Precedents are like domino effects, chain reactions that occur due to changes which causes a spiral and so on in linear sequence. “A dangerous precedent is being set in this country” cried Chief Obafemi Awolowo as he fought back attempts by the Balewa Administration to impose a state of emergency in Nigeria’s western region in 1965.
Precedents are like domino effects, chain reactions that occur due to changes which causes a spiral and so on in linear sequence. “A dangerous precedent is being set in this country” cried Chief Obafemi Awolowo as he fought back attempts by the Balewa Administration to impose a state of emergency in Nigeria’s western region in 1965.
While those pleas fell on deaf ears, because there was a predetermined attempt to deal with perceived enemies, the crisis had set off a series of precedents.
The first of it was mace snatching .That modern and very bad precedent of mace stealing and head battery in Nigeria started in the Western regional assembly and Mr. Ebubedike representing Badagry East has the “honour” of being the first Nigerian to seize a mace, the instrument of authority of the House and using it as a head battering weapon when fighting between the members broke out. Chairs were thrown and he grabbed the parliamentary Mace and wielded it like a weapon to attack the Speaker and other members. The weapon of head destruction was thus born.
We have gone on to witness how “honourable” members have replicated this act with some sophistication and brazenness. Who can forget that hilarious yet shameful act by Late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, that chain smoking Senate President who raced to Ogbunike- his hometown, to hide the mace of the Senate, in a bid to stall his impeachment? The Oyi of Oyi even boasted that he kept the mace in custody of a seven foot python. These are the kinds that populate the legislative chambers.
The second part of this was the introduction of the mob as weapon of intimidation and buccaneering.
The circus taking place in Rivers State is text book copy of what was done in 1965. First, find a pretext to remove the Governor by fomenting trouble or create a sense of destabilization. And this is done using proxies since the Oga at the top is not in a position to take on directly his perceived enemies.
In understanding these types of crisis, this African proverb becomes very apt “when you see a man dancing in the village square alone, know that the drummer is not far off” this is an indication of the external forces in these macabre dances.
Impunity has become second nature in our political processes. Obasanjo laid a firm foundation for these excesses in the eight years he bestrode the nation, by harassing, haranguing and hassling political opponents using the most ridiculous of pretexts and pedestrian tactics he showed that he could have his way whether we liked it or not. The use of the mob to devastating consequences to intimidate legislators or opponents was a well worn tactic. We remember how Adedibu impeached a sitting governor using the power of the mob, it is not therefore surprising that these methods have been ingrained in our national fabric. But precedents also create a mess.
A local government Chairman disagrees or is seen to be rebellious to the Governor, the Governor quickly sends him packing through the threat of force or subtle innuendos depending on the characters that surround him or a deputy is perceived disloyal, the treatment of that fellow could be quite unpalatable. Again we saw how Tinubu dispatched two disloyal deputies. They brook no nonsense. But when a Governor does that to the President, the consequences and repercussions are usually grave.
The state is destabilized, it becomes the rule of the jungle where lawlessness becomes order and order lawlessness. The mobs rule supreme, the godfathers hold everyone to ransom. Government activities are crippled and everyone is apprehensive. It is utterly divisive and distracting.
The legislature is usually the vehicle in destabilizing a Governor. It is the means external forces hostile to him use in rattling him.
Our legislators rarely cover themselves in glory. Their behavior and performances have usually been abysmal and the executive arm of government has contributed to the subservient nature of the legislature. In every state, the Governors have been heavily involved in choosing or imposing their loyalists in the top echelon of the State assemblies. This is to forestall impeachment of the Governor or to make life difficult for him. Most state houses of assembly are merely rubber stamp bodies doing the bidding of their Governors. To take out a sitting Governor, you will need to dislodge his loyalists like the speaker or majority leader and this usually happens at the behest of political godfathers. That is the exact scenario been played out in Rivers State.
We draw no inspiration from our legislators. A cursory visit to any State or Federal legislature when they are in session, begs the question. Watching their debates on national television is an eye sore as you are astounded at the level and quality of their debates, it becomes abundantly clear that there was no preparation for those debates, as they are so pedestrian; one begins to wonder if they are comedians or legislators.
They are about the highest paid in the world, but they also about the dumbest and most self-interested, corrupt and irresponsible whose focus is more on primitive accumulation rather than legislating for change. Like barnacles, they have become parasitic on the national well being. They obviously don’t know that Leadership is a privilege with great responsibility not a responsibility with great privilege.
Can anyone point to any ground breaking law any of them has passed. Instead of hedging corruption or being an agent of good governance, they spend much of their legislative time haranguing about how to raise their own salaries and allowances, and how to share unspent budget. Rather than come determined to devote their tenures to fighting for a cause, they come determined to fight for their pockets. This is very unfortunate, given the accountability and oversight functions of the legislature. They are empowered by the constitution to represent the interest of the public in their oversight, law-making, appropriation and confirmation functions, but they have completely abandoned their duties.
They have mastered the skill of using the mace as a weapon of choice to teach their colleagues a lesson in parliamentary civility and protocol. They are world champions in causing the mace which is the symbol of authority to disappear, thereby incapacitating the House to be called to order, when it serves their interest s.
The legislators have proven to be largely unreliable representatives of the people. Each time there is a major conflict in the legislature, the issue is more likely to relate to personal allowances or perks of office rather than issues that touch on the improvement of the welfare of the people.
They have abandoned the many knotty issues that stare us in the face as a nation- frightening insecurity, decadent educational system, electoral and power sector reforms. But they are proactive only when it comes to matters affecting their welfare such as upward review of their allowances.
The original purpose of the mace was for warfare; a practical weapon intended to protect figures of authority or sovereign’s .That was its original purpose.
It is fitting that our legislators have gone back to the original purpose in using it to cudgel themselves and break their coconut heads. Since nothing good can come out of those heads, let them break it. But more importantly, the orchestration of these fights will not benefit the Nigerian citizen. It will be better if they could channel these same energies they use in these mob actions to address the mess that affect the state.
Let’s stay engaged @oheguridu
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters
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