‘Nigerians may distrust democratic process over NASS/Presidency clash’

Shehu Bankole-Hameed, ICT expert, author and former senatorial aspirant in Ogun State, speaks on what he perceives as some undercurrent in the feud between the executive and the Senate. Excerpts:

HOW does the ongoing face-off between the Senate and the presidency come across to you? 

The relationship between the legislative and executive should be that of collective agreement, that is, to agree or otherwise. But non-agreement should be a matter of principle and or political belief.  What is happening now with the present eighth session of our Senate in which the entire senators almost without exception take on the Presidency is worrisome, to say the least.  It is worrisome in the sense that it mostly borders on infighting within a major political party.   It does seem like the dramatis personae are the head of the Senate, his crowd of followers and a gang of opposition PDP members.

The intent, to the best of my analysis, is sustained attack aimed at the person of the President Muhammad Buhari and the effectiveness of the Presidency itself.  There appears to be power struggle against the president and his team.  The whole shenanigan is viewed from many observant quarters as attempt by Saraki to play quasi- government. This is not good for our democracy.

The analysis stems from the various summons issued on those in the Presidency’s team and the attendant treatment meted out to invitees, which really only speaks to being bullies. The Senate may have some real or genuine concern about how the laws of the land are being interpreted by the executive. There are less caustic ways of achieving these.

What are the real issues?

The issues here appear to be more political with hidden agenda and the not-so-hidden one. Take for example the issue of Customs’ boss. The invitation to clarify application of the law retroactively with resultant chaos that was sure to follow was in order.  But the aspect of insistence on appearing in uniform is not relevant to solving the issue.  It could have conducted the session, advised the custom boss on the need to put on his ceremonial uniform, if only to boost morale. I’m not qualified to dwell on the legality of the order to wear sets of uniform before appearing in the Senate. Another example is that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) bordering on corrupt practices, particularly regarding the issue of conflict of interests and outright theft as regards contract made to an company in which the SGF has interest and was seen complicit. I would have thought that if the point has been made, findings need to be submitted to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.  After all said and done, the Senate President Bukola Saraki has a case of false asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). I think the Senate should start cleaning its own house.

What are the gains, losses and far-reaching implications? 

I’m really hard pressed to see immediate gains from the whole disturbing episode largely because the entire process is tainted with gross incompetence. The leadership of the Senate hasn’t inspired any maturity. There are opaque interests.  I will want to think that future presidents would show particular interest in who leads the legislative houses. The losses and losers are legion.  The financial implications of supporting a very small group of people running in the tens of billions of naira is enormous, with nothing positive to show for it is daunting and shameful. The likelihood that many citizens may begin to distrust our democratic process, structure and intents is scary. If this happens, Nigeria and Nigerians will be losers.