EDUCATION: COVID-19 EXPOSING LEADERSHIP DEFICIENCIES

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

azeeznews@gmail.com 

@azeeznews.

The global coronavirus pandemic is described as a leveler. Globally, yes. Locally, especially in Africa, nay Nigeria, it has exposed our leadership deficiencies at various levels. Worst, at the political level.

Two sectors aided the exposure of pretense of leadership; health and education. Should the pandemic lingers more than necessary; and there are indications it may, it will further expose lack of foresight, planning and quality investment in another vital sector, agriculture in addition to the very visible ones in the health and education sectors. 

Any nation that lacks proper and comprehensive plans and investments in these three sectors, is as good as non-existent. Covid-19, if for nothing is fast opening our eyes to the pretense of our leaders and the lip services paid to these sectors.

Before COVID-19 dawned on us without warning, our leaders at various levels, especially those active, with followership on social media, always “wow” those who are gullible with show of heavy investment in the state of the art health facilities they have invested billions of naira on. Never mind that at the slightest diagnosis of headache, the same leaders flew out of Nigeria for medical attention. 

Ironically, if you had told any Nigerian Governor as recent as January 2020, that he will be afflicted by an ailment caused by a viral infection, and he would be treated by local medical personnel, and within his own state capital without as much as not been able to travel to Abuja, he would have, like the emperors some of them have become, directs for a summary punitive measure be meted out to you.

Today, across all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, Governors and their households tasted and are still tasting the negative positivity of COVID-19. All were and are being treated locally and survived, surviving without crossing the state borders not to talk of flying out for medical attention.

Were coronavirus not dealing deadly blows on their choice destinations of medical tourism and the international boundaries not closed, taxpayers’ money in millions would have been wasted as they would have flown and airlift their families to such places for treatment.

Today, some are of the view that aside COVID-19 exposing the rot in our health system, some states’ prolonged lockdown wasn’t much to protect the poor citizenry against the pandemic spread, but more not to expose further the lies and rot in their health sectors. Some came out and confessed that should the epidemic be more endemic than what was at hand, their states do not have the facilities and personnel to manage it. What they didn’t tell you is that, they do not have, half a quarter of what they said they had on ground or had invested in the health sector before the virus reared its ugly head, in some states, via them as the index cases. 

No doubt, even the nations with the best of medical facilities and personnel are not spared by the pandemic and are still battling to contain the ravaging virus, but you can see sincerity of purpose on their parts.

God has been so merciful to us in Nigeria such that the infection and mortality rate, considering our population of two hundred million plus, has been so minimal. We pray it remains so till we flatten the curve and globally defeat the virus. 

Yes, COVID-19 is a leveler, as today, our elites and leaders cannot travel to choice destinations for medical tourism to treat minor ailments, having destroyed our health sectors, privatised and mortgaged our lives, and now force us all to patronise same medical personnel and facilities they once denigrated and derided. Their families have all flown back home from choice destinations of educational tourism. 

From their take offs from those world class airports, to their arrivals at the various locals airports here in Nigeria, against the old practice of exhibiting ostentatious lifestyle and spitting on the poor with selfie pictures of departures and arrivals, they now even camouflaged and quietly run to their houses. Dare show us your “just arrived” selfies from any foreign nation and move to an isolation centre. 

Few with semblance of sanity left, or any future political aspirations, make bold, in a face saving drama announce the positive status of family members and isolation trips. Even that, not without little drama.

Again, COVID-19 is exposing the rot and pretense in the education sector. It is unravelling the lack of seriousness we accord a sector as vital as education, which is a backbone and foundation of any development. Like other sectors gang raped and bastardised, then privatised out of the reach of the common man, education is now feeling the heat of the long neglect, lack of investment and the non-challant acts of our leaders.

The West African Examination Council WAEC’ West African Senior School Certificate Examination WASSCE and the discordant tunes across the nation, and especially between the regions, states and federal government is a pointer.

In Nigeria, between 1.5 to 1.7 million candidates register and sit for this examination annually. With our almost geometric population growth, put the figure for 2020 at utmost, two million candidates. Divide this by the thirty six states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, it will be difficult for any state to have a quarter of that number registered to write the examination. Yet, we are being told that no State in Nigeria can put measures in place for these students to write WASSCE in line with the COVID-19 protocols without hitches.

No state in Nigeria has less than a million registered voters. As we speak, Edo and Ondo are in frenzy to go to the polls with all the attendant crowd-funding, gathering sans COVID-19 protocols. 

As you read this, there are more Mosques and Churches in every community in Nigeria than there are secondary schools. These religious houses weekly host more number of humans who spend longer hours, socialising with less physical distance between them than WASSCE candidates and WAEC staff would ever spend even if they are to write four papers daily.

As you read this, the schools are not just deteriorating, especially with the rains, no signs of making them habitable for any use, should the go ahead be given for the examination to hold in the nearest future. 

As I write, I am seated in Kaduna. Imagine if we are serious with education and know the consequences of over a million of our young children missing this examination. Imagine in addition to all the government owned public schools in Kaduna; nursery, primary and secondary, the state government decided to utilise Kaduna Polytechnic’s three campuses, Nigerian Defence Academy NDA; both old and new sites, Kaduna State University KASU with multiple campuses, Police College, Nigeria Prison Training School, National Teachers Institute NTI, College  of Education Gidan Waya, Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria multiple campuses, Federal College of Education FCE, Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology NITT, Nigeria Military School, Depot Nigerian Army, Nigeria Institute of Leather Technology and other numerous multipurpose halls within the state, you can be sure that many halls would at the end of the day, not even have a single candidate even on a day they all have to write English and Mathematics that are general papers; no matter what sort of social or physical distancing you want to practice. This scenario is the same with such facilities available across most of the states of the federation and the FCT.

EDUCATION: COVID-19 EXPOSING LEADERSHIP DEFICIENCIES

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The global coronavirus pandemic is described as a leveler. Globally, yes. Locally, especially in Africa, nay Nigeria, it has exposed our leadership deficiencies at various level. Worst, at the political level.

Two sectors aided the exposures of pretense of leadership; health and education. Should the pandemic lingers more than necessary; and there are indications it may, it will further expose lack of foresight, planning and quality investment in another vital sector, agriculture in addition to the very visible ones in the health and education sectors. 

Any nation that lacks proper and comprehensive plan and investments in these three sectors, is as good as non-existent. Covid-19, if for nothing is fast opening our eyes to the pretense of our leaders and the lip services paid to these sectors.

Before COVID-19 dawned on us without warning, our leaders at various levels, especially those active, with followership on social media, always “wow” those who are gullible with show of heavy investment in the state of the art health facilities they have invested billions of naira on. Never mind that at the slightest diagnosis of headache, the same leaders flew out of Nigeria for medical attention. 

Ironically, if you had told any Nigerian Governor as recent as January 2020, that he will be afflicted by an ailment caused by a viral infection, and he would be treated by local medical personnel, and within his own state capital without as much as not been able to travel to Abuja, he would have, like the emperors some of them have become, directs for a summary punitive measure be meted out to you.

Today, across all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, Governors and their households tasted and are still tasting the negative positivity of COVID-19. All were and are being treated locally and survived, surviving without crossing the state borders not to talk of the flying out for medical attention.

Were coronavirus not dealing deadly blows on their choice destinations of medical tourism and the international boundaries not closed, taxpayers money in millions would have been wasted as they would have flew and airlift their families to such places for treatment.

