The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Decorum

  • Power, decorum and focus

    The  presentation  of  Nigeria’s 2019  budget by the president  at  the National  Assembly this  week  lacked all  the decorum expected of  such an important duty of the two political institutions  of the presidency and the National  Assembly  involved in our presidential  system  based on the separation of powers. Really    have no doubt  in my mind  that the fault lies with the leadership of the NASS  especially  as the Speaker of the House of  Representatives  and the President of the Senate were not able to present the address at  the joint session  as required  by the protocol and decorum of budget  presentation in Nigeria since the return  to democratic  rule in Nigeria in 1999. Even  the normally taciturn president chided in the midst  of the cacophony  that all  present should  be above   such    a disturbing spectacle  because  the world was   watching.  That  really  is quite true  and I want  to add  that the world has seen  Nigerian  legislators  at large  and at work   and   the world  at  large is disgusted  and nauseated.

    All   the same it   is impossible to treat the misdemeanor of  our legislators in isolation in a global  village that we are in  nowadays. This is because  we  saw  in other  parts  of the world  particularly  two  places  known  for the recommended practice  and ethos of liberal  democracy   that  violent language and verbiage has become the norm  rather  than  the exception.  In  the British  Parliament,  reputedly the  Mother of All   Parliaments,  the leader  of the Opposition  was alleged to have called the PM Theresa  May  a stupid  woman during debate  on Brexit  and a vote of no confidence in the PM, and the leader of Opposition, Jeremy  Corbin   was asked  to apologise  and he refused. In  the case  of the US it  has  become common place to   call  the American President a liar and an  ignoramus  on all  issues regardless  of his authority    as   president.  Indeed     from all indications some media  houses  are  simply  waiting   for  the  conclusion of the  Muller  Inquiry  on  alleged  Russian  hacking of  US 2016 presidential   elections,  and the resumption  in January   of the  House  of Representatives, where  the  Democrats   have  a comfortable majority  from the last November Mid term elections,  before  calling for the impeachment of the American president.  Indeed  one can say  flatly  that  there is no love lost between  a section of the US press  that  President Trump  calls daily Fake  News and the office of the US President and White  House  occupied  by the US president.

    Yet  Nigeria’s  democracy  is  a hybrid  product of the two  democratic   political  systems of  Britain  and   the  UK,  both  of which  nations  are  experiencing such  democratic  stress, difficulties  and challenges  that it is no wonder  that  nowadays   they  doubt  the  results  of their elections and   referendum,  which  was  an  unthinkable  if not impossible development in the recent past. Of  course  it is such  fallouts from  the workings   or is it   failings, of democracy   in these  two nations  that  have  reverberated in the disrespectful audience  given  the Nigeria President  when  he came to present the 2019  budget in the NationaL  Assembly  last  week.   Let us now  look  at  the aborted budget presentation of the Nigerian  president  in the sedate  setting of the National  Assembly which  legislators  turned  into a   vociferous  and  truculent  market  place of political slogans, jeers  and boos of the Nigerian  president such  that  he had to leave the presentation in a hurry. We  shall  then round up with  the reluctance of the Leader of the Labor Party  to apologise  for   allegedly  calling the British  PM a  stupid  woman.

    As I  said  earlier here,  I  hold  the leadership of the National Assembly  responsible  for the lack of respect shown  the office of our  president when  he came to present the nation’s  budget.  This was a constitutional  function based on the legislative oversight   function of the NASS to  approve the budget. To  make the presentation so rowdy  such that the leadership of the NASS could  not make its presentation as required by protocol and decorum is as  if the leadership of the legislature has willingly cut its nose to spite  its face . I praised  this present  NASS  leadership  sometime at the height of the heady    party  defections  in  NASS  that rocked the   Nigerian polity  some time ago. This was at a time when the Senate and the House  of Representatives passed delayed bills dutifully in spite of differences  and disagreements with the presidency. I  hailed that as a good sign that our separation of   powers as a presidential system  was working  even  at a time that that of the US was in hiccups over  a  Supreme Court  confirmation process. I  take back  that  commendation given the shoddy  reception given  the president when  he came for budget presentation this week.  There  was so  much  confusion and bad blood  on display  even at  the beginning when the senator giving the opening Christian prayer forgot  to remove his cap  till the end of his  prayer.  The  commotion that followed  certainly  showed that God turned  a blind  eye  to the prayer and that   is   not a good omen  for the  budget and its implementation. That  too is not good for  millions of Nigerians looking forward for better  dividends of democracy from  the Nigerian  2019  budget  because when  elephants  fight, it is the ground that suffers. Again due to poor leadership  our  democracy  is on   tenterhooks even  as we head  giddily   to the 2019  general  and presidential  elections.

