The dictum “A Clear Conscience Fears no Accusation” is sure a saying which is presently synonymous with the crisis ridden National Assembly NASS. Even though we all know that there is virtually, no criminal will ever admits guilt of a crime, even when caught in the act pant-down. But today, we need to make Nigerians see through a lot of hullabaloo premised on the guilt that is pricking some NASS Senators and House of Representatives, who feels that they may be caught in the Fish-Net of Corruption and Insurgency Crimes against the Nigerian people. Let us go back to the whole scenario culminating into all of these anomalies, presently ravaging the leadership of the NASS.

After winning the 2015 election, which I can authoritatively reveal that most of the political office holders under the All Progressive Congress APC, got their victory on a platter of gold due to the aura of President Muhammadu Buhari. If this is to go by, then the electorate still reserve the right to use their Permanent Voters’ Card PVC, to think of a recall of these disgruntled Senators and the Honourables.

A party, under whose platform most of these NASS politicians got their meal ticket, is now being thrown away with the bath-water, basically for selfish interest, rather than the interests of the masses who voted them into power. There is definitely the need to call these NASS Senators and Members to order, before they plunge the entire country into Chaos. Since they have all almost lost their sense of reasoning, without recourse to the fact that time is no longer on our side, for the CHANGE we have all yearned for during the 2015 Elections. Except if setting the records straight, these NASS political Office holders are actually telling us that they are out to serve the interest of some Oil tycoons as previously reported, in order to prevent the President from carrying out the mandate which Nigerians have bestowed on him as well as them.

We really need to know either ways, constitutionally or party ethics wise, Individual or Party, which is supreme over the other when it comes to the issue of decision making. I stand to be disproved, that the way and manner in which Senator Bukola Saraki is going, we just hope that he is not acting two scripts; First the idea of frustrating the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in order to settle a vendetta of his late father Olusola Saraki, and Secondly that Senator Bukola Saraki is trying to Protect his Corrupt interest, Governors and that of the Oil Tycoons who made him betray the supremacy of his party. Except that, if he Senator Bukola is telling Nigerians that he only decamped to APC from the People’s Democratic Party PDP, in the heat of realising that the CHANGE wind may sweep him out of power, hence a reason to gain a political footing made him join the governing party.

However, CHANGE as we know is constant, even though resistance to CHANGE is inevitable, and that is why we believe that Senator Bukola Saraki and his cohort are basically those who have chosen to be resistance to CHANGE. Else, how do explain to Nigerians what is actually going on in the NASS. A situation, where people whom we call our Leaders, Parents and Elders, continue to portray barbaric behaviour and attitude in the running of the NASS. They have turned the NASS Complex into a ‘Boxing Ring’. Did we prevent them from going to challenge Mohammed Ali, the famous World Boxing Champion. We know that such behaviours were exhibited in the past during previous assemblies of the NASS, when Nigeria was almost at the break of collapse. But today, after salvage by the APC, it becomes expedient that the dividend of democracy must be seen to impact on the people. Therefore, the interest of the citizens of Nigeria should be non-negotiable and sacrosanct, because the misrule of over Sixteen Years by the PDP does not need to repeat itself again in this country.

Inadvertently, we are very much aware that the bulk of these whole embarrassment stems from the Power-play battle for 2019 Elections ahead. This has brought about two camps; the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the one hand, and the camp of the former Lagos State Governor Bola Asiwaju Tinubu. We are not disputing the fact that if you want to aspire towards being the hench-man in 2019, you cannot. Rather, we are only saying do it with courtesy and recourse to the interest of the Nigerians who stood by the APC in the times of need. And we must not forget that there are individuals who NEVER allowed their personal interest to becloud their sense of reasoning, when the chips were down and Nigerians almost lost hope. These personalities sacrificed all their hope and life, in the name of ensuring that they assist in leading the country to a promise land. Thus, Bola Asiwaju Tinubu and Rotimi Ameachi are very salient in this regard. We recalled that for Tinubu, he rejected all manner of inducements which the Goodluck Jonathan administration and sympathisers wanted him to do, all for a reason to betray the then General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. Also, we want to affirm that Ameachi too was not left behind, as he sacrificed all without sentiment of religion or ethnicity to support GMB, even as he was declared ‘Persona non grata’ by his people of South-South Nigeria.

