Opinion: Implications Of A South East Senator As Chairman Of National Assembly, By Kola AMZAT
Nigeria is a diverse country of over 300 ethnic groups with Hausa-Fulanis, Yorubas and Igbos dominant with 25%, 21% and 18% of the population respectively. There are other fringe groups like Ijaws, Ibibios, Tivs, Idomas, Kanuris, Urhobos, Itsekiris etc that combine together to make up the most populous nation in the entire Africa.
Even though, the ethnic multiplicity supposed to confer on the nation the advantages of diversity in several forms-cultural, economic, and even socio-political, it could also be otherwise, if not properly managed.
Without a shadow of doubt, Nigeria optimally enjoyed the benefits of her diversity before the 1960 Independence and period after, precisely before the civil war of July 06, 1967 to January 15, 1970. But, after the civil war, unity and peaceful co-existence amongst the nation’s ethnic groups suffered a blow and has remained back and forth till date.
Indeed, there has been mutual suspicion, mistrust and unnecessary strife and jealousy amongst Nigerian ethnic groups. The center seems no longer hold. The country has been badly fragmented along ethnic lines. Drums beat of war and violence reverberate in all the nooks and crannies.
The huge diversity which ought to have turned around the awesome fortunes of this country and launch it into global prominence, as well as into the comity of the few sought-after nations around the globe is now hunting us.
And, it’s instructive that Igbos are largely fingered in this ugly development. Of course, they’ve bluntly refused to part way with the thought of Biafra nation despite surrendering the baton to Nigeria. They eat, live, mouth and fraternize with Biafra on daily basis. All their moves over years have pointed out that, they are prepared to actualize Biafran dream if opportunity presents itself.
Discerning observer would recognize that my submission is far from being a fiction. It’s in public domain that despite the fact that IPOB has been declared a terrorist organization, the group continues to remain dominant in the South East geo-political zone.
They’ve almost rendered the economy of the zone comatose with the standing order given to the people of the zone to always sit at home for the better part of the week. Over years, they’ve imposed regime of violence, anarchy and pandemonium on the people, all in the quest to actualize Biafra Republic.
Another reference point of the Igbos deep anger and hatred for our nation was the condemnable and most reprehensible conduct and behavior of the Obidients, the faithful of Peter Obi, largely made up of Igbo youths. They practically turned social media to platform for war, with insolent and highly uncultured pronouncements on whoever had audacity to speak against the group. To them, election is a theatre of war. At any point in time, they’re always ready to cause violence, chaos and pandemonium. And indeed, they did involve in some violent acts during the elections.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural organization that represents the interests of the Igbo nation in Nigeria and Diaspora also has never helped matters. Despite the declaration of Asiwaju Tinubu as the President-elect of Nigeria, by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body has continues to mischievously and wickedly declared that they only recognize Peter Obi who came 3rd in the presidential election with only 25% in 15 states, as their own president. Who commits this type of treasonable felony and gets away?
On what basis would an Igbo man therefore desires to lead the national assembly in Tinubu government? What justification do they have to aspire to lead the most strategic arm of government, after the executive arm, in this democratic system?
Even though, the country belongs to all of us and any Nigerian reserves the right to aspires to lead the nation in any capacity he wishes, but, the fact remains that one can only participates in a venture or enterprise that one believes in. Do Igbos believe in Nigeria?
National Assembly is a very sensitive arm of government and it would be catastrophe and disaster of monumental proportion to allow her to be led by a character (regardless of quantum of his loyalty to the party) from a region that other regions in the country can’t vow for her loyalty to the corporate existence of the country.
For emphasis, national assembly run the country with the leader of the executive, the President. No policy of the government goes through without the approval of the national assembly.
It’s also important to stress that Senate President is the chairman of the national assembly and the bucks stop on his table. Speaker of House of Representatives could influence, but the main power and authority resides with the President of the senate.
It’s therefore instructive to ensure that the nation don’t allow Igbo Agenda on the floors of the red and green chambers. The only way to do that in the 10th Senate is to frustrate emergence of Igbo senate presidency.
The red chamber could resolve to collaborate with the government by allowing executive policies seamless passage and on the other hand, they may resolve to frustrate them by preventing the passage of executive bills.
Nigerians shouldn’t forget in hurry the travails and pains of President Buhari and APC government during Bukola Saraki’s leadership of the national assembly. It’s very easy to have a repeat of such, if APC leadership hierarchy and National Working Committee don’t gird their loins from the onset-which is to forestall the emergence of a South East senator as president of senate.
As Asiwaju Tinubu awaits his inauguration as President, C-in-C of Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2023, expectations of the millions of Nigerians are very high, particularly on account of the iconic politician commanding, glorious and very rich achievements in public office in the past.
Nigerians expect him to assemble the best hands possible across the land to help the country in repositioning the economy, creating and instilling orderliness in the polity particularly at the federal level, reasonably & tactically restructuring the geo-political system, breathing new life in the nation educational system, rejigging the infrastructure architecture across the country, bringing new dimension to the nation security apparatus that would ensuring that indeed, there is guarantee of security for the citizenry and properties all over the country.
The populace also fervently expect that through some unique strategic policy interventions, the nation industrial sector should come alive. The expectant nation feel strongly that oil and gas, as well as power sectors are largely shortchanging the nation and her people. They expect deliberate and intentional policies that would strongly shake the two sectors in order to engender a paradigm shift.
Nigerian people desire a new foreign policy that would indeed make Nigeria the centre of attraction of the African continent, as well as making her the strategic and economic partner of the global super powers-USA, Great Britain, China, Japan, Germany, France etc.
More importantly, the citizenry desire the restoration of their loss hope in the country. They desire to once again re-establish their partnership with Nigeria. They want to collaborate with the authority in ensuring that the country new focus and new vision for greatness takes center stage again.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has tremendous role to play in all these. In-fact, they are strategic partners of the president and executive arm in bringing the expectations to reality. It’s imperative that they must be in one accord and on the same page with the president in order to achieve aforementioned.
I’m convinced that it’s now clear to the generality of Nigerians why there is need to have in place a Senate President who share Nigeria dreams, visions and aspirations for greatness with the in-coming president and not the one who would be conferring with Ohaneze Ndigbo to get their position on national matters before coming to the plenary to preside.
Kola AMZAT (FCA)
LAGOS BASED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT,
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