    With  regard  to the calling of  the British  PM stupid it would seem  that some mischief  makers  are trying to make  a mountain out  of a mole  hill. Even  if  Corbin said  stupid  it was under his breath and in frustration because the PM had the better of  him while mocking him to  look  at  his back  and see his un impressed Labor Party  members. Indeed the Opposition leader looked as if he saw  a ghost  at  the joke.  And  the PM,   even  if she heard ‘stupid’  was  nonchalant. But   she  was   gleefully   happy     that her joke  on   withering  party    support   had  riled  her very  bitter opponent on  Brexit   and would  have  let  bygones be bygones.  But    then  Theresa  May     had   a score   to settle    with   Jeremy  Corbin  on    Brexit   harassment.  So,    as said  of   the   arrogant   character in that   famous  book  ‘Pride  and  Prejudice ‘, the PM certainly   ‘possessed  enough malice to make herself  merry with the embarrassment‘ of the Opposition leader on the  Brexit   No  Confidence  vote. Once  again long live the  Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • ‘Let’s maintain decorum at primary’

    ‘Let’s maintain decorum at primary’

    In this piece, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu urges the governorship aspirants and their supporters to play by the rule at the primary and resolve to team up with the candidate that will emerge.

    By tomorrow, September 3,, the delegates from the 203 wards across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State will take a critical decision that would shape the collective destiny of not only the members, but the entire Ondo populace.

    The convergence this time won’t be for political jamboree, but to elect a candidate that would face the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 26, 2016 governorship poll. The impending decision is seen as so pivotal to the extent that it is perceived as one that would make or mar the political fortunes of the party in the state.

    But the ding-dongs the impending primary have generated in recent time have been troubling some of us who are incurable optimists about the bright chances the party enjoys owing to people’s disenchantment with

    the lack-lustre performances of the Mimiko’s administration. The party’s chances is nosediving by the day, except something urgent is done to abate the raging crisis.

    It marvels me that a party that is in opposition for eight years could be embroiled in unnecessary political turmoil over primary that could have afforded it the opportunity to reclaim the state from the government of locusts that has held the state by the jugular for eight years.

    Most disturbing was the controversy that was stirred by one of the chieftains of the party, Dr Tunji Abayomi, condemning the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his alleged interference in the primary. To me, it stands commonsense and logic on its head that those who called themselves political tacticians could be agitating for the insulation of such a central leader from APC affairs in Ondo.

    To the best of my knowledge, Tinubu remains the only external force that has been sustaining the party for years and it will be hypocritical to now brand him a meddlesome interloper in Ondo APC issue.

    Let me state lucidly here, as this message is not intended to apportion blames, it is also instructive to send a signal to our members to learn how to brook opposition within or perceived opponent of your ambition to ensure stability and ward off internal implosion, which has been ripping our party apart now. We should learn how to respect the constitutional rights of others to vote and be voted for and freedom of Association as enshrined in Section 35 of the 1999 constitution before making any caustic comment. This I believe was what Asiwaju Tinubu exhibited and his reply that he enjoys unfettered privilege to support any candidate of his choice was apt and apposite in this regard.

    The idea of people impeaching the State Chairman of the party just to scheme vengeance over flimsy excuses was rather misdirected and appalling and this will not help the party an inch. The sacking of Hon Isaac Kekemeke over an issue that was being settled through the instrumentality of the national and zonal leaders was a mark of disrespect to the party’s constitution and supremacy and all this would have to stop in the interest of party’s cohesion and the collective interest of Ondo people, who are questing for change, which the APC represents in actions and deeds.

    Looking at the trajectory of elections in this country, it takes no service of rocket scientist for people to know that APC is the party to beat in the November 27 election.

    In the last general elections, the APC won three senatorial seats in Kogi State and many seats in the House of Representatives and House of Assembly, despite that the then Governor Idris Wada, is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. From that general elections, people had already concluded the State had slipped off the stranglehold  of the PDP and the prediction came to fruition with the election of Mr Yahaya Bello in the last governorship poll.

    The Ondo state’s election took similar dimension with APC winning two senatorial seats and five reps. These were signals that the party must put its house in order for the dream of routing the PDP to come a fruition, now that the party controls the federal with no fear that federal might could be deployed against APC.

