Special report… Saraki and NASS: A crippling power play

In from Timothy Enietan-Matthews (Nation’s capital) …

Power, as it is known all over the world is all about control and exertion of binding influence. Control over given space and exerting influence over subjects domiciled within the space.

The scenario playing out in Nigeria, especially at the Senate, has shown that conflicting power play by contending forces can be worse than an individual wielding absolute power.

For those who know, the current All Progressive Congress, APC, government at the centre has remained largely prostrate and bedeviled with several limiting situations largely because of the impasse at the National Assembly because of the “wrongful” emergence of presiding leaders of the 8th National Assembly against the wishes of the APC leadership and by extension, the Presidency.

Though the Presidency has strenuously tried to dissociate itself from the leadership crisis that seems to defy solution at the Senate, there has always appeared to be enough evidence that Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his band of leaders are being treated with a long spoon.

Tuesday’s passing of vote of confidence on Senator Saraki by 84 Senators has once again brought to the fore, the emerging power play going on between the APC, the Presidency and the Red Chamber.

Before the resumption of plenary by the senators after six weeks of recess, there were talks of tension and alleged pressure on Saraki to step down as Senate President. The event of Tuesday, 29th of September has no doubt put a lie to the impressions created, especially on social media, that Senator Saraki, the scion of the popular and formidable Saraki political dynasty in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, is on a free fall!

There is no doubting the fact that Saraki must have learnt the intrigues of political survival from his late father, Oloye Olushola Saraki, the Turaki Ilorin, and has perfected the act of surprising his most ardent political adversaries. There is also no doubting the fact that Saraki has, in his years of ‘polictiking’, starting under former President Olusegun Obasanjo to his time as a two term governor of Kwara State and first stint at the Senate, built bridges and connecting influences across the country.

Read also: Plot to remove Saraki as Senate president thickens

The purpose of this literary expenditure is not the morality or otherwise of the present travails of the distinguished Senate President, but the crippling power play that has virtually left the nation prostrate.

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration rode to power on popular appeal of change. Change from the status quo; change from what was seen as the clueless administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the crippling effect of corruption, believed to have left the country at its lowest ebb ever. However, months after the resounding victory at the general election of a party thought to be the contraption of strange bedfellows, the change promised seemed to have given way to despair, largely on account of infightings among the leaders of the victorious APC.

The infightings, occasioned by the emergence of Senator Saraki on June 9 as Senate President, has in ways least imagined by ordinary Nigerians, dragged the nation back and has stunted the supposed ‘change’ that could have been witnessed with the change of government.

In place of change, Nigerians, the peasants, are beginning to ask questions, asking if this is actually the change they voted for. In place of hope, there seems to be despair as the gladiators at the Senate continue their fight for the soul of the country!

The party, APC, thought to be about to rein in their differences, regretfully disappointed Nigerians, when its National Chairman, Chief Odigie John-Oyegun, while speaking with journalists after a meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party on Monday, declined commenting on Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on the excuse that the case is in court.

However, speaking on Tuesday, Saraki, reiterated that his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal was being influenced by people outside the National Assembly who were not comfortable with his emergence as Senate President

According to him, the ‘intruders’ were fighting a lost battle as they were not National Assembly members to effect their desired leadership in the Red Chamber.

Saraki insisted that his travails in the hands of the anti-graft agency were the handiwork of those he referred to as “powerful individuals outside” the legislature.

“I wish to reiterate my remarks before the Tribunal, that I have no iota of doubt that I am on trial today because I am the president of the Nigerian Senate, against the wishes of some powerful individuals outside this Chambers,” he said.

Continuing, the Senate President said: “The laws of Nigeria do not give any consideration to any other forces outside the Senate in the election of its President.

“And to yield the ground on this note, is to be complicit in the subversion of democracy and its core principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our constitution.

“This, in your wisdom, is what you have done by electing me to be the first among all of you who are my equals.”

Continuing, Saraki said: “As for me, I am prepared to do my duty in defence of our democracy and in safeguarding the independence of the National Assembly. My duty, as I see it, is to do justice and honour to the memory of those who have paid even higher prices to give us this democracy and this constitution.

You may also: Saraki: Handle with caution, Dogara tells FG

“Primarily as a senator of the Federal Republic and as Senate President, I owe it to this Senate to stand strong in the face of relentless persecution.

“I invite all of you to stand with me to defend this Senate and preserve its sanctity.

“Ultimately, our legacies would not be defined by how long we stay here and in whatever position; but by what we did with this great opportunity that our people have given us by the grace of Almighty God,” he stressed.

The above, no doubt set the tone for what may be a long drawn out battle for the soul of the nation and a power play that may continue to cripple the much sort after change Nigerians voted for.

The current senate, already in its over three months of existence, has had three long recesses, sat for less than 20 days in total and passed just two resolutions, none of which bothered on good governance and the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Political commentators have linked the incessant recesses to the desire of the senate leadership for self survival and preservation of their privileged positions, a situation that has adversely affected ordinary Nigerians and may continue to draw back whatever developmental agenda the Buhari government may have planned.

There is no doubt that governance is suffering at the moment and the nation’s economy lies prostrate with a grim prediction by the Governor of Central Bank, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, that the country may be in recession in a matter of months if urgent steps are not taken. Yet the Red Chamber, the senior partner at the National Assembly is yet to swing into action!

Unless and except the senators put their house in order, and end their crippling power play, the grass, Nigerians, will continue to bear the brunt while their lawmakers keep smiling to the bank with fat salaries and allowance.

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