Today, some are of the view that aside COVID-19 exposing the rot in our health system, some states’ prolonged lockdown wasn’t much to protect the poor citizenry against the pandemic spread, but more not to expose further, the lies and rot in their health sectors. Some came out and confessed that should the epidemic be more endemic than what was at hand, their states do not have the facilities and personnel to manage it. What they didn’t tell you is that, they do not have, half a quarter of what they said they had on ground or had invested in the health sector before the virus reared its ugly head, in some states, via them as the index cases. 

No doubt, even the nations with the best of medical facilities and personnel are not spared by the pandemic and are still battling to contain the ravaging virus, but you can see sincerity of purpose on their parts.

God has been so merciful to us in Nigeria such that the infection and mortality rate, considering our population of two hundred million plus, has been so minimal. We pray it remains so till we flatten the curve and globally defeat the virus. 

Yes, COVID-19 is a leveler, as today, our elites and leaders cannot travel to choice destinations for medical tourism to treat minor ailments, having destroyed our health sectors, privatised and mortgaged our lives, and now force us all to patronise same medical personnel and facilities they once denigrated and derided. Their families have all flown back home from choice destinations of educational tourism. 

From their take offs from those world class airports, to their arrivals at the various locals airports here in Nigeria, against the old practice of exhibiting ostentatious lifestyle and spitting on the poor with selfie pictures of departures and arrivals, they now even camouflaged and quietly run to their houses. Dare show us your “just arrived” selfies from any foreign nation and move to isolation centre. 

Few with semblance of sanity left, or any future political aspirations, make bold, in a face saving drama announce the positive status of family members and isolation trips. Even that, not without little drama.

Again, COVID-19 is exposing the rot and pretense in the education sector. It is unravelling the lack of seriousness we accord a sector as vital as education, which is a backbone and foundation of any development. Like other sectors gang raped and bastardised, then privatised out of the reach of the common man, education is now feeling the heat of the long neglect, lack of investment and the non-challant acts of our leaders.

The West African Examination Council WAEC’ West African Senior School Certificate Examination WASSCE and the discordant tunes across the nation, and especially between the regions, states and federal government is a pointer.

In Nigeria, between 1.5 to 1.7 million candidates register and sit for this examination annually. With our almost geometric population growth, put the figure for 2020 at utmost, two million candidates. Divide this by the thirty six states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, it will be difficult for any state to have a quarter of that number registered to write the examination. Yet, we are being told that no State in Nigeria can put measures in place for these students to write WASSCE in line with the COVID-19 protocols without hitches.

No state in Nigeria have less than a million registered voters. As we speak, Edo and Ondo are in frenzy to go to the polls with all the attendant crowd-funding, gathering sans COVID-19 protocols. 

As you read this, there are more Mosques and Churches in every community in Nigeria than there are secondary schools. These religious houses weekly, host more number of humans who spend longer hours, socialising with less physical distance between them than WASSCE candidates and WAEC staff would ever spend even if they are to write four papers daily.

As you read this, the schools are not just deteriorating, especially with the rains, no signs of making them habitable for any use, should the go ahead be given for the examination to hold in the nearest future. 

As I write, I am seated in Kaduna. Imagine if we are serious with education and knows the consequences of over a million of our young children missing this examination. Imagine in addition to all the government owned public schools in Kaduna; nursery, primary and secondary, the state government decided to utilise Kaduna Polytechnic’s three campuses, Nigerian Defence Academy NDA; both old and new sites, Kaduna State University KASU with multiple campuses, Police College, Nigeria Prison Training School, National Teachers Institute NTI, College  of Education Gidan Waya, Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria multiple campuses, Federal College of Education FCE, Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology NITT, Nigeria Military School NMS, Depot Nigerian Army, Nigeria Institute of Leather Technology and other numerous multipurpose halls within the state, you can be sure that many halls would at the end of the day, not even have a single candidate even on a day they all have to write English and Mathematics that are general papers; no matter what sort of social or physical distancing you want to practice. This scenario is same with such facilities available across most of the states of the federation and the FCT.

Of cause, they would be fast to use dearth of resources; financial and human to carry out this very vital responsibility. But during elections, they spare no resources; human and material to get to power. They utilise government resources, money, civil servants and even state owned transport vehicles to ferry voters from one end of the town to another. But now, that is impossible for education of our future leaders. 

Like the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF Boss Mustapha said at one of the briefings of the Presidential Task Force, if we don’t learn anything from this pandemic, we would never learn anything. Let me dare add that we would be doomed if we don’t.

For now, COVID-19 has not only succeeded in exposing the rot in our systems, it is exposing the deficiency of the people we call leaders. It is unravelling the pretense and lip service paid to critical sectors of our daily lives. It is and may hit back at all of us, but hit the elites and leaders more, as today, many of them have become prisoners of their own making, living in a reversed life while the poor may be used to scrapping the bottom to eat, even though it is getting harder. 

No one should tell you we have no resources to do the needful. If nothing, the revelations from certain forensic auditing gone awry is a pointer.

Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir writes from Kaduna and be reached via

azeeznews@gmail.com 

@azeeznews.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW; BEFORE THE GOVERNORS HIJACK OUR FREEDOM

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Between 1999 and now, it will be difficult to quantify the quantum of money thus far spent on the review of the 1999 constitution. So much has gone into waste with so much motion but little progress.

That much pundits would point out is typically Nigerian. Haven’t we sunk so much money into many white elephant projects with nothing to show for it. In all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, there are abandoned projects that have gulped multi billion naira but left to waste. Today, state governors collect millions, in some states billions of naira monthly in the name of security votes, yet, some communities few metres from government houses are daily terrorised and can’t sleep with their eyes closed due to insecurity.

The eight National Assembly seems to have made a great leap compared to what was obtained in the past with regards to the review of the 1999 constitution, taking on over thirty amendments in one fell swoop. This is unprecedented; considering the pertinent issues raised.

And for the first time in recent history, we saw the lawmakers put on the toga of seriousness by utilising the electronic voting system. This is against the voice votes where the presiding officer decides where the votes swing by pronouncing “the ayes have it” with the hit of the gavel even where and when “the nays” are loudest and more in number.

Even at that, the lawmakers shot themselves in the legs by proposing any bill becomes law once passed by the National Assembly without the assent of the President. That is arrogating the role of executive to themselves thereby abolishing the checks and balances which makes that proposal despotic.Of course, it is a planned way of rendering the Presidency powerless; targeting President Muhammadu Buhari. But what the Senators are loosing sight of, is the fact that the law maybe self inflicted injury as anyone of them may end up in the presidency sooner or later.That aside, the amendment votes seem to have taken the wind out of the sail of advocates of restructure. The carpet was tactically pulled under their foot leaving them gasping for air.

But more pertinent is the issue of Local Government autonomy, scrapping of joint local government /state joint account, scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commission; SIECOM, autonomy for State Houses of Assembly, independence candidacy among others. These issues tickled the fancy of many Nigerians, resonating with them and they mince no word in expressing their support. But the reality is, they are not factoring in the class interest, deviants and self serving appetites of the state governors.

Of course, the lawmakers got hit with regards to throwing away the devolution of power which the governors desperately want. This is not surprising considering the number of former Governors who populate the National Assembly, especially the upper chamber. They all know the powers governors wield. They all know to what extent such powers can be utilised albeit to the disadvantage of the masses by marauding governors.

