Leadership: A privilege, not a right
In 2011, a friend from Singapore told me that the late Lee Kuan Yew was a dictator, and that I shouldn’t buy any of his books. His advice was disregarded totally because of one reason: The book authored by a dictator that led his nation to a “first world”, is a must read. Undoubtedly, a nation could be blessed with autocratic leaders who are generous in character, with noble intentions and selfless policies. But this isn’t the case in Nigeria and most African countries. Often times, leaders in Nigeria aren’t transparent and accountable to the common good of their people.
The Senate of the 8th National Assembly (NASS) is gradually becoming aggressive, desperate and dangerous like a wounded lion. Just like a wounded lion, the Upper Chamber is ready to devour anybody that makes any comment against its actions or inactions. The Senate is working tirelessly to redeem its battered image. The efforts of our senators would have been commendable if they are transparent and accountable to the people they govern. In Nigeria, most elected or appointed officials bluff to cover up their moral inadequacies and professional incompetence.
For members of the Senate, any opposing view on the Upper Chamber’s agenda is seen as an attack on their persona or the institution. Our senators give the impression that they love the NASS as an institution, and that they would do anything possible to defend it. This is good, but there are several corruption cases levelled against a few of them. In fact, one analyst says that about one-third of the members of the Upper Chamber have different corruption cases to answer before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Only EFCC can confirm the statistic.
For the Senate, it doesn’t matter who is rendering an opinion. The most important thing to the Senate, I guess, is that they want all Nigerians to view issues the same way they have seen it. The situation is so bad that any “friend” of those perceived by the Senate as “enemies,” are also branded as “enemies,” according to Mr Seyi Miosemo, a public affairs analyst. Albeit, our senators know that the nation is running a democratic system of government that allows freedom of expression. Why then have they chosen to be bullish? Perhaps, they want to prove a point, that they are responsible lawmakers with oversight functions.
Nigerians acknowledge the leadership status of our lawmakers, but they should allow citizens to debate issues of national interest. For some time, there has been a face-off between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government. It’s due to the doctrine of separation of powers in a constitutional government like Nigeria, as each arm has defined abilities to check the excesses of other branches. I wonder why the Senate declared that it’s in a “war mood” last week, when they should be busy with their oversight functions? The Senate President vowed “that it can’t be intimidated and blackmailed by external forces.”
May be the “war mood” was caused by the presidency’s refusal to take necessary actions on the Senate’s resolutions. For instance, Hameed Ali, the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, was asked to resign because he didn’t appear before the Senate in uniform. This necessitated a request from the Senate to the Presidency, that a sack letter be issued to Hameed Ali on grounds that “he’s unfit to hold public office.” Next, was Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the EFCC whose confirmation letter by the Presidency was rejected twice by the Senate, on grounds of adverse reports by the Department of State Security Service (DSS). This was followed by an order directing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, to appear before the Senate on alleged N233 million bush cutting scandal in the North East in 2016.
To further drive home its point, the Senate refused to consider 27 names of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) presented to it by President Buhari. Senators argued that since President Buhari has refused to act on their resolutions which rejected Ibrahim Magu, as its substantive head, there was no need to consider new appointments. Itse Sagay, a professor of law, and the Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption is not spared. He’s been summoned to appear before the Senate. Why? Sagay, was quoted as saying that “the senate is filled with people of questionable character who put personal interest ahead of the nation.”
I can see a Senate “playing the man, not the ball.”The rising unemployment, poverty and hunger of citizens should be of concern to our lawmakers. Rather than waste energy ordering appointed officials of government to report to the Senate, our lawmakers should face their jobs and pass all bills that would improve Nigeria’s economy. As analysts keep speed with activities in the Senate, some say that “the escalating Presidency-Senate face-off, threatens the implementation of the recently released Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).”That may be true, but the Senate has promised the 2017 Budget will be passed in the month of April. If the Senate continues with sliding tackle of individuals, I predict that the implementation of the ERGP with critical components in the budget may be delayed beyond May 2017.
Leadership is a privilege, not a right. For the elected and appointed few in our society, they should consider it a privilege to serve the nation. Our senators should allow the “spirit of leadership” to reign as they perform their responsibilities. They shouldn’t waste resources of the nation trying to educate or change people’s view about their persona. Anyway, some analysts are of the view that public trust in the Senate is diminishing gradually, while their philosophies are archaic and unproductive. Attitude “is a little thing that makes a difference.” A bad attitude is like a flat tyre, if it’s not changed, the nation is going nowhere. Our leaders must exhibit positive attitude so that the federal government’s ERGP doesn’t fail.
MA Johnson