Now, let us take a look at those who have defiled the instructions of their party; the APC. The group of Like-minds among the Senators who are supporting the illicit act of Senator Bokola Saraki include; Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje, Ahmed Sani Yerima and others. And on the other hand, Unity Forum group, in the Senate who are in support of Senator Ahmed Lawan include; Kabiru Marafa, George Akuma, Shehu Sani etc. A critical look at the head of these groups will reveal to us their persons and characters. If we go back memory lane, we will discover that even before the election of the NASS leadership, the President of Nigeria and the APC had given the guideline for the selection of leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. That is to say, each NASS leadership must be persons without Corruption or Terrorism case against them. The reason being that, only a sincere APC, should prove to the Nigeria people that they must not allow things to remain the same, just like in the past. As such, APC ensures a deviation from the business as usual. How do you expect people who will make laws for the running of Nigeria in the NASS, be people of questionable character. And that is why the APC tried its best possible to present persons of credence to Nigerians in the run-up to the NASS leadership election.

Most importantly, we all know that Senator Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje and others are facing Corruption cases with Anti-graft agencies. While on the other hand, Senator Ali Ndume had been linked with the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, and being charged in Court by the Department of State Services DSS, for such crime. Little did we know that the main reason behind those supporting Senator Bukola Saraki, is to ensure that their interest and that of the Oil Tycoons are protected, in the event that President Muhammadu Buhari makes any move to deal with the bad guys in the society. Since they too are part of the entire scheme of corrupt and terrorist sympathisers, they are bent at nothing to scuttle all effort which will bring sanity to Nigeria.

We will require a clear explanation from Senator Bukola Saraki and Honourable Yakubu Dogara, to inform us on their previous status in the NASS or Nigeria. Because we do not know if as at the time both Party betrayals were not Leaders in the NASS, were they dead or any part of their body cut off. We believe that the undertone behind this whole gimmick may not be unconnected with the rejection from the APC Governors by the President, any nomination of Ministerial positions. Thus, since the President decided to set aside any influence on him by the Governors, they have become rebellious. By so doing, they may have resorted to prove to the President, through the back door, that they can actually have an influence on him, since they are the State Leaders of their party. In other words, they have the control over some among the NASS Senators and Representatives from their various states. Since, this to a large extent, a crisis ridden NASS, may not give the President the opportunity to give citizens the required and necessary CHANGE so desired by Nigerians.

Significantly, we are aware that President Muhammadu Buhari had, during his campaign and speech in various instance assert to Nigerians that “I am a former Dictator, but now a converted Democrat”. Let us get this straight, it was part of the hate-campaigns by the PDP during the 2015 electioneering process that made the President clear the air. Therefore, Nigerians should understand that the President choose not to interfere in the NASS crisis, so as not to be seen recanting his words. Else, I bet you, bringing Senator Bukola Saraki and his cohort to their kneels, is not really a difficult task for the President who was a Civil War veteran. Even though, some may see it as a lackadaisical attitude by the President which may consume his Presidency, but the fact is simple, he is trying his best possible to avoid any dent on his image, both within and outside the country. Moreover, instead of the usual Military Decrees as done in the past, the President has chosen to go by and follow to the latter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while being a real democrat who believes in the World’s Democracy. But today, the President is taken for a ride by these so called leaders we have in the NASS, who cannot distinguish their left from right.

We may refer back to the case in some countries, where there exists only a Unicameral Legislature, an example is Senegal. Here, the Chamber is cut to size for the purpose of Checks and Balances, and also reduces the expenditure of the State on some set of people who do not mean well for their country. This is a situation where only one Chamber is made to represent the interest of the people, devoid of the case in Nigeria where funds are wasted on Senate and House of Representatives in the NASS. To this end, they have showed nothing to support their existence and fund wastage by the Nigeria state. Why then do we still keep them in NASS, and still operate a Bicameral Legislature.

Meanwhile, what we all should know is that with the support of the Nigerian masses against these rag-tag NASS members, President Muhammadu Buhari will surmount all their game plan, and the wishes and aspiration of the people will prevail upon the rogues we call leaders in the NASS.

God bless Nigeria

@mmfirdausi

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