Unfortunately some governors have become despots and demi gods in their state without recourse to law and constitutionality. Devolving more power to them would make some worst than the worst dictator that booted the constitution. Again you ask, of what significance is more power without commensurate financial backing by rejigging the monthly allocation in favour of the states. Here we are with some states owing workers months of salaries, yet demanding for more responsibilities. How ironic.And this bring us to where the governors would mobilise and fight the National Assembly and Nigerians by hijacking the constitutional review. They would not allow for local government, State Houses of Assembly autonomy, scrapping of joint state/local account and SIECOM. They would do all they can to foil that good move Nigerians are celebrating. A move that would free Nigerians from the jugular of the governors who have become undemocratic despots through the ballot as against the barrel of the gun.

Local Governments have become the conduit pipes through which governors line their pockets. While councils have become appendage of the Governors’ offices, they do as they wish with the finances and administration of the third tier of government that is meant to take development closer to the people.

Unfortunately, even those who were loudmouth and critical of their predecessors, calling them unprintable names for failure to conduct local government elections, today as sitting governors are worst than their predecessors who they criticized.Most visible infrastructural development at the local government councils that you can point at today, undertaken by the councils, were projects some were able to execute under General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida administration when councils got their allocation direct from Abuja. Though there were some who actually abused that as governors do today.

And the few who today embark on semblance of local government elections, always have the SIECOM in their pockets. They appoint those who superintend the electoral body and determine the election outcome long before the polls, hence landslide victory of the ruling party in such state. Scrapping SIECOM means booting the governors’ despotism utilising semblance of democracy in council polls.

And the last straw is autonomy for the state Houses of Assembly. State assemblies today are nothing but rubber stamps. They act in tandem with the directive of the governors contrary to the tenets of separation of power. State Houses ofAssembly Members are worst than commissioners who are appointees of the governor and often pass executive bills with the speed of light and hardly spell oversight in their functions talk less of carrying it out. That leaves the governors to do as they want, not just with their state finances, but resort to despotic acts and pronouncement with the legislature looking the other way or gazing blindly with eyes wide shut.

These are the reasons the governors would mobilise to ensure these changes in the constitution review are stalled as they are threats to their crude ridership albeit despotically as against leading democratically. They are going to boot what the masses are rooting for and in the process hijack our freedom through the constitution review.

From recent recapitulating statements of Senate President Bukola Satanic on representing the devolution bill, be sure the governors are already at work. It is time for Nigerians to resist this by ensuring their representatives at all levels to the right thing in tandem with their wishes by ensuring the governors don’t have their way, or teach them a lesson they would never forget in their political lives.

But after all said and done, the President have the final say by withholding or assenting to the reviews after the three third of all needed to make it a constitution. So, the buck stops on his table.

 

06 August,  2017

Kaduna.

Kogi and Concessionary Power Sharing

Kogi and Concessionary Power Sharing

By: Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
azeeznews@yahoo.com
@azeeznews

Snatching victory from the jaw of failure. No, death snatching failure from the jaws of victory. Or alternatively, dogged preparedness meeting opportunity albeit divine intervention.

Abubakar Audu, Abiodun Falaki, Yahaya Belo; these actors fit into the three separate sentences above. These three are the poster ambassadors of the three most contending ethnic groups in Kogi State; Igala, Okun and Igbira, at least politically.

The political conundrum that took place in Kogi State was unprecedented. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, at no point has such occurred, not even something close to it. The event also brought to the fore the flaw among our “learned wig custodians”. Our highly rated Senior Advocates  were singing discordant tunes albeit selfishly.

The opinion of Lawyers, senior ones at that were as diverse as the amount they would have charged to defend any client in the court of law, especially when the client is a self confessed guilty-as-charged one. It goes to show what our Lawyers in this clime specialise in; create conflict that results in legal tussle and wait to be engaged as defending/prosecuting Council.

Enough said about that, Faleke seems to have created the tragic flaw in the cunundrum. This is a man who, all his life has been a Lagosian with little or no thought for Kogi State. A man who even represents a portion of Eko in the lower Chamber of the National Assembly. But that may be a non issue, as from Oyo to Ekiti, Ondo to Ogun and Osun to Kwara his ilks abound.

And from the blues, picked to be the running mate of Abubakar Audu, after the former had chest the belt and sure of raising the trophy due to his popularity and track record, Faleke was your typical Nigerian politician who always love to reap bountifully where he sow little or nothing at all.

But as it happens, Faleke seems ready to bury Audu long before his real death. He could hardly wait for Audu’s body to get cold and be six feet below before he started advocating for Audu’s nudity and his paraphanalia of office be put on him (Faleke) even as Audu’s son foolhardily tow Falake’s ill advised political line of action.

That single act painted the duo as not only stealthily ambitious and waited with baited breath for Audu’s death, but portrayed them as inhuman. Because to many, that was a period that they should have maintained a solemn overtures, watch event from the sidelines as they on-fold and mourn the passing of Audu. Well, even that is now in the past. But at the long run, Muhammed Audu may never forgive Faleke for misleading him and he may have committed political hara-kiri.

All around the world, concessionary power sharing is the in-thing. From America, Europe, Asia, South America et al, the king makers are fast realising that for peace, stability, growth, development and to give everyone a sense of belonging, concessionary power sharing is the way out. The era of winner takes it all or the majority lording it over the minority or playing the lord of the manor is old fashioned.

All around the world and in many places, people that ordinarily would never perceive the aroma of power are groomed and allowed to have a stake. And this is where the Igalas of Kogi State come in. Since the dawn of civil rule in 1999, they have been at the helm of affairs and saw it as a birthright to always be.

Despite the fact that Igala speaking lands have little or nothing to show for their sons being the chief executives of the state beyond what late Abubakar Audu put in place during his short-lived tenure. And these infrastructures are not limited to Igala lands alone. Just as the failure of Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada are not also limited to their homes and ethnic group alone. But at every election, the Igalas queue behind their sons.

You can say the majority will always have their ways. Yes. But at what price. Agreed power is never given but taken, but good strategist would concede once in a while to the give the less endowed the euphoria of sense of belonging. And the reality is, even the so called majority can never have the highly priced trophy without support from the so called minority, even if it is mere cheering from the sidelines.

In Nigerian political scene, the so called minority is often given the second fiddle role to act. Or to properly place it or use the local political parlance, he is utilised as a spare tyre. From Borno to Lagos, Kwara to Abia, Ekiti to Katsina the story is no different, the so called majority always feel it is their birth right to always rule as against lead, and often rub it on the face of the rest. In some states, they even twist the knife in the wound and turn it to a sore.

Here again is where Kogi comes to the fore. With late Audu cum Wada, Yahaya Bello and Abiodun Faleke seen as the poster boys of their ethnic groups, it was a replay or reflection of Kogi politics. These tripatite ethnic groups are often used as representative samples of the heterogeneous state and here again is another folly.

Aside these troika, people forget that there are other ethnic groups that abound in the state. But it maybe because these vocal three with probably the exception of the Okuns, are limited to the Kogi alone. You have the Nupes, the Egbira Kotos, the Bassa Nges, the Bassa Komus the Aworos, the Kakandas (Dibos), the Agatus, the Akpotos among others. Though found in other states such as Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau and the FCT, put together, they are forces to be reckon with oppose to the vocal three always used as a reference point and who are limited to Kogi alone.

But if anyone refers to these numerous groups as minorities and subsume them into others, the last election that threw up Yahaya Bello and the reference to his ethnic group as a minority in Kogi State is also unprecedented. In the larger Nigerian political stage, even the Igalas are referred to as a minority in national diatribes. So, it is a case of if you are taller than me I am shorter than you.

