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Reps� ineptitude in members recall
saga
By Uchenna
Awom
National
Assembly Correspondent, Abuja
It is not in anyway
surprising if what is playing out at the National Assembly these days is
the politics of recall. Not that it is a welcome development, but the
circumstances of the last electoral contest may have paved the way for
such sudden re-awakening of the electorate to fall back to this mechanism
as it is perhaps the remaining potent democratic weapon at their disposal
with which to, at least, announce to a bewildered world that the sacred
mandate given to them and protected by the constitution was stolen in most
of the fathom electoral victories.
But what will however be a
surprise in this case is when that weapon is now used as an instrument by
the major perpetrators of that invidious rape of the people�s right and
its associated backstabbing and betrayals, to either get at supposed
political enemies or to clear coast ahead of the next contest for the
emergence of favoured political godsons and allies.
Last week, the recall
issue brought out the ugly side of the present day National Assembly, an
Assembly that is fast acquiring the image of docility and an extension of
the presidency in the garb of parliament, at least within its hallowed
chambers. However, the Senators were gracious enough to rally round two of
their own, Senators Jubril Aminu from Adamawa State and Sani Kamba from
Kebbi, who were put on the spot by their constituents who felt that they
are not doing enough, though observers maintained that these guys touched
a sore point where it hurt their state governors to an extent that the
only soothing balm that will mitigate the excruciating pains is to ask
them to return home immediately, so that the governors will continue their
roller-coaster unhindered.
Whatever it was, the upper
chamber lawmakers, apparently aware of the �real constituents� this time,
moved faster, even using the instrumentalities of the plenary session to
intervene or �appease� these big democratically conscious constituents to
tarry awhile and watch these people repent to sin no more.
Yes, that was their lot,
but not so for the House of Representatives, who rather watched as one of
their own Chinonyerem Macebuh, go through the harrowing experience of
recall without a hoot from the House as an institution or its leadership.
Nonetheless, the lawmaker
representing Ukwa West and East Federal Constituency in Governor Orji
Kalu�s Abia State, emerged from it stronger and elated as his people came
out in droves to tell the Independent National Electoral Commissioners
(INEC) who conducted signature verification exercise penultimate week to
authenticate the genuineness of the signatures of petitioners purporting
to be Macebuh�s constituents, to go home as they will rather swim and sink
with their son and of course that the signatures were nothing but
barefaced forgeries perpetrated by political evil men.
To Macebuh, the weapon
that was fashioned against him went blank and fell flat to the disgrace of
his detractors. But the support and solidarity which the House denied him,
he got in quantum from individual lawmakers and friends who have been
trooping to his office to felicitate with him and to even commend the INEC
officials who stood strong and rose above board to conduct the exercise
that will go down in history as producing rare Nigerians this time in the
nation�s march to democratic stability.
It is even more
heart-warming that Macebuh stayed back at Abuja, while INEC spent three
days in his Ukwa constituency to perform that function, despite the fact
that doing so meant that he was left at the mercy of his �detractors� who
were working within and with a loaded war chest. It was a dangerous gamble
that paid off.
When accosted by the House
Committee Chairman on National Security at the lobby of the Assembly
complex whether he will not go home, to at least quell any riot in case
his people decide to revolt against the exercise, Macebuh asked the man
whether it is necessary to do so, and queried why he should think that his
people will revolt if actually his detractors are on ground as they claim
to be. �If my people will be there and allow people who do not mean well
for them, who had been feeding fat from the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC) fund, meant for the development of the impoverished
community to snatch their mandate in broad daylight simply because they
feel they have enough money to influence anything on earth, then it is
their own �wahala�, but as for me I know my people, I will rather die than
abandon them, they too, will not abandon me now,� he said.
Then what happened? Why
did the House kept quiet while one of their most vocal and articulate
members was going through such political hell? Was Macebuh�s sin his
constant agitation that the House should properly scrutinize the books of
the NDDC? If not, why was he asked by some highly placed people in the
House to soft-pedal and withdraw the petition against the commission from
the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)? Why did the
leadership just asked him to go and report to the police to make some
statement in connection with alleged documents stolen from the NDDC local
office in Ukwa unaccompanied? Why?
Again, why did the House
turn the other way, when the lawmaker had to pay for his personal
security, even after complaining to the House of his security situation in
the light of the recall matter. Questions and questions which the House
may answer in the days ahead./But the most surprising was the ominous
silence of the Senate President, Adolphus Wabara in whose immediate
constituency Macebuh comes from and who is seen as his avid loyalist. Or
is it true that the Senate President wants the guy out to pave the way for
his personal assistant to step into Macebuh�s shoes ahead of the election
time in 2007, just to give the man a head-start over other competitors in
the contest?
It is being speculated
that the Senate President is well aware of Macebuh�s plight and is part of
the plot to ask Macebuh to go. How true the speculation is left for Wabara
to clear if not at the National Assembly where he is the chairman but
particularly in his constituency. Tongues are wagging and people are
surprised over this insinuation hoping that it will not be true at the end
of the day.
However, Macebuh who in
the heat of the problem hoped that his colleagues and particularly the
Senate President would offer help at least going by his disposition to
Aminu and Kamba�s case, raised pertinent questions. In his words �there
seems to be an open bias in this case. Now as a man who has exhibited
strong obedience and loyalty to the party (PDP), as one who has supported
the House and its leadership since the inception of this tenure only
deferring when things I feel will be detrimental to my people crops up, I
have even written to the party with evidence to complain of the campaigns
of calumny against my person. Does this show fairness? Why has the House
remained adamant to my plight? I will not be cowed, especially when I know
those after me.
�Why has PDP not acted on
the letter I wrote to them complaining of Gov. Orji Kalu�s attitude to me
and his subtle support for the so-called recall even when I have remained
a strong proponents of toeing party line in the House? Again, why has INEC
not acted on the petition I wrote against the Resident Electoral
Commissioner, Prof. Titus Eze?� he asked.
Again, the Macebuh�s
travails may have thrown up further questions on the reasons for Wabara
aligning with anti-Obasanjo forces to fight Macebuh, who was said to be
his acolyte in the hey days when Senators wanted Wabara out or also at the
time of the Wabara-Elder Imo electoral contest.
Ironically, a certain
group last week presented a petition to the Abia State governor and the
state House of Assembly demanding for the recall of the Senate President,
laughable though, that the people ignorantly went to the wrong place. They
should have known that recall is the exclusive preserve of Wabara�s
constituents. Be that as it may, the move is a radiance that may teach
Wabara some lesson on how not to abandon supporters, for some narrow
interest.
All in, it was believed
that the House as true to its character in the days before now should have
rallied support for Macebuh, as such would have been an added tonic to
their image which is fast plummeting, especially now that the lawmaker has
fought alone and achieved victory. One day, they will come to realize
those who will influence a positive story that would place it on good side
of history.
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