- In Obasanjo, you take the message and leave the medium
As medium belting out urgent positive change, former President Olusegun Obasanjo comes with loud dissonance. For one, as first president of the present Fourth Republic, he exemplifies, more than anyone, the skewed affairs of state business, which nearly spiralled out of control under President Goodluck Jonathan.
For another, as crusading anti-corruption president, Obasanjo huffed and puffed. But no thanks to his seeming congenital weaknesses, resulting in a rather sorry penchant to say one thing but do the opposite, his anti-corruption exertions were almost always more bark than bite, except in the gripping imperatives to settle political scores.
That, therefore, may well justify Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s, rather nuanced and definitely generalised swipe that every political actor, from 1999, was responsible for Nigeria’s present woes. That was riposte to Chief Obasanjo’s latest letter accusing the National Assembly of opacity, greed and corruption.
Dr. Saraki’s response would appear especially apt, because Chief Obasanjo somewhat epitomises what could have been, if the former president had always walked his talk; and also the seedy situation now, for his failure to do so. To that extent therefore, it would appear fair comment; and Saraki deserves added accolade for keeping his response polite, logical and simple.
However, if Chief Obasanjo is legitimately accused of conflicting legacy, that makes not a few question his credentials to raise his voice against the rot he also cultured during his tenure. The National Assembly, under Dr. Saraki, stands even more legitimately charged as a reprobate assembly, resolute against any positive change, even if it often regales the polity with cant about buying into the change mantra of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency. Yet, for Nigeria to survive, not to talk of prosper, that drastic change in attitude is imperative.
Indeed, in the eye of the Nigerian public, if the president stands for lean and Spartan resolve to curb sleaze and allied corruption, the National Assembly appears as a Palladium of decadence, near-completely out of touch with the yearnings of its constituents, and rather obsessed with securing obscene perks for its over-pampered and rather insensitive members, even with a fast-shrinking national purse.
That has made the Obasanjo letter resonate rather well with the public, even if many also add that the former president is only a pot calling the kettle black. That might well be. But the notorious fact is that the kettle is indeed black, and luxuriating with soot! We wouldn’t get anywhere, therefore, if we didn’t clean it up and fast — no matter who, saint or sinner, is bawling for change.
The good thing, though, is that Dr. Saraki, in response to the letter, has pledged to give details of the National Assembly’s N115 billion budget for 2016, section by section, as against the omnibus practice of the past, which triggered wild imaginations and spurred conspiracy theories of alleged humongous sleaze, in the nation’s legislative chambers.
That pledge is welcome; and should be encouraged. That is why the National Assembly must walk its talk by this pledge. More importantly, however, both the Senate and the House of Representatives should do strict and painful introspection, on their perception in the Nigerian mind. While progressive transparency and keen sensitivity to Nigerians’ yearning would be a very good start, both chambers must embark on a conscious, consistent and deliberate rebirth.
Way back in 1999, Obasanjo’s angst as president was that the National Assembly was treating itself to obscene furniture allowance, when its electors nationwide wallowed in poverty. Today, the general angst is that it is on a gravy train, and share little of the executive’s zeal to curb the decadence in the land.
We can’t have the people go one way, and their elected representatives go on a diametrically opposite direction. If the Obasanjo letter has served as a jolt, the National Assembly is all the better for it.