    Let it be known that the feats the APC achieved in the last poll was not by magic. The party was able to make remarkable outing due to palpable cohesion within its ranks  coupled with sacrifices of members. So, I urge the political gladiators in the party to sustain the tempo for APC to bounce back to reckoning in the next election.

    To make the impending electoral battle easier for our party, the PDP had elected the former  Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, a known ally of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who hails from Akure in the central senatorial district, the same zone where Governor Mimiko belongs as its governorship candidate. This was another blow to the PDP chances aside from the fact that the incumbent governor’s political prowess has plummeted considerably.

    Looking at the configuration of Ondo State, with pluralised ethnic and political interests, one would naturally come to conclusion that the unwritten zoning convention has become an imperative political weapon that has maintained the balance among the diverse interests. With this, the PDP has committed political harakiri by breaking this silent agreement that has existed and deeply enshrined in our political culture for ages. But the APC may not get it if the internal  wrangling persists after the primary and this will be catastrophic and highly disappointing.

    The essence of opposition is for people to enjoy the opportunity of voting out a non-performing government when opportunity avails itself.

    Now, the chance has come for Ondo APC and the people should not be deprived of the opportunity to exercise the powers in their thumbs to deal with the PDP for inflicting economic hardship on the populace.

    In the Saturday primary, let our members play by the rules. Let there be orderliness. Let the commonsense and ethos of democracy prevail. Let the people uphold the tenets of sportsmanship by embracing whoever emerges to put the party in good stead ahead of the titanic battle. I am not oblivious of the fact that this may not come naturally, it has to be effected through a transparent process and nothing short of this will be acceptable.

    Let me at this time commend the national and zonal leaderships of the party for their swift interests in resolving the imbroglio that has dogged Ondo APC. You have promised us a transparent and credible primary and we believe you shall live to expectations. We never doubted your ingenuity to conduct free  primaries, because that had been replicated in the primaries that produced President Muhammadu Buhari as presidential candidate prior to the last general elections and the recent governorship primaries in Kogi, Bayelsa and Edo states.

    Taming the seemingly monstrous  internal crisis goes beyond transparent primary, the leaders must also devise ways to rein in their members in Ondo State and caution them against making uncomplimentary and sarcastic comments to prevent further crisis that could rob us of victory despite the open and unhindered chances the party now enjoys.

    During the fight against apartheid in South Africa, the late African Legend, Nelson Mandela, told his people that it is after crossing a mountain that one would realize there are other mountains to cross.

    Our leaders would have to do the needful in this primary because there are many mountains to cross after the primary and the bulk would stop at the members’ table, who would do the larger chunk of the job by campaigning up to the grassroots. The tonic to do this could only come if the right person, duly elected by the people emerges.

    I want to say that no human institution is perfect, but the stakeholders from within and outside Ondo State must do their best to save the party from being permanently consigned to opposition in our dear state. Our aspirants must be ready to make sacrifices by refusing to play spoilers’ roles after losing at the primary.

     

    • Dr. Osinkolu, is an APC chieftain writes this piece from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
  • APC to Metuh: show some decorum

    APC to Metuh: show some decorum

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, to show some decorum in his public statements and avoid the use of trench language in public discourse.

    In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Metuh’s increasing resort to the use of putrid language in his press statements was distracting from the message he might want to pass across, while at the same time sending a bad signal to the younger generation, which look up to him and other politicians.

    “Mr. Metuh, being the spokesman, first of a ruling party and now for the main opposition, puts him on the rarefied level of a being a role model and a pacesetter. You denigrate your office and your party when you use that platform to spew out hate and abusive words.

    “You might choose to be bombastic, sharply critical and even aggressive in your statements, but you do not have to resort to the use of crude language, such as calling your fellow spokesman a “renowned liar”, a “master liar” or a “shameless veteran”, to make your point. Apart from distracting from the issues at stake, those words reflect more on your personality than on the man you have chosen to skewer, and their vulgarity is stomach-churning,” it said.

    The APC said every statement being issued today would become a reference material in the weeks, months and years ahead, hence the need to keep them decent, polished and dignifying, even when they were hard-hitting.

    The party said it chose to call the PDP spokesman to order rather than reply him in kind, hoping he would see the reason for him not to continue on the path of profanity.

    “After all, it was American religious leader Spencer W. Kimball, who said ‘Profanity is the effort of a feeble brain to express itself forcibly’,” it said.

