Nothing can justify the action of the police to use teargas on the House of Representatives members in the manner the world saw last Thursday. Political uncertainties must always be settled in the competent court of law.
However, let us look at Tambuwal’s case this way. I am a Roman Catholic Priest. I chose the profession out of many alternatives after 16 years of discernment. I know what it means to be a member of this ancient order, the sacred priesthood of Christ. Responsibilities have flowed to me through the ordination. Attendant to this priestly office are also some privileges, no matter how small, for Christ said that a labourer deserves his wage. I am a human being with maximum frailties. If due to human weakness I decide to leave Catholic priesthood, but God forbid, can I still be allowed to lay claim to those privileges and to the office I have been running on behalf of the church? Which church group will take me seriously if I insist on holding the office having defected to another church?
Not long ago, Aminu Tambuwal dropped the long awaited bombshell when he summoned courage to admit his open adultery with APC, and announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the platform on which he contested and won election into the House of Representatives and on which basis he became Speaker. He formally declared his membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, even as he adjourned the House business till December 3, 2014. Unlike my own profession, there is nothing wrong with Tambuwal’s defection. Political freedom is clearly enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution and is above all a fundamental human right. Any citizen who feels he is no longer comfortable with his party can terminate his membership and join any platform that will help him realize his ambition. Therefore, nothing stops Tambuwal from enjoying his freedom.
Supposing Tambuwal, for any reason, no longer sees political salvation in the party platform through which he was elected into an office, he has the right to renounce his membership though some may argue that such an action is a betrayal of loyalty for a party that has brought one such an honour.
However, what is most quarreled about is the manner of Tambuwal’s defection. Before now, Tambuwal has always been presented as a true lover of democracy who is well-mannered. His rise to speakership against party’s zoning arrangement was heralded by his admirers. Nobody, therefore, could have believed that a man painted often to be the face of new Nigeria would slip into such undemocratic morass that if per chance any court is bought over to legitimize the illegitimate will complicate our search for ideal democratic direction. One would have expected a man of Tambuwal’s caliber to be civilized whenever he disagrees with anybody.
For the past three and a half years, Tambuwal has been courting extra-party relationship while pretending to be loyal to the PDP. His attitude of serving two masters at a time depicts him as a man consumed by avarice. And like every greedy man, Tambuwal harbours traits of wickedness.
For instance, defecting, keeping that seat, while adjourning the House till December 3, is not just a mischievous move; it also shows that Tambuwal can destroy our nation, if that is what to do to realize his personal agenda. His actions were deliberately calculated to keep Nigeria at standstill. At a time the nation should be worried about 2015 budget, when sensitive government institutions should keep an eye on the INEC, and the security concern remain delicate, when the state of emergency in the troubled northeast needs to be extended, Tambuwal locked up the House and went home to pursue his ambition. What is the rationale behind sending the lawmakers on holiday when they had just resumed work after long weeks of recess?
Tambuwal knew the illegality of his action. He was sure that his decision was not only an aberration against good conscience but is one decision that was certain to produce unpleasant uprising. His intention was to introduce a disingenuous option while leaving the large Nigerian populace to grapple with the legality at a time truth has become relative. He is determined to bring the nation into ruin in the name of blackmailing the government.
If Tambuwal has so much hatred for the party he has been part of its mess, why jeopardizing the lives of innocent Nigerians for what they know nothing about. Rather than join public opinion to condemn his anti-democratic decision, the APC went wild in defence of Tambuwal’s illegality. This is annoying and does not portray healthy opposition politics. This action has deepened people’s suspicion of the opposition which has built up an alliance with all manner of outlaw just to grab power.
Any keen follower of Nigerian political twist will quickly admit that Nigeria has degenerated to an animal kingdom. We are no longer sure of any law again. Everything has become contestable. Every sunrise reveals a display of one animalistic tendency or another.
Since the military backout, Nigeria has never descended to this level of irrationality despite the impunity and highhandedness of Obasanjo’s eight years in office. The regime of Yar’Adua despite flaws and inefficiencies, still enjoyed sympathy of many Nigerians until his ill-health saw the rise of cabals who plotted to foist their hidden agenda on us. The political atmosphere got charged from the very day the doctrine of necessity was invoked to pave way for Goodluck Jonathan to mount the juicy presidential throne after the ailing Yar’Adua became incapacitated. One consequence has taken the appearance of another with Jonathan making avoidable mistakes due to pressure.
Now, Jonathan’s intention to re-contest in 2015 has seen hell let loose upon a nation. Boko Haram insurgency is the least we have seen. Traditional political rivals have closed ranks to kick Jonathan out of office. All manners of plot had been, at various times, hatched to boot the man whose offence is that he is a small boy who shot to prominence through sheer luck. Critics may say he is incapable, but who among them is capable of leading Nigeria? Jonathan might also have been hated for coming from a minority tribe and perhaps because he is a Christian although I do not know how deep he professes his faith.
The rise of mega opposition has brought nothing but political confusion. People had expected the opposition to provide Nigeria with the best way of doing things. Regrettably, sanity now reigns supreme. We seem to have lost our rationality with the assemblage of angry, aggrieved and greedy politicians switching sides for pocket reasons. Opposition politicking has been reduced to opposing everything from the ruling party. In burning issues of national interest, the party has come out in the open to defend the indefensible even where Nigerian constitution is clear.
Some say that the call for Tambuwal to resign his speakership is not explicit in the constitution. But, must everything be in the constitution before we know what is right? When has democracy ceased to be the rule of majority? How can people choose to be blind to the truth? Those who argue that Aminu Tambuwal is right by handling House of Representatives like his father’s house need to consult their psychologists as their arguments are laughable.
I have my sympathy for Aminu Tambuwal in many areas. The PDP is corrupt and it does not hold answer to Nigeria’s future. Next, the manner the police is being used to defend the PDP interest does not portray good for the country. However, Tambuwal should do the needful- resign his position as the speaker of the House since PDP still maintains the majority seats. We look forward to full return of reason in our way of doing things.
