9th Assembly: It’s time to fix the error of the past

By Dominic Alancha 


Democracy is interesting and has many twists and turns that if care is not taken, it could foist an uncritical and uninformed majority making a costly mistake that would hunt a nation-state for ages. The good thing about our nascent democracy in Nigeria is that it thrives or at best make pretentious claims about the imperativeness of debate. My fear is that democracy is imperiled when debate and reason is under assault.


The question may be asked why I have taken up my voice, rather my pen in expressing my choice for the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives when am either a Member of the House but I am pled my concern as a Nigerian, a member of the All Progressive Congress, APC and one genuinely concerned about the direction of our politics. In other climes, ranking legislators are automatically elevated whenever there is an opportunity for the majority to take the lead but in Nigeria this tradition is flouted with reckless abandon under lame and simply untenable excuse(s) that cannot be subjected to critical reasoning.


I will like to avail from the advent of this piece that as a democrat, I belief in the right of anybody be it a serious contender or pretender to contest for any election, after all, the beauty of democracy is for people to stand-up and subjugate themselves to the rigor of electioneering. But what is frightful is for some to assume that the house must be engulfed if they cannot be enthroned by mischief. That is why, am particularly grateful that all our leaders in the APC, particularly the President, National Leader and our National Chairman have all spoken without ambiguity about the need for experience, exposure, loyalty, capacity, competence and integrity to be taken into consideration in electing the leadership of the  National Assembly in the 9th Session.


Recall that in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari as a perfect gentleman has publicly stated his preference not to be involved in the electioneering process that threw up the leadership of the 8th National Assembly and it didn’t take long for all Nigerians to witness the malfeasance and greed for power that  characterized the epoch; but for providence the trio of Senate president Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara didn’t give a damn if our constitutional democracy whirled out of control, so long that their insatiable and oversized ego was attained. So good, it is good riddance to bad rubbish with them.


The choice of Femi Gbajabiamila and Ahmed Idris Wase speaks of hope, determination and vision. I am supremely confident that both of them will steer the ship of the House of Representative to the path of moral rectitude, free of scandals, greed for power and crass indifference to the plight of the ordinary Nigerians. Their choice is guided by truth, party loyalty, reason, fairness, competence, capacity, integrity and their Pan-Nigerian disposition fussed with national zealotry that they have cultivated from time immemorial. I can publicly proclaim my knowledge of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila by reputation but Hon. Ahmed  Idris Wase is well known to me.


I can attest to their candor, principled and commitment to Project Nigeria. They stand shoulders above all others that have stepped into the ring thus far; yet their continue to move from one zone of the country to another, campaigning vigorously, connecting and bonding with the Nigerian populace with their message of hope and renaissance. They have subjected themselves to a message that resonates well with all Nigerians of all shades, creed, ethnicity and political persuasion.


From one state capital to another, from one state house to another and from one federal constituency to another, they preach tolerance, Nation Building a Task for all, greatness, hope and stability. Lately, some pretenders have continued to grope from one dark spot to another cooking up malicious tales in anticipation of undermining the resolve of a potentially progressive take-over of the Chamber for the common good of Nigerians.The candidacy of both Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Ahmed Idris Wase speaks volume about resilience and the willingness to take Nigeria indeed to the next level using the instrumentality of the legislature. That is what the reactionary elements fear most. They want to stop such a scenario but thankfully discerning Nigerians and especially the party, APC and conscientious Nigerians across political divide have bonded to enthrone them.


It is too late in the day to stop them. Their bi-partisan approach has received endorsement from even the unanticipated politicians. The other day, Governor Nyesom  Wike and his Enugu state counterparts endorsed them. The momentum has assumed a tsunami proportion, yet they continue to woo supporters across the length and breadth of the country unlike some charlatans whose rather duplicity and divisive strategy has boomeranged. I assume that in less than a week from now when God’s willing Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and  Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase would have assumed their rightly place in the leadership rung of the 9thAssembly, as Speaker and Deputy Speaker Respectively  it would not be business as usual.


Hopefully, the hope and expectations of Nigerians reposed in them would not vanish. Rather, we shall remain grateful that our choice is fitting. As they say, a square peg in a square hole. The task before us requires men and women of great  long, sagacity, industry, presence of mind, high principle and commitment to the Nigerian project. They would make the chamber a hall that is indeed and in truth hallow. They will ensure that indeed for the people of Nigeria. They provide voice, they will debate, defend the national interest, weigh the pro and cons of issues dispartionately and only be moved by the greater interest of all.


It is time for logic, reason and truth to prevail. Never again must we allow selfish, arrogant and know it all politician to take control of such a critical organ of government such as the legislature. We must not allow a reenactment of the dimished role and divisiveness of our recent about to be faded past as represented by Dogara and Saraki foisted on us. We say never again. We have to be guided, watchful and assertive. We can’t afford to pay such a huge price in two quick successions.


The time and the moment for Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase to take the lead as we navigate our way to a much noble Eldorado is now. We shall not allow the deceit and force of 2015 to repeat itself. It is simply an aberration for a minority to govern a majority in a democracy. We have endured the injury and assault of 2015 for long, its time to fix it.   


Comrade Dominic Alancha 

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