But considering what the ‘waows’ have gone through even when Yahaya Bello was a toddler, would it be right to refer to them as minorities in the political scene of Kogi State of today? When they belonged to the old Kwara State where their population is far less compared to other groups then, they produced a Governor in the person of Alhaji Adamu Attah and they were not despised politically as minorities. Why now in the smaller Kogi where their numbers are larger?

The political conundrum in Kogi State shows what stuff our political actors are made off and to what level they can go to protect group interest. It has also shows how ill prepared our Lawyers area despite all noise and lies they make to raise the roof. Above all, it shows the lacuna in our laws.

But the greatest lesson is the fact that we are all minorities before our creator who gives power to who He wishes, when He wishes and also take it when and from who He wishes.

Though power is taken and not given, we have to learn to concessionarily share power to give our compatriots a sense of belonging and carry them along in the scheme of things. After all, we are all travelers along this shore, and like Audu, we shall only be remembered by the footprints we leave behind; on the ever moving sandy dunes or on the ever permanent stony boulders that can withstand many hash conditions or even worst political storm.

Yes, power is taken by our deft political dexterity or given by concession or by the Creator. But it will amount to nothing if not utilised to the advantage of the majority of the people who never cared about the tongue or faith of others but desire basic infrastructures and social amenities to better their lives.

At four decades old, Yahaya Bello has made history just as the creator has given him power, thereby fulfilling the prophesy of Audu that power can oly shift with his election. But Bello needs to know and have the choice to utilise the power to the advantage of the majority of Kogi people who desire better life and not the divisive antiques of the political class who forever deepens the fault lines and makes the colours of the confluence more apparent to show who belongs to what divides.

As the youngest Governor in this era of change and the era where and when the thumbs and voice of the youth makes the difference, the choice is his. If he choose to fail, and we hope not, it will not be the failure of the waow Igbiras but his failure, as Adamu Attah in Kwara was not a failure. Same as Ibro and Wada’s failures are not the failure of the agba Igalas because late Abubakar Audu in the same Kogi was not a failure.

Bello can ill afford to fail for several obvious reasons. The time to change the narratives in Kogi State is now and the youngest Governor of this era is given the unenviable opportunity to stem the tide.

Go help us to act right, as I am only thinking aloud.

Anti-Corruption War; As Father Kukah goes to the Confessional

Anti-Corruption War; As Father Kukah goes to the Confessional

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
azeeznews@yahoo.com
@azeeznews

Like President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, we are all Nigerians who have no any other country but Nigeria. And we need to stay here and salvage her. Especially after what she has gone through in the last six years in the hands of those entrusted with her care.

Nigeria was not only gang raped, but repeatedly stabbed, bleeding profusely and left to die. While she lay almost in coma, gasping for air, those entrusted with her well being were busy scheming for how to retain her in their possession, then sustain her abuse. But the Lord delivered us and we are on the path of salvation.

Talking salvation, what differentiate Bishop Kukah and President Jonathan from majority of Nigerians is that the two men are Christians. In fact, even at that, Kukah is a Catholic while Jonathan is Anglican. Nothing more. If they have more similarities, it is that they are both PhD holders. Even at that, their doctorates are in two varied fields. In fact, I cannot, will not and doubt not Kukah’s doctorate. His dissertation is a public knowledge.

So much has being written and said about the General Abdulsalami Abubakar led committee to the Villa and the subsequent media interview granted by Kukah purportedly speaking on behalf of the members. But no, Kukah spoke of, for, and by himself. May be a little opinion of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; the gadfly of ex President Jonathan. But definitely not all the committee members.

If you know Cardinal Onaiyekan very well. If you know the Sultan; Abubakar Sa’ad III well, you will know that “probing corruption is not governance” as postulated by Kukah is not and will never be associated with these two eminent Nigerians. Check Sultan’s speech at the National Security Summit and see the contradiction. Kukah was on a solo flight to help fight for a friend; Jonathan. But he forgot the compass as well as forgot that the weather has changed so much since May 29, 2015. So he nose-dived and he crash landed. All Kukah tried doing was a class solidarity. Nothing more.

But the times have changed. This Kukah did not know or deliberately refused to acknowledge. In the process, his kite was not only shut down, his hard earned reputation took a nose dive too for the worst.

Kukah must have received ex President Goodluck Jonathan on a confessional where Jonathan must have confessed all his past sins. To which Kukah; a Bishop of the whole Sultanate Diocese must have solicited the Good Lord on behalf of the former President believing that God Almighty is ever forgiven as long as His servants confess their sins and atone for it.

Bishop Kukah have “boys” within the media cycle who always often help him gauge public opinion in the media, trouble shoot as well give him feedback on his utterances and actions. This time, the feedback must have been “Father, this one is bad. Make amends quickly”.

Kukah more than most Nigerians know that Buhari promised, during his political campaign to make anti-corruption a cardinal issue of his administration. Kukah know that curbing corruption, bringing criminals to justice is a great weapons of governance; a mean to an end and not the end. Kukah only tried short circuting the system and it blew in his face.

And as a good Catholics, Kukah thought of penitence, made a U-turn and went for confessional. But instead of walking down the short, humble, quiet and religiously revered aisle of the Church and before a fellow clergy, Kukah walked up the long, rich, noisy, politically charged corridors of the Villa and before President Buhari without an interface between them for his confessional.

That is after examining his conscience and decided to tell Buhari of the sorrow his statement has caused him and to what extent the media and most Nigerians were ready to gore him, Kukah went into the confessional. But instead of kneeling at the screen or sit with a barrier to confess his sin and sorrow, he sat on a round table to talk, face-to-face with the President instead of a Priest.

Though the doors of Buhari’s office were shut after his photo-ops with Kukah, and we cannot say what transpired between the two, one expected that Kukah might have began his confession with the sign of the cross, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. My last confession was weeks, months, years ago”. But remember, Buhari is not a Priest but a President. Never mind both begin with “P”.

So, Kukah might have began instead with “Your Excellency. My last embarrassment and mis-quotation before this by the media was weeks, months, years ago”.

Buhari being a voracious reader like the Priest explores the Bible, might have read a quotation from what Kukah allegedly said on his anti-corruption and governance just like a Priest may read a passage from the Holy Scripture.

Kukah must have then gone ahead to state the sins, sorry, I mean the media mis-quotations that he could remember. Starting with the one(s) that was most difficult to say. ( I learn in the Catholic, in order to make a good confession the faithful must confess all mortal sins, according to kind and number.)

After confessing all the sins, I mean media mis-quotations that he remembered since his last good confession, the Bishop might have concluded by saying, “I am sorry for these and all the sins of my past life.” Or “I am sorry for the embarrassment my misunderstood explanations must have caused you, your government and the country at large” since he is before the President and not the Priest.

He then must have listened to the words of the President instead of the Priest who must have assigned him some penance. I also learn in the Catholic, doing the penance diminishes the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.

After Buhari was done, for he is a man of few words, Kukah must have expressed some words of contrivance such as “Your Excellency, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my reported utterances which were misunderstood, because I dread the loss of your confidence and the pains of Nigerian’s anger. But most of all because I have offended you, my President, who is good and deserving of all my support. I firmly resolve with the help of your office, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my utterances. Amen”. The “amen” would have been said quietly without the President hearing because he is not a Priest.

Then he would have listened to the words of absolution, the sacramental forgiveness of the Aso Villa through the elected President. As he listen to the words of forgiveness, he might make the sign of the broom (symbol of the President’s party) with the President. Then President might have closed the visit by saying, “give thanks to the APC for the party is good,” to which Bishop must have answered, “for the party will surely endure in the Villa for four years fighting corruption.”

