Introduction
The euphoria of 2015 successful
national elections and seamless handovers is immediately challenged by fallouts
at the Senate and House of Representatives respectively. A deviation of
expectation, bad judgement and regressive machinations were laid bare resulting
in the elevation of Senator Saraki as Senate President. Since this event, a new
development is unfolding with (unforeseen) medium and long term implications.
It is the position of this piece to ‘scenario’ potential implications on the
back of recent history of the Senate.
Jumping Devoid of Vision
It is not unexpected for the
latest saga in realpolitik to manifest at the Federal level. That Senator Saraki
defied his party line, snubbed the President and connived with opposition party
is undesirable but expected. The ruling party as a new structure is filled with
laudable members, questionable operators and significant remnants of PDP. This
unfortunate move by APC senators led by Senator Saraki played a hand they know
best which has served well or should sustain in the handbook of PDP since
1999. Significantly it mustn’t be lost
that Senate has been one of the weakest links in the constitutional
triumvirate. This institution is synonymous with turnovers. This is one of the
unfortunate legacies of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Curiously PDP is no longer
in power.
Intellectual & Procedural
Trap
What obtained in the election of
Senator Saraki as Senate President is part of ugly currency of undue-process in
the Federal Republic. When a group get used to having their way by any means
necessary, it becomes a norm of which the contrary is perceived as anathema.
The Nigerian political scene for a long time has become a dynamic space
dominated by anything-goes, the end justifies the means and put-up-or-shut-up
syndrome.
Sadly these wrapped behavioural
contortions, procedural abuses and intellectual regression are motivated by
short-sightedness and selfish calculations. There is no relationship between
such machinations and positive national interest. These and related moves are
decoupled from perception and conclusion beyond the shores of the country. Of
course interested domestic and foreign interlocutors especially in the Global
South of which Nigeria is struggling to re-define a role against subservient
comfort under Washington DC are concerned.
Only time will tell but it is clear that the current Senate President is
trapped.
Missing Function in Equation
One of the ubiquitous elements
missing in Senator Saraki’s group is failure to realise that a new dispensation
is in place under a new political party and a new President. Another is his
blatant conspiracy with opposition party to seek high office, by so doing
became an APC liability. How he expects to work positively the new
administration remains in the mind of the gods. Unfortunately trust,
confidence, integrity and honour evaporated in this short-sighted machination
and anyone asking the President to countenance/seat comfortable should think
again. There could be national security risk.
The most impressive aspect of
this unfolding saga is the show of unity by APC leadership in giving public
support to his election. By so doing they wholly appropriated the issue to be
dealt with as an internal matter, which takes the wind out of opposition party
sails. PDP has said little publicly on the matter.
This action shortens the
celebration in Senator Saraki’s camp and turns their triumph into
pressure-cooker. Surely the pressure is mounting as his latest visit to
ex-President Obasanjo testifies. This
ill-fated visit failed on arrival for 2 reasons; the former leader wouldn’t
like to be seen as interfering in a new administration and more so is aware
that his own presidential history with institutions is opaque &
questionable. Such damage-limitation excercise is belated. This means that
Senator Saraki will continue to hang & dry in the wind while calculating
his options as his position is untenable. Rushing towards and occupying a
position is one thing, but legitimacy is another kettle of fish. On legitimacy
Senator Saraki seems very light as Senate President.
4 Years of Presidency
There are number of analysts who
live on regressive business-as-usual mode, rate self-interest against national
interest, and they have concluded that the new administration has little
options. They are allergic to long-term and positive outcomes. They have
calcified into an unfortunate position of accepting that those with corruption
allegations are untouchable. This is not the case. There is no such thing as
risk-free politics.
It is the positive expectation of this article that the new
administration will act with tact, diligence and prudence in time. At the
moment Senator Saraki is under enormous pressure with President’s silence duly
propelling his earlier stated position of non-interference with other arms of
government. This wily statement is a loaded, pregnant and strategic weapon.
Silence has never been more golden!
In addition President’s useful
time is invested in unveiling handover notes to enable priority harmonisation, defining
strategies and policies confirmation for effective administration and tackling
of problems. There are a number of weapons in the president’s arsenal. The first
weapon could commence with potential neutralisation of ex-Vice President Atiku
with a strategic offer to jettison his support of the Senate President. It is understood that Mr Atiku is a backer,
but he wouldn’t want to be perceived as an obstructer of Presidential
programme. It will be dishonourable.This means that the presidency has to ensure
that various factions of the party buy into his plan and strategy. The party
stalwarts must realise that the party is subordinate to the state.
In anticipation of potential sign
of things to come, Senator Saraki pledged support to unannounced anti-corruption
initiative. Unless his has ideas, there are no explicit allegations against him
in the course of his political career. The presidency has yet to release the contours
of any such policy nevertheless; the President has an opportunity to engage the
senate with his 4-year (legislative) programme with clear plan and targets
including strategies of implementation.
Inserted in the framework is
unambiguous anti-corruption plan targeting members of the senate. There is no
way those with corruption allegation can truncate his administration as
suggested in some quarters. On this show
of amber light, Senator Saraki will be isolated and naturally move into
decision mode. Senakor Saraki is already delegitimized, distrusted & weakened
strategically as a brand to frustrate president’s legislative programme even of
his remains in office till 2019.
It depends on the presidency and
APC leadership on whether to take a slow road drawn out till 2019 or take a
quick road of minor instability for stability in the future. The former seems feasible and matches voters’
expectation as well as align with despite national priorities. One area the
presidency need to be vibrant is revitalisation of institutions especially
judiciary and all the anti-corruption departments for unobstructed performance.
The Alleged Corrupt is Touchable
Nigeria cannot take her rightful
place among the comity of nations in a dishevelled state. Celebrating
business-as-usual where national resources are stripped away for narrow
personal interest cannot elevate that country and her peoples. The current
issue of distasteful senate election offers conducive opportunity for the
administration to commence a stepwise reconfiguration of due-diligence,
due-process and legality in this administration. Until mentality of
untouchability and unaccountability is tackled head-on, the presidency,
presidential programme and Nigerians will struggle. The president possesses all
the legal tools, weapons and strategies for comprehensive implementations of
targeted solutions.
Conclusion
There is optimism for positive
action by the new administration. There is equally clear understanding that
limitations exist which will surely eliminate successful resolution of certain
issues and complex problems. Nevertheless consensus is gradually rising in
acknowledging that negative and regressive business-as-usual climate days are
numbers. Only time will tell how far President Buhari will go in limiting it. Delegitimized
& appropriated Senate Presidency is an important litmus test for the next 4
years.
No comments:
Post a Comment