a nation’s wellbeing.

 Femi Salako wrote from Lagos  [email protected]