After this, Bishop must have thanked the President for forgiving him and resolved to do his penance. His penance must have been the resolve to return to the sacrament of reconciliation often, of talking less especially to the media, of supporting the government’s anti corruption drive and above all, atoning for past sins by telling truth to the guilty even if the guilty one succeeded for a decade and half plus a year with many sins to confess and ask for forgiveness.

As for Father Kukah and President Buhari’s anti-corruption fight, the Bishop has gone to confessional, so let others bear their cross before the lord of the manor. After all, a new Sherif is in town. The reason the Bishop kept a straight face, a sealed lips after walking out of his confessional with President Buhari in the Aso Villa. The Priest also confesses because he sins too.

As Buhari Begins To Ejaculate…

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

A political virgin that he was, it took him four consecutive attempts to learn all the tricks of the Nigerian political easy-virtue before he could gain penetration despite a long standing turgid erection. But even at that, those long in the old profession saw him as not having a sustained turgidity to last that long a bout after gaining penetration.

President Muhammadu Buhari is one Nigerian politician de-flowered by the Nigerian media. In-fact, he was gang raped and repeatedly so, and was expected to die of exhaustion after draining him of blood. But despite the pain of forced thrusts, his gap toothed smile always veiled his agony and portrayed him as a willing partner in the acts; willing to venture into the den of the rampaging co-travelers again and again.

Then, to paraphrase Mahatma Ghandi the Nigerian media defiled Buhari and ignored him. They gang raped him and laughed at him. Then they fought him when he refused to bleed to death or die of exhaustion. Then he won and they all fall in love, heads over heels with him. Today he is the most sought after bride with suitors tripping over each other to court him.

The media so framed a Buhari that they succeeded in imprinting on the psych of many Nigerians and beyond, certain perception, exposure and retention of an ugly portrait of the man. He was projected as the lady of the night who had everything materially at her beck and call at home, but due to moral decadence and insatiable appetite for power, always stretched out her seductive legs on the ever lethal political streets.

But after being ignored, laughed at, fought and eventually won, Buhari has been transformed from a beautiful, voluptuous bride that many sought, to a handsome newly married groom with a pretty wife whose menu is so mouth-watering that many could not resist her cooks.

He has become a groom whose house has become a Mecca of a sort that even those who once defiled his beautiful bride, who gang-raped her, who drew blood and bayed for more even when she seemed in need of blood to survive, those who wished her dead are today veily looking for ways to atone for their sacrilegious acts and attempt warming their ways into that heart that they once struck with daggers.

“It is not by accident that I got the best of you to be the special adviser, one of the 15 aides I had to get clearance from the Senate. He is one of the best Presidents of the Guild of Editors that I can have as special adviser. I brought one of the best of you so that he can consistently defend me against you”.

If you think Buhari has forgotten what the media or a section of it did to him, how they gang-raped him and left him for dead, then the above quote during his meeting with the State House Press Corps should jolt you from your slumber. He has brought Femi Adesina to “consistently defend” him “against” the media.

“Whether my job is a difficult one or easy is up to him, but I’m here to thank you in advance for what good and ill you are going to do to me. I have to quickly come and see you and welcome you to this place. I hope what happened of recent between the former President and one of you (the withdrawal of the accreditation of the Radio Germany reporter) will not happen between me and you”.

Hmm, go through the above quotes again; in case you missed it, let this “…but I’m here to thank you in advance for what good and ill you are going to do to me…” sink in. The relationship between a rapist and his victim may become cordial, they may even fall in love and have a relationship. Even ending up in marriage. But the victim, like the man left with bones after the other had savoured the meat, would never forgot the pains of the old act and would always be very careful; expecting a mixture of pain and pleasure.

Buhari is the first President since 1999 when Nigeria returned to civil rule, to officially meet and welcome the media team attached to the Presidency in their chamber before settling down to business. “This bad management that we find ourselves in, we really need your help to protect us from people before they march on us”, he concluded. Trusting the hyena with meat you may say.

What many, especially journalists did not know before now is that behind that stern looking mien of President Buhari, is a soft, easy going, highly hilarious man who disarm anyone around him with nerve cracking jokes. He is known to throw highly funny jibes.

Take it or leave it, the media guys around the President are in for a lot of surprises; different from the old Buhari media conception.

Now Buhari has arrived, stronger, wiser with all the tricks in his kitty having been the victim of stronger antagonists in the past. Buhari is now ejaculating and his old assailants are more than willing to be the hosts and bearers of his new offspring.

Of NSGF; Gov Shettima Please Take Note

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Dear Governor Kashim Shettima, a congratulations would have been in order for your emergence as the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF). But for the fact that you are succeeding Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu; my state’s former governor, considering the rot he left behind, you rather have empathy of many a northerner.

But I dare say you still deserve congratulations. If for nothing but to have survived horrendous years of the murderous insurgents. Four treacherous years of a lukewarm federal government. Four precarious years of former leaders in your state plunging the state into anarchy. Four lonely years of been left in the lurch by the same NSGF that you now leads. This is worthy congratulations despite the thousands of lives lost, property destroyed and thousands more displaced and turn to refugees in their own land.

With your re-election and the eventual emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, we hope and pray the insurgents would be routed once and for all. With the renewed efforts of our military and collaboration with the neighboring countries, we also hope the root cause of the insurgents would finally be uprooted.

Your Excellency Sir, you have taken over the mantle of NSGF at a very auspicious time. A time when virtually everything has fallen apart in the North and the dreams of the founding fathers are fast being turned to nightmares for the younger generation. At a time when all the northern founding fathers put in place to generate employment and ensure sustainable livelihood is being shared among your predecessors and some allowed to crumble due to negligence.

For a starter, Your Excellency, your predecessor was the longest serving Chairman of the Forum. He came on board with a lot of goodwill but deserted with all the goodwill squandered. His tenure, unlike his predecessors witnessed the greatest setback in the history of the forum and the region. With the exception of Sardauna Foundation, the success of which is more to the effort of Justice Mamman Nasir, Governor Aliyu’s tenure has more negativities to show for the region than success, yet he was the chair for eight wasted years.

When the Federal Government took over institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna Polytechnic, Radio-Television, Kaduna, New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN), Kaduna among others, hell was let loose then. Little did we know then that the government at the centre was doing the region a great favour.

It was a great favour because imagine what would have befallen these two great academic institutions today if they were left in the hands of the successors of the founding fathers, especially successors such as the recent past. President Muhammadu Buhari seemed to have them in mind and captured it better when in his inaugural address he said “… Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house…”

As you read this Sir, 20 number great houses belonging to the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) are topics of controversy as they are in the process, if not already “dashed” to the immediate past Secretaries of NSGF states with the 20th property allegedly going to your predecessor; Babangida Aliyu, all in the name of God-knows-what.

Going by the dreams of the founding fathers, NNDC today should have been a sprawling company with assets everywhere and subsidiaries all around Nigeria and beyond. NNDC should have been posited such that indigent northern youths can easily access scholarship even on a loan basis to further their education or establish small scale enterprises. But no, our common wealth there is being shared among privilege few who ordinarily should be working on expanding it.

Your Excellency, it is no news that the once “newsy” New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN), once the voice of the region, the influencer of government policies, the agenda setter of the nation has been off the news-stand for over two years and half now. It has lost over fifteen staff since the closure. Many thrown into the labour market and some still roaming, hoping for the best. The medium which late Sir Ahmadu Bello said should tell the world about us and us about the world, the medium which he prophetically said would be a training ground for journalism in Nigeria has being left to gradually whittle away by your predecessor who was all sound, fury but no action.

