Nigeria 8th Assembly 2015 Elections; Wind of Change?

 

 As it is been said, the only thing constant is change. The word change is a slogan on most of Nigerians lips, which has been actualized through incumbent ruling government. After all and sundry went to the polls on March and April to press home their demands, they were expecting a change in government that will soothe the under par socio-economic status of the bottom placed triangle population, little did they know it will be a total overhaul of the whole system, top to bottom.

The National Assembly has been seen a major determinant or I should say must be actively involved in the sharing of dividends of democracy as against the ‘business as usual’. That is why past elections in both chambers has witnessed many politicking, thereby mandating the ruling party in government  to field their best candidates for the leadership positions for both chambers- Senate and House of Assembly.

This year was no different, as the ruling party APC produced consensus candidates amidst controversies that marred such process. Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila (Surulere, Lagos) was chosen for the post of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively, while George Akume and Tahir Moguno was asked to deputize for them in that order. This consensus, was formalized through the mock elections conducted by the APC led National chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun which was faulted and boycotted by the interested party members who wanted the post also, Senator Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) and Honourable Yakubu Dogara (Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro, Bauchi) thereby erring the directives of their party authority to stay clear of the post, saying the process should be amongst lawmakers and not the ‘imposition’ involved.  

The politicking continues, in which Saraki and Dogara extends their search for support from their former party members PDP to consolidate their loyalist numbers while the anointed ones stay put, having been assured of the needed backing. Little did they know what awaits. One question that you need to ask yourself at this juncture is that, is this internal conflict needed at this point of the APC early ascension into power?

On the D-day of the inauguration of the 8^th Assembly, 9^th of June to be precise, in a dramatic turn of events the Senate floor witnessed only 57 senators-elect out of which was 49 PDP members and 8 pro-Saraki, while the others, 51 pro Lawan were reported to be at the international conference centre, where a meeting slated by the President and APC top authorities so as to broker peace between warring factions which was later hurriedly cancelled. The major sum numbers of PDP present at the sitting actually did Senator Saraki’s bidding to be the Senate President, while the immediate past Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu PDP was elected to retain his post and immediate Senate President, David Mark PDP was elected as the Senate Leader. Both posts supposedly to be occupied by the ruling APC members. When the news filtered to them that the Clerk of National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa that was expected to delay the proceedings was already directing it, they rushed to the complex, but it was very late.

 The House of Assembly in their own turn of events witnessed a full house for their inauguration/elections. 358 lawmakers were present out of the supposed 360 members. After a tightly contested elections for the post of the Speakership, another erring and interested APC member, Yakubu Dogara emerge victorious in a 182-174 votes to defeat the anointed Femi Gbajabiamila. The APC authority promised to sanction Saraki and Dogara that they defied the party’s directives and that their emergence was not recognised- the APC authority have made a recent U-turn on the latter statement.

Let me take us down the memory lane, during the 7^th Assembly which produced the now sokoto Governor,Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who was in PDP then was marred also by such politicking also. The leadership of the ruling party PDP has already chosen Mulikat Adeola to lead the lower chamber, but with the help of the then opposition party members defunct ACN, Aminu Tambuwal was made the Speaker and there was no threatening from the PDP Authority whatsoever- the APC has been paid in their own coin.

However, the fact still remains the legislative arm of the government has determine their own fate by their hands as ought to be. Whether PDP, APC, SDP et al, anybody or any party championing the boat of change should be cleansed internally first before it can be transferred to the outside populace. What we want in Nigeria is a total change, independent legislature, judiciary and not a party that will be giving preference to party over the nation as a whole. A change is what we want and the wind of change is ready to blow off anybody, individuals or parties standing as a barrier.  Also instead of purging their domestic dirt in the public, they should set aside their selfish needs and take up the needs of the country else, they are not the change agents we expecting and wait for proper change continues.

One thing that is for sure is Nigerians will never forgive APC, despite being the crusader of the ‘CHANGE’ for not keeping up with the wind of change blowing in this resourceful country. Relating a piece on the handwriting on the wall, in the popular award winning book- WHO MOVED MY CHEESE, written by Spencer Johnson, MD- Adapt to change quickly; ‘the quicker you let go of the old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese’. Cheese here, can be likened to the much talk about CHANGE in Nigeria. APC still holds the love for the ‘old cheese’, which can be likened to the ‘old change’- theoretical speaking and slogans of the word. Hence, what Nigerians want now is the ‘new cheese’- new change, real change and new Nigeria, where manifestoes are turned into manifestations, the populace start enjoying the full dividends of democracy- improve in standard of living, decrease in cost of living, job creation/employment, capacity development, prompt payment of salaries/entitlements, decrease in the cost of governance, adequate security, curbing of corruption and so on- God bless Nigeria