… distribution of rice by lawmakers, a new phenomenon laced with Tinubu’s ‘renewed hope’ agenda
… Akpabio should allow the opposition to breath
Seven months after inauguration of the National Assembly, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio is still grappling with the rudiments of legislative business.
His counterpart in the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas has embarked on massive reconstruction of the House of Representatives.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG in this short analysis will look at the federal legislature with emphasis on some minuses here and there.
Apparently, the Senate President is a thorough bred and seasoned administrator after being a governor for eight years and an uncommon minister for almost four years.
He also had the opportunity of managing a state assembly for solid eight years but in legislative business, the senator really needs to understand that it’s a different world entirely.
The Senate President is a first among equals and this is the major reason why he has to first and foremost understand that there are other 108 lawmakers who must understand his body language.
Body language in this sense simply means understanding the fact that his fellow lawmakers are his equals on the floor of the Senate.
Pointers such as how is he relating with his fellow lawmakers in the opposition parties and his ability to showcase his body language in a manner that his colleagues will understand that it’s one Senate.
To a reasonable extent, Akpabio has tried all within his reach as a leader but there are still many hiccups.
The opposition in the Senate is still uncomfortable with his style of leadership and this is not the hallmark of the uncommon governor toga that he wore all through his eight years in Akwa Ibom Government House.
Rubber Stamp Uniform:
It took less than three months after inauguration that Nigerians decorated the ninth Assembly as a rubber stamp federal legislature.
Just one comment from the then Senate President that President Muhammadu Buhari can never be wrong and before one could say Jack Robinson, the uniform of rubber stamp was properly placed on the ninth Assembly.
At the end of it all, the many mind blowing revelations of the Buhari’s administration confirmed the uniform of rubber stamp the Senate wore all through the last four years.
Akpabio knew he has a lot to learn and immediately after inauguration he sent all senators back to school to learn more about budgetary processes and other essential ingredients needed to have a well grounded Senate.
But comments like let the poor breath and messages sent to the emails of lawmakers have no commonality in the legislature.
Give and take, he is doing his very best to be a good student of the legislature but the manner the 2024 budget was speedily endorsed may end up giving Akpabio’s Senate a fresh name.
HoR:
In the House of Representatives, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has embarked on massive reconstruction works in the House to ensure there are no leakages.
As a former lecturer and a seasoned lawmaker who understands the nitty gritty of legislative business, Abbas allowed the opposition to have a refreshed breath from the stench Ex-Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila left behind.
From day one, Speaker Abbas had a focus on how to place Nigerians first above petty politics that has been associated with the Nigerian federal legislature.
To this end, legislative business is conducted in an atmosphere without rancour. He has not failed at anytime to bare it all to the executive arm government without making his point clear.
The opposition is working to ensure that policies that will not benefit the generality of Nigerians are not imposed as it will have a spiral effect.
Abbas knows when to draw the dagger and when to sheath it and this has made both opposition lawmakers and his party members to adore him.
He is not given to praise singing rather he tells it as it’s without necessarily hurting his immediate constituency. Abbas refused to celebrate his last birthday because too many Nigerians are hungry.
The lawmaker in him has made it possible for the House to wade into national issues that has yielded positive results for Nigerians.
Abbas’s massive reconstruction efforts are yielding results that will endure till 2027.
Distribution of ‘renewed hope’ rice:
This tenth HoR will go into history clothed with the distribution of rice in quantum as displayed by lawmakers after an Edo federal lawmaker revealed that the rice were actually ‘renewed hope’ rice.
The Senate has denied ever receiving truck loads of the essential commodity but at least some Nigerians celebrated this last yuletide in fanfare.
The danger ahead over this essential commodity is that it must continue or is not going to be funny.
Speakers have their different styles of leadership. Speaker Aminu Tambuwal had a unique style. All lawmakers from every part of Nigeria had a beautiful pact with him.
Dimeji Lawal had a style of carrying all lawmakers along but did not stifle opposition. Femi Gbajabiamila made attempts to kill opposition in Nigeria.
Yakubu Dogara was a diplomatic lawmaker. Great at trouble shooting and mean to a fault.
The Late Ghali Na’Abba was a friend to all but fought the executive arm of government all through his administration.
Abbas knows what it takes because a very reasonable part of him is enmeshed in the legislature after spending years schooling himself in the legislature. Experience they say is the best teacher. Tajudeen Abbas is experienced.
Conclusively, Akpabio should allow opposition breath in the Senate. It’s a well known fact that where opposition is gagged no meaningful development can take place like we saw from 2015-2023.
Abbas should ensure that his reconstruction efforts do not vanish into the thin air after two years in office.
End