Today, university and polytechnic students who troop to Kaduna for their industrial training (IT) attachment with the NNN form near and far, now have no option but forgo it for a broadcast outfit or go to Abuja with tears. Thereby defeating that prophetic pronouncement of Sir Ahmadu Bello of making NNN the training ground for the younger generation.

Today in Nigeria, it is hard to have a medium like NNN with the kind of landed property of high value. It owns the sprawling ten story Nagwamatse building that once housed the Headquarters of the Bank of the North and later Unity Bank in Kaduna where today African Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM operates from. NNN owns many bungalows along Isa Kaita and Malali in Kaduna that house some staff who today pay stipends a la civil service system of the old. Aside undeveloped lands here and there. Properties that if commercialized are great sources of incoming for the organisation.

Aside the above, the company owns a sprawling landed property in Lagos because it remained the first Newspaper in Nigeria to print simultaneously from two places. That property is wasting away with little or no income from it. It may interest your excellency to also know that the company lost a landed property in Abuja and had to resort to legal tussle to reclaim it.

The company won the case and the then FCT Minister, Abdulkadir Bala Muhammed; a northerner promised to ensure the necessary land titles were given back to NNN. But till this minute, the company is yet to get the documents, more than three years after. Speculation is that the land may have gone the ways of the NNDC properties. So sad.

From the above, Your Excellency can see that the founding fathers established this company with plans to make it self sustaining without the likes of NNN going cap in hand soliciting for life-lines to be operational. By January 1st 2016, NNN would be 50 years old; golden anniversary just like the demise of Sir Ahmadu Bello. But your predecessor never for once visited the organisation unlike three or four of his colleagues, less, talk about plans to celebrate the golden memory of Gamji.

Your Excellency, the NSGF of 1999-2007 would not have abandon Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the face of what your states faced in the last four years. The Forum would have mobilised, strategised, cajoled and coerced the Federal Government to ensure the needful was done and the situation not allowed to have degenerated to what we all witnessed. Recall the Tiv-Jukun crisis that culminated in a week long peace summit in Kaduna by the Forum. For that proactive measure, only God knows what the situation would have been today.

In the recent past, all the world is made to hear abou this region is Boko Haram, almajirai, herders-farmers clash, ethno-religious uprising, VVF among other vices. Yet, on daily basis people migrate in droves to the north. It is the region with the large heart. Accommodates all and sundry. Give all the opportunity to own their sources of livelihood, own their places of abode for even those who can not do such in their indigenous lands. It is a region with great altruism.

Your Excellency, you are still the youngest governor among the nineteen of you with Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State few months older than you. You are also fortunate to have the oldest among you; Governor Abdulahi Ganduje of Kano State as Deputy. It is time to walk the talk. It is time to make the north work again. Though you may not speak with one voice, let the diversity be a source of strength and not weakness.

Fortunately, unlike in the past where the states were divided along party lines among other ideological differences, of the nineteen of you, only three; Gombe, Kogi and Taraba belong to a different party; the PDP. The sixteen of you belong to the same party; the APC and prefers to be called the progressives. It is time to bring that progressivesiness to bear on the region with the highest population and naturally endowed with resources that can make any society great. It is time to utilise our altruism to advantage.

Your Excellency, going by your intellect, you have been offered a great opportunity to write your name in gold in the annals of northern history and by extension the history of Nigeria as anything good for the north is better for Nigeria and whatever divides the north is an anathema and lethal for Nigeria.

May you succeed beyond expectations as you take note of these issues among other myriads of leadership obstacles that confront the region today and stagnate her.

Abdull-Azeez is a journalist based in Kaduna
azeeznews@yahoo.com
@azeeznews

NASS Leadership Elections; On The Horns of Dilemma

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
azeeznews@yahoo.com
@azeeznews

When General Muhammadu Buhari said years back that politics is a dirty game, little did he know then that he would be engross in the game but try to avoid the dirt. Many who convinced or confused him to join the game thought they could teach him the rules of the game and make him their protege, but the man is proving to be a better player of the game than his “teachers”. Today the All Progressive Congress (APC) minus Buhari is everything Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The National Assembly (NASS) leadership election has come and gone, but it has left in its wake more hurdles than solutions with all carcasses of PDP clinging to it. And the blaming game continues with some placing the blame at the door steps of APC, PDP, Buhari, Tinubu, Saraki among others.

The reality is, while some are just being mischievous, others are out-rightly naïve while some live in denial of the reality on ground.

What transpired in the red chamber was constitutional and legal but highly immoral. But in politics like in war, morality is relegated to the background. Politicians in the contest for conquest are often like whores; no conscience until the fun is over or backfires. Their self interest is always the prime consideration.

What transpired was legal and constitutional as it met the laws of the land as well as the rules of the NASS. It is immoral in the sense that, like the lower chamber, the Senate should have allowed all elected Senators who wished to have participated in that elections to have been seated then slug it out. For not doing that, Saraki’s leadership lacks the moral backing it deserves unlike Speaker Yakubu Dogaras’.

But here was where APC was naïve. PDP would have gone ahead to elect within and among their sitting members both President and Deputy with little or no whimper from the 12 APC Senators present. So, why is the APC playing the weeping child when it is its own greatest villain.

Saraki remains a staunch APC member just like Dogara, and the party should be grateful that the two emerged leaders. The two are not APC Senate President or House Speaker, but the President of the Senate and the Speaker of House of Representatives both made up of individuals from different parties. The two can’t be leaders without support from other members from other political parties. Lawan and Gbajabiamila’s stand showed that they felt they could be leaders with the sole support of their party members. They were proven wrong.

For starters, both Saraki and Lawan are eminently qualified for the post. But Saraki seemed to have been better prepared for the job and went for the sit at the jugular. He was Governor for 8 years. Aspired for the number one position in the land; the presidency. Then he came to the senate during which he attempted a shot again at the presidency but made a detour at the last moment and went for re-election. Just coming to the NASS, Saraki witnessed Aminu Waziri Tambuwal went against their party and rode on the rebellious conveyor belt for years ending up a celebrated leader.

Of all the former Governors in the National Assembly and among those who cross carpeted to the APC from other parties, you may be right to say Saraki remains the closest to Buhari; at least before his election as the President. He was one of those who “guided” Buhari to United Kingdom before the general elections. Among other factors.

So, if anyone think Buhari would support anyone against the aspirations of Saraki, you have another think coming, less allowing a candidate who is seen by many as the choice of an overbearing party leader. The bravado of the APC through the statement by its spokesperson; Lai Mohammed says so much about that assertion held by many.

Of cause, Saraki has a herculean task in the days ahead considering the individuals and groups that are in the “unity group”. You don’t go to sleep with two eyes close having the Kwankwasos, Gemades, Akumes, Shehu Sanis, Hunkuyis, Tinubus et al in the opposing camp. How he weathers the storm depends on how he is able to massage the ego and interest of each in the days ahead. If he tries to align with the PDP family and play the winner takes all game, then he will have but a bumpy ride. As Shakespeare says “he who steeps his safety in blood would have but a bloody safety”. But if he reaches out to them, especially the influential members of the dominant APC unity group, with committee chairmanship and membership a la David Mark, he would succeed in dousing the tension, winning most to his camp.

Many have raised the Bola Tinubu factor. But one thing is clear, it is a contest of superiority between Tinubu and Saraki. The two men seem ready to square it up. Both are leaders in their own right. Tinubu in his Lagos fortress and Saraki in his Kwara den. But while Tinubu has been on the scene for a while, Saraki is debuting and seems filling his late father’s shoes and leveraging on the old alliances forged by the older Saraki. This seems a threat to Tinubu’s larger than life portrait within the APC and among certain political groups. The two men are going to operate in the days ahead with each watching over his shoulders for the treacherous act of the other.