     

  • A call for decorum

    SIR: Nigerians are perennial critics of those in position of authority. Of recent, religious and respected former leaders now top the chart of spokespersons of political parties and politicians seeking elective positions.

    Our religious, past and present political leaders who are supposed role models must guard their utterances on burning national issues. For religious leaders specifically, they should endeavour to preserve and maintain absolute neutrality, poise, solemnity and serenity known for their vocation by shunning any bait capable of knowingly or unknowingly dragging them into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

    Nigeria should not be written off despite obvious challenges. Her situation can be salvaged not by condemnation but by patriotism, good works and good behaviour of all, fervent prayers and supplication for those in position of authority.

    One statement that epitomises the concept of good leadership and followership was offered by Abu Bakar, the first person according”

    Uganda Muslim Brothers and Sisters Standard” to lead the Muslim Community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in his first address as Khalifa – or head of the Islamic state. He told his audience “I have been chosen to rule over you, though I am not the best among you. Help me if I am right; correct me if I am wrong. The weak among you will be strong until I have attained for him his due… and the strong among you will be weak until I have made him give what he owes…” Nations grow and develop by concerted effort of all citizens; not only by policies, programmes and endeavours of those in positions of authority.

    Do we regard the powers that be as ordained by God, speak mildly to them perhaps they may accept admonition or fear of God? This election year should rekindle in all of us the burning desire for collaborative effort, unalloyed support for our government; fervent intercessions and passionate interventions for our leaders.

     

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze,

    Zaria, Kaduna State

  • Decorum, please

    Decorum, please

    • Row between Adoke and Oshiomhole unnecessary

     

    It was obviously a most unseemly and unbecoming spectacle. We refer to the altercation between the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, at last Tuesday’s National Council of State’s meeting at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, Abuja. It was the intervention of some other members of the council that reportedly prevented the face-off between the two degenerating into fisticuffs.

    Given the high offices they occupy, which make them role models in society, we expect that both men, no matter the provocation, should be able to keep their tempers in check and comport themselves with decorum and dignity. This is particularly so as the National Council of State is the country’s highest advisory organ made up of current and past occupants of the most exalted executive, legislative and judicial positions in the land.

    The issue in contention between the two men was the very sensitive one of the dastardly murder, last year, of Governor Oshiomhole’s Private Secretary, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde. This has understandably been a very painful and emotional issue for the Edo State Governor. Oyerinde was not just a political aide but a close associate of the governor since the latter’s days at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    Governor Oshiomhole had consistently and vehemently criticised the handling by the police of investigations into the murder, insisting that this would not be allowed to go the way of the numerous unresolved cases of high-profile assassinations in the country. Oshiomhole had apparently been irked by Adoke who walked up to him and suggested that the case file on Oyerinde’s murder should not have been referred to him, but to the state attorney-general, since murder is a crime under the jurisdiction of the state. The insinuation was obviously that the Edo State attorney-general was unaware of his responsibilities – an insinuation Oshiomhole did not take lightly.

    This is an emotional matter for the Edo State governor, and the attorney-general should have understood that the matter of his aide’s murder was not just technicality, but human pathos. In Oshiomhole’s words, “The issue is that he was saying my attorney-general should have known what to do; that he has nothing to do with the matter. I simply asked him who referred the matter to him. Was it my attorney-general? The matter was referred to him by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) and I asked him who should know better? If the Deputy Inspector-General of Police referred a matter to the Minister of Justice that he ought to have referred to the state, who is the one dragging him into the matter? Who is the one politicising the matter?”

    This scenario illustrates the confusion that characterises the administration of justice in the country, particularly the lack of synergy between the federal and state governments on such a critical issue. The police that are responsible for investigating murder cases report to the Inspector-General of Police and not the governor. Yet, the state has the responsibility of prosecuting murder cases. Now, if as happened in the Oyerinde case, the investigation case file was wrongfully sent by the DIG to the Attorney-General of the Federation, what should have been the appropriate response of the latter, especially since this is a matter that involves human life?

    The Attorney-General of the Federation should have wasted no time in returning the file to the DIG and instructing him on the appropriate course of action. It is inexcusable for Adoke not to have taken any action on the matter, only for him to tell Oshiomhole at the National Council of State meeting that the file should not have come to him. That was certainly most provocative. We urge Mr Adoke to return the file to the appropriate quarters without delay so that this murder can be resolved and the culprits punished.