* As Nigerians express discontent
* Call for thorough probe of Natasha’s petition thickens
* Outrage over Reps’ dropping of bill to remove immunity clause
* ’10th NASS is a stooge, rubber stamp of the executive’
* ‘Rushed, alleged commercialised support for Rivers emergency rule biggest embarrassment to Nigeria’, respondents say
In recent weeks, the 10th NASS has come under public scrutiny, with Nigerians expressing huge disappointment over actions by both legislative houses, DAVID MAXWELL writes.
In recent weeks, the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly has come under huge public scrutiny such that perhaps, has overshadowed every other scandal that it has faced in the barely two years of it’s existence.
This is because the 10th Senate under Senator Godswill Akpabio has witnessed several dramatic incidents since its inception.
From heated exchanges to allegations and suspensions, these moments have sparked widespread attention.
From Senator Nwaebonyi vs Ezekwesili’s outburst at the Senate Committee on Ethics investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment of the Senate President, to the Senate vs Abdul Ningi budget controversy; Senate vs Ali Ndume leadership dispute, and now the Senate vs Akpoti-Uduaghan sitting arrangement dispute which lead to allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, these controversies, analysts say, has really made many to wonder how committed the 19th Senate is to it’s legislative duties, and to the plight of the masses.
Meanwhile, a thorough and unbiased investigation into the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has intensified as it has gotten the support of notable personalities including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Vice President and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, plus respected groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, as well as serveral Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, showing that Nigerians do not want the issue swept under the carpet.
While the 10th Senate is neck deep in controversy, as if not wanting to be undone, the House of Representatives too has come under harsh public scrutiny as its decision to rescind the bill seeking to strip the Vice President, Governors and their deputies of immunity has drawn sharp criticism from political analysts and CSOs.
Opponents of the decision to revoke the bill regard it as a missed opportunity to combat corruption and a move to protect public officials from accountability rather than uphold good governance.
The bill, which was initially passed on Wednesday, aimed to amend the 1999 Constitution to permit the Vice President, governors, and their deputies to face legal proceedings while in office. However, in an unexpected reversal on Thursday, lawmakers retracted their decision, citing the need for further deliberation.
Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, who presided over the plenary session said the decision on the bills is to enable the House to conduct a more robust debate by the lawmakers.
“We want to apologise to the sponsors of the bills, but this action is to enable the House to have a further debate considering the importance of the subject matters,” Kalu said.
However, this has fueled suspicions that the move is a deliberate attempt to preserve the status quo and shield officials from accountability. “It is most unfortunate that it has kept getting clearer that the Nigerian masses can never trust the political class to deliver good governance. At a time the Senate is neck deep in shame, we briefly thought the House of Representatives was going to give us hope and succour, but we were rudely reminded that they are all of and from the same rotten bunch of politicians who have mastered the art of deceiving the masses. It most unfortunate,” Shuna Fakum, a public affairs commentator said.
Recall that sometimes in mid last year, former National Vice Chairman, North West of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman, has taken a swipe at the leadership of both chambers of Parliament in the tenth National Assembly.
In a statement entitled, “importance of Legislature to a Democracy,” the erstwhile chieftain of the APC lamented that the legislature has reduced itself to an appendage of the Executive arm of government.
In a similar vein, Shuna Fakum expressed disappointment in the 10th National Assembly. She said: “Is it not clear now that the entire 10th NASS is a stooge and rubber stamp of the executive? Just look at the way and manner they rushed to give approval to the obviously unconstitutional decision of President Bola Tinubu to suspend the elected governor, his deputy and the entire state Assembly in Rivers? Is that how they provide the checks and balances which is a major allure of democracy? Nigeria’s situation appears rather hopeless.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the leadership of the National Assembly of corruption over the swift approval of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
When asked whether he was surprised that the emergency rule was approved without opposition in the National Assembly, Atiku responded:“I was not surprised because I know that the leadership is corrupt, and I have no apologies for that. They could do anything. The Senate President is actually known for having that type of character, even when he was a governor.”
Similarly, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, also alleged that members of the National Assembly received bribes to ratify the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
In a video clip online, Obasanjo was seen in a conversation with Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere, who denied reports that federal lawmakers were paid $200,000 each to support the emergency rule. “Nobody gave anyone $200,000. That is just what I want to correct.”
However, the former president insisted that he had direct knowledge of the payments. “You can say anything. I heard it from the horse’s mouth. You can deny it, that is alright, but I heard it from those who got it and told me that they got it. If you didn’t get it, then maybe your case is different. Don’t tell me what I know. Most of your members who got it told me that they got it.”
On his part, Maxwell Sekibo, a senior citizen who spoke to this medium said: “I don’t think anyone can confidentiality and correctly say he or she knows how low Nigeria can sink into the disgrace of corruption. Having lived,schooled and worked in the United Kingdom, I can categorically tell you that this rushed and alleged commercialisedsupport for Rivers emergency rule biggest embarrassment to Nigeria so far.
“Do you know how many calls I have received from friends and acquaintances across Europe and America and how they all express disdain towards the Nigerian government and politicians and the country at large?
“Do we no longer have responsible persons in leadership positions in this country? Honestly it’s is quite appalling.”
Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly have repeatedly denied being paid for their support of the emergency rule declared in the oil rich Rivers State, and the suspension of elected officers.
Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mukhtar Betara, who dismissed claims that cash payments were made to lawmakers to secure support for the emergency declaration. He said he only shared $5,000 to members of his committee as a Sallah gift.
Also, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, strongly refuted allegations that he bribed senators with $15,000 to secure their support for the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.
In a report by Vanguard, the allegations specifically pointed to two separate disbursements of funds, with reports stating that senators received $5,000 on one day and an additional $10,000 the following day. These claims sparked public outrage, with critics arguing that such financial inducements, if true, would compromise the integrity of the legislative process. In response, Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, condemned the accusations, insisting that they were part of a deliberate smear campaign aimed at discrediting the Senate President.