The emergence of Saraki would have also thrown spanners in the political calculations and expectations of Tinubu. What with the Vice President, Senate President and Deputy Speaker from same ethnic group. Tinubu’s move to secure more strategic appointments especially within the executive must have suffered a great set back. Don’t think he will take it lying low. Neither would Saraki overlook any move of Tinubu. But Saraki with the PDP alliance may have the upper hand to perpetually check mate Tinubu.

But the reality is, Saraki with the aid of simple majority is the Senate President and getting three third members to unseat him as things stand now is almost impossible. Not with the PDP alliance he has forged.

The House of Representatives seemed to have pulled the rugs under the feet of the PDP. It ensured all members elect participated in the election process. This gave it a legitimate legal and moral backing. The Dogara group emerged victorious with a slim margin of just 8 votes. They also went ahead to drop the earlier plan and agreement with PDP to have Leo Ogah as the Deputy Speaker but rather elected Suleman Yusuf Lasu from Osun also of APC.

If the Unity Group Senators had participated in the election, they would have succeeded in doing same by ensuring either Akume or Ndume most likely emerged the Deputy Senate President as against Ekweremadu. But it may not be uhuru yet for the PDP in the Senate. Anything can happen because APC with majority Senators will not swallow the spite hook, line and sinker. Atleast not for long.

Again, Lawan’s group of judicial threat is a waste of time. He should have learn from Dogara. In 2011 Dogara was one of the greatest antagonists of Tambuwal. He even went to court to challenge Tambuwal’s election. But at the end, not just him, even PDP ate the humble pie. Today Dogara also rode the Tambuwal rebellious conveyor belt and landed on the Speakership seat. 2019 may sound and look far, but days roll into weeks, weeks into months and months into years with ease.

For those blaming Buhari for being aloof or Saraki and his camp for staging a constitutional palace coup, they forget the APC is an amalgam of CPC, ACN, ANPP, nPDP and factions of other smaller political parties. While Buhari and Osinbajo could be said to be the ambassadors of CPC and ACN, the ANPP and nPDP were out to for the battle of wit. Saraki and Lawan symbolise the two. That is why the battle to outwit each was more fierce and devoid of morality. Saraki and Dogara won the battle for the nPDP and left the ANPP bloody-nosed.

Again imagine Tinubu as the party leader, influencing the Vice President, the Senate President under Ahmed Lawan and the Speakership of the House of Representatives under Femi Gbajabiamila among others. Several other camps, among them former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former PDP governors now in the senate, some Buhari loyalists not too comfortable with Tinubu, David Mark et al would rather Saraki/Dogara NASS leadership to check mate and reduce the Jagaba’s influence.

For Buhari, he would rather some individuals and groups fight his fight without him as much as raising a finger or uttering a word. His pretense of sitting on the fence, though a political suicide for a politician, is a tactical war strategy that makes even his enemy have a sympathy for him. The APC is a father of many children with different mothers. Buhari as a good father would rather not be seen to be taking side with any of the children neither any of the mothers. Though he may have a favourite child or wife among them.

For those who feel a NASS leadership that would oppose Buhari or make things difficult for his administration is in the making, they would realised before long that majority of Nigerians would resist that and take actions making life unbearable for them in a manner unprecedented.

As it stands, though on a horn of dilemma,the party and NASS has no option than to accept what has befallen it due to its leadership naivety while it gilds it waist rope for future battles. Doing otherwise would be living in denial which may portend a great set back for it and the nation.

NASS Leadership Elections; On The Horns of Dilemma

When General Muhammadu Buhari said years back that politics is a dirty game, little did he know then that he would be engross in the game but try to avoid the dirt. Many who convinced or confused him to join the game thought they could teach him the rules of the game and make him their protege, but the man is proving to be a better player of the game than his “teachers”. Today the All Progressive Congress (APC) minus Buhari is everything Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The National Assembly (NASS) leadership election has come and gone, but it has left in its wake more hurdles than solutions with all carcasses of PDP clinging to it. And the blaming game continues with some placing the blame at the door steps of APC, PDP, Buhari, Tinubu, Saraki among others.

The reality is, while some are just being mischievous, others are out-rightly naïve while some live in denial of the reality on ground.

What transpired in the red chamber was constitutional and legal but highly immoral. But in politics like in war, morality is relegated to the background. Politicians in the contest for conquest are often like whores; no conscience until the fun is over or backfires. Their self interest is always the prime consideration.

What transpired was legal and constitutional as it met the laws of the land as well as the rules of the NASS. It is immoral in the sense that, like the lower chamber, the Senate should have allowed all elected Senators who wished to have participated in that elections to have been seated then slug it out. For not doing that, Saraki’s leadership lacks the moral backing it deserves unlike Speaker Yakubu Dogaras’.

But here was where APC was naïve. PDP would have gone ahead to elect within and among their sitting members both President and Deputy with little or no whimper from the 12 APC Senators present. So, why is the APC playing the weeping child when it is its own greatest villain.

Saraki remains a staunch APC member just like Dogara, and the party should be grateful that the two emerged leaders. The two are not APC Senate President or House Speaker, but the President of the Senate and the Speaker of House of Representatives both made up of individuals from different parties. The two can’t be leaders without support from other members from other political parties. Lawan and Gbajabiamila’s stand showed that they felt they could be leaders with the sole support of their party members. They were proven wrong.

For starters, both Saraki and Lawan are eminently qualified for the post. But Saraki seemed to have been better prepared for the job and went for the sit at the jugular. He was Governor for 8 years. Aspired for the number one position in the land; the presidency. Then he came to the senate during which he attempted a shot again at the presidency but made a detour at the last moment and went for re-election. Just coming to the NASS, Saraki witnessed Aminu Waziri Tambuwal went against their party and rode on the rebellious conveyor belt for years ending up a celebrated leader.

Of all the former Governors in the National Assembly and among those who cross carpeted to the APC from other parties, you may be right to say Saraki remains the closest to Buhari; at least before his election as the President. He was one of those who “guided” Buhari to United Kingdom before the general elections. Among other factors.

So, if anyone think Buhari would support anyone against the aspirations of Saraki, you have another think coming, less allowing a candidate who is seen by many as the choice of an overbearing party leader. The bravado of the APC through the statement by its spokesperson; Lai Mohammed says so much about that assertion held by many.

Of cause, Saraki has a herculean task in the days ahead considering the individuals and groups that are in the “unity group”. You don’t go to sleep with two eyes close having the Kwankwasos, Gemades, Akumes, Shehu Sanis, Hunkuyis, Tinubus et al in the opposing camp. How he weathers the storm depends on how he is able to massage the ego and interest of each in the days ahead. If he tries to align with the PDP family and play the winner takes all game, then he will have but a bumpy ride. As Shakespeare says “he who steeps his safety in blood would have but a bloody safety”. But if he reaches out to them, especially the influential members of the dominant APC unity group, with committee chairmanship and membership a la David Mark, he would succeed in dousing the tension, winning most to his camp.

Many have raised the Bola Tinubu factor. But one thing is clear, it is a contest of superiority between Tinubu and Saraki. The two men seem ready to square it up. Both are leaders in their own right. Tinubu in his Lagos fortress and Saraki in his Kwara den. But while Tinubu has been on the scene for a while, Saraki is debuting and seems filling his late father’s shoes and leveraging on the old alliances forged by the older Saraki. This seems a threat to Tinubu’s larger than life portrait within the APC and among certain political groups. The two men are going to operate in the days ahead with each watching over his shoulders for the treacherous act of the other.

