It still baffles how politicians "miss it". They don’t "get it", do they? And this is a worldwide mystery. Recall the British parliamentarians? And other parliaments? Recall the US Congress? And other bi-camerals? These folks are constantly being punished by voters yet the new set (plus their retained co-conspirators) proceed to pummel the populace with arrogant intolerance! They leave why they are elected and leap into cloud cuckooland, on a fishing expedition! Nigerian lawmakers are a rare species: having connived with the military to ruin their nation, they find it discomfiting to serve her nationals. They see themselves as lords and masters, feeding fat on the public purse and concocting fairytales like the discredited military vampires we finally dislodged. Nigerians are so miffed that visiting and reading online comments/chatters on these folks will deeply depress you. The list of their “sins” is long, very long.
Our look today is the small matter of these "representatives" wanting to impose themselves on their political parties - by attempting to pass a law to make them automatic members of their respective national executive committees! Okay, maybe it’s not too bad to aspire; but with the instant and constant rejection and opposition to the move by all Nigerians, you would expect the bill to freeze and disappear. Oh no, not this national assembly (as our parliament is uniquely named!) that serves self and scorns nation! The more the opposition, the emboldened and disdainful they became. And the utterances! The arrogance! Irking.
Not for the first - and, we predict, not for the last - time, they have been roundly humbled to drop the controversial bill. Wisely, the senate acted first after the governors threatened court action openly, and electoral castration privately. It buckled. We are not impressed. The time and resources wasted on this misadventure should have been invested in better and more urgent bills - the freedom of information bill, voting rights for Nigerians in the Diaspora, a social security/welfare/safety net bill, electoral offences tribunal, special anti-corruption courts, removal of immunity from criminal prosecution of all political office holders as long-proposed by late President Yar’Adua, to mention a few.
The good news: Nigeria is showing African brethren how to respect the people - We, The PEOPLE! May our brethren continent-wide start to do same, and may their politicians (especially their parliaments) start to listen.
In sum, kudos to Nigerians and half-nod to the Nigerian Parliament!
Showing posts with label Good Governance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good Governance. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, September 17, 2007
Democracy 1999-2007: "PDPgate"?
There will be time for history and posterity. There will even be space for revisionist heist and hackers. Oh yes, there will be time for honour and ultimate disrobement. It will ALL come!
As eye-witnesses and active citizens of the land, we must help history with base material and fore-help posterity with healthy suppositions. We should do so with a fair and open mind. We must not hide behind one finger, as our elders warn.
After the evil of military rule/dictatorship, did democracy dawn us a new day or a near doom? Can we or do we look back on the 1999-2007 era with pride or pain?
As the dominant political force, was the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) truly "power to the people" or tragically "PDPgate"?
What lessons for da future?
It is difficult, even painful, to deny ourselves and the role we played or did not play in the ways of the past. Are we all culpable? Well...
Now, to the meat of our matter. Those who led must ask themselves the following questions, just as those who lead now:
a) What were the expectations of Nigerians in 1999?
b) What did both the PDP and its various candidates promise the voters?
c) What were the levels of national resources vs the levels of budget-implementation?
d) How much was consumed as recurrent expenditure vs capital votes?
e) What was spent as security votes at each tier of government?
f) How much did local and foreign trips cost the nation?
g) Where are the projects financed by our huge external debts recently settled?
h) Of all indicted or suspected looters, how many are of the PDP?
i) When will federal agencies and the presidency be audited, probed or cleared?
j) Did the ruling party have or uphold democratic practices within its fold?
k) Were the electoral bodies at all levels truly or ever independent?
l) Why was our petroleum sector shrouded in darkly secrecy, with loud hints of "monkey " business and screams of "cloak & dagger" gymnastics?
m) Why were legislators helpless or colluding with their (as is now so clear) reckless executives?
n) With the failure of public utilities and parlous state of infrastructure, how can the party sell its diabolical statistics of a successful tenure or healthy economy? Where were them graphs cooked or manufactured from?? Where are the spin doctors today???
o) Over its tenure, and particularly leading up to the April elections, what is the aggregate image and record of the party and its governments as regards da rule of law, obeying court orders and deploying security forces/agencies?
p) Where are the founders and other distinguished elders of the PDP today? What are their tales of separation, and parting shots of angst or love?