The emergence of Saraki would have also thrown spanners in the political calculations and expectations of Tinubu. What with the Vice President, Senate President and Deputy Speaker from same ethnic group. Tinubu’s move to secure more strategic appointments especially within the executive must have suffered a great set back. Don’t think he will take it lying low. Neither would Saraki overlook any move of Tinubu. But Saraki with the PDP alliance may have the upper hand to perpetually check mate Tinubu.

But the reality is, Saraki with the aid of simple majority is the Senate President and getting three third members to unseat him as things stand now is almost impossible. Not with the PDP alliance he has forged.

The House of Representatives seemed to have pulled the rugs under the feet of the PDP. It ensured all members elect participated in the election process. This gave it a legitimate legal and moral backing. The Dogara group emerged victorious with a slim margin of just 8 votes. They also went ahead to drop the earlier plan and agreement with PDP to have Leo Ogah as the Deputy Speaker but rather elected Suleman Yusuf Lasu from Osun also of APC.

If the Unity Group Senators had participated in the election, they would have succeeded in doing same by ensuring either Akume or Ndume most likely emerged the Deputy Senate President as against Ekweremadu. But it may not be uhuru yet for the PDP in the Senate. Anything can happen because APC with majority Senators will not swallow the spite hook, line and sinker. Atleast not for long.

Again, Lawan’s group of judicial threat is a waste of time. He should have learn from Dogara. In 2011 Dogara was one of the greatest antagonists of Tambuwal. He even went to court to challenge Tambuwal’s election. But at the end, not just him, even PDP ate the humble pie. Today Dogara also rode the Tambuwal rebellious conveyor belt and landed on the Speakership seat. 2019 may sound and look far, but days roll into weeks, weeks into months and months into years with ease.

For those blaming Buhari for being aloof or Saraki and his camp for staging a constitutional palace coup, they forget the APC is an amalgam of CPC, ACN, ANPP, nPDP and factions of other smaller political parties. While Buhari and Osinbajo could be said to be the ambassadors of CPC and ACN, the ANPP and nPDP were out to for the battle of wit. Saraki and Lawan symbolise the two. That is why the battle to outwit each was more fierce and devoid of morality. Saraki and Dogara won the battle for the nPDP and left the ANPP bloody-nosed.

Again imagine Tinubu as the party leader, influencing the Vice President, the Senate President under Ahmed Lawan and the Speakership of the House of Representatives under Femi Gbajabiamila among others. Several other camps, among them former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former PDP governors now in the senate, some Buhari loyalists not too comfortable with Tinubu, David Mark et al would rather Saraki/Dogara NASS leadership to check mate and reduce the Jagaba’s influence.

For Buhari, he would rather some individuals and groups fight his fight without him as much as raising a finger or uttering a word. His pretense of sitting on the fence, though a political suicide for a politician, is a tactical war strategy that makes even his enemy have a sympathy for him. The APC is a father of many children with different mothers. Buhari as a good father would rather not be seen to be taking side with any of the children neither any of the mothers. Though he may have a favourite child or wife among them.

For those who feel a NASS leadership that would oppose Buhari or make things difficult for his administration is in the making, they would realised before long that majority of Nigerians would resist that and take actions making life unbearable for them in a manner unprecedented.

As it stands, though on a horn of dilemma,the party and NASS has no option than to accept what has befallen it due to its leadership naivety while it gilds it waist rope for future battles. Doing otherwise would be living in denial which may portend a great set back for it and the nation.

azeez@yahoo.com
@azeeznews

Senate Presidency; the odds against Saraki

Few minutes after President Muhammadu Buhari was declared president-elect, I twitted rhetorically that “is @Bukolasaraki on his way to becoming the Senate President?” This followed the fact that Senator David Mark was on his way out as his party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the majority in the red chamber.

In addition, Senators Bukola Saraki, George Akume, Abdullahi Adamu remain the three most ranking Senators from the North Central geo-political zones with Saraki being the most visible around the Buhari group. It may also interest you to know that they are all former Governors once led by Saraki under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) which Saraki also utilised then for his presidential ambition.

But all that is in the past and the odds seems unfavourable to Saraki and the events of the last few days practically points him swimming against the tide with Senator Ahmed Lawan being the dark horse and sailing the wind.

For a starter, Lawan alongside Mark and one other Senator remains the most ranking Senator in the 8th National Assembly; having being in the Senate since 1999. Saraki on the other hand just spent 4 years and preparing for his 8 years whereas Lawan has spent 16 and preparing for his 20 years in the senate. So, if ranking is an issue, the odds favour Lawan against Saraki.

Since 1999, Lawan has headed several committees in the senate culminating with the Public Account Committee where his integrity remains untainted. He has thus far received accolades for standing tall and distancing himself from any act untoward.

Saraki on the other hand has a pending case for alleged corrupt charges during his 8 years as Kwara State Governor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Though he is yet to be indicted.

Lawan has not defected from his original platform that brought him to the NASS since 1999 except for the mergers, but not so with Saraki whose leaving of the PDP alongside others was the tragic flaw that saw to the dwindling fortunes of the once touted largest political party in Africa.

Feelers in some quarters are that Saraki has not been forgiven by his former party colleagues/stalwart, and if and when the time comes for electing the senate leadership, the PDP members would cast a block vote and it may be for Lawan and against Saraki.

There is also the South West/Yoruba factor. Pundits are of the view that with the Vice President as Yoruba and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamela most favoured to emerged as the Speaker, House of Representatives, having Saraki as President of the Senate would close the doors for the powers that be among the Yorubas to make case for more, strategic appointments such as Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice for which former Governor Babatunde Fashola is being touted for among others. Though Saraki is from the North Central zone but a Yoruba man.

Again, the joining of forces by Lawan and Akume for a “joint ticket” seems to have pulled the carpets under the Saraki camp’s feet. Just as the emergence of Akume in the race initially was unexpected and took the wind out of the sail for Saraki from the start.

Related to the above is the sudden forces most visible in the Saraki camp dubbed “like-minds Senators elect” with Dino Melaye as the spokesperson. Most of them are seen as opportunists who in the past worked against the people by flirting with the powers that be where they net their nests only to cry fowl when they fall out of favour with such groups.

On the other hand, those sympathetic to the Lawan/Akume ticket are quick to point out men of impeccable characters in the “Unity Group” that are pushing for Lawan to emerge as the President of the Senate.

And to cap it all, haven led the Senate for 8 years and now warming up to be an ordinary floor member, Senator Mark and his loyalists, most of whom owe one favour or the other to the man are said not to be comfortable with Saraki but rather prefer Lawan as President of the Senate.

Some are quick to point out that with Saraki as Senate President, Mark may end up not attending the senate sitting as Saraki may make him feel so inferior as against Lawan who is seen to be humble and would treat Mark with honour in the red chamber. As a result, Mark and his allies they said would rather mobilise, using their influence within the PDP and among the Senators to ensure Lawan emerge victorious.

After all said and done, both contenders possess leadership qualities and connections that make them potential good Senate President. But the All Progressive Congress (APC) seems not to be taking chances and is seen to be doing all it can, covertly to ensure these odds unfavours Saraki and favours Lawan.

For now, the odds are visibly against Saraki. But 24 hours is a long time in politics and the pendulum can swing either way.

azeeznews@yahoo.com
@azeeznews