Final Question: Why are successors (though mindlessly and ruthlessly imposed by the PDP) so consciously, cautiously, cleverly, courageously and calculatingly dismantling the old order, gradually and gratingly gravitating away from the party line, and publicly parting ways with the ways of their benefactors/godfathers???
Ultimate Pointer: Have you been reading celebrated press interviews of erstwhile pillars and partisans of the party recently? Using big grammar to describe their regime's failure, and sledge hammer to slam their former leaders? As the race for party positions heats up after the NWC resigns from October, and the corruption trials take their tolls - compounded by some lost cases from the election tribunals - how will the public posturing pan out? Will the centre still hold?
Verdict? May the reader don the voter's hat and answer the intriguing posers above. Then, decide. May the party wear the citizens' robe and answer all the unnerving posers above. Then, decide. Was the eight-year era for gain or for pain?
Did we have PDPgain.....or.....PDPgate!!!
As eye-witnesses and active citizens of the land, we must help history with base material and fore-help posterity with healthy suppositions. We should do so with a fair and open mind. We must not hide behind one finger, as our elders warn.
After the evil of military rule/dictatorship, did democracy dawn us a new day or a near doom? Can we or do we look back on the 1999-2007 era with pride or pain?
As the dominant political force, was the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) truly "power to the people" or tragically "PDPgate"?
What lessons for da future?
It is difficult, even painful, to deny ourselves and the role we played or did not play in the ways of the past. Are we all culpable? Well...
Now, to the meat of our matter. Those who led must ask themselves the following questions, just as those who lead now:
a) What were the expectations of Nigerians in 1999?
b) What did both the PDP and its various candidates promise the voters?
c) What were the levels of national resources vs the levels of budget-implementation?
d) How much was consumed as recurrent expenditure vs capital votes?
e) What was spent as security votes at each tier of government?
f) How much did local and foreign trips cost the nation?
g) Where are the projects financed by our huge external debts recently settled?
h) Of all indicted or suspected looters, how many are of the PDP?
i) When will federal agencies and the presidency be audited, probed or cleared?
j) Did the ruling party have or uphold democratic practices within its fold?
k) Were the electoral bodies at all levels truly or ever independent?
l) Why was our petroleum sector shrouded in darkly secrecy, with loud hints of "monkey " business and screams of "cloak & dagger" gymnastics?
m) Why were legislators helpless or colluding with their (as is now so clear) reckless executives?
n) With the failure of public utilities and parlous state of infrastructure, how can the party sell its diabolical statistics of a successful tenure or healthy economy? Where were them graphs cooked or manufactured from?? Where are the spin doctors today???
o) Over its tenure, and particularly leading up to the April elections, what is the aggregate image and record of the party and its governments as regards da rule of law, obeying court orders and deploying security forces/agencies?
p) Where are the founders and other distinguished elders of the PDP today? What are their tales of separation, and parting shots of angst or love?
Final Question: Why are successors (though mindlessly and ruthlessly imposed by the PDP) so consciously, cautiously, cleverly, courageously and calculatingly dismantling the old order, gradually and gratingly gravitating away from the party line, and publicly parting ways with the ways of their benefactors/godfathers???
Ultimate Pointer: Have you been reading celebrated press interviews of erstwhile pillars and partisans of the party recently? Using big grammar to describe their regime's failure, and sledge hammer to slam their former leaders? As the race for party positions heats up after the NWC resigns from October, and the corruption trials take their tolls - compounded by some lost cases from the election tribunals - how will the public posturing pan out? Will the centre still hold?
Verdict? May the reader don the voter's hat and answer the intriguing posers above. Then, decide. May the party wear the citizens' robe and answer all the unnerving posers above. Then, decide. Was the eight-year era for gain or for pain?
Did we have PDPgain.....or.....PDPgate!!!
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