A call for decency in National Assembly

The faceoff between Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Senator Dino
Melaye again exposed the underbelly of Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber as one lacking in internal cohesion. Both senators belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC. Tinubu represents Lagos Central, while Melaye is of Kogi West.

At an executive session of the Senate, the two lawmakers engaged in a verbal altercation over the alleged forgery of the Senate’s Standing Rules. Angry outbursts between them degenerated into threats, both on the floor of the hallowed chamber and beyond.

Senator Tinubu later wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police, seeking protection over alleged threat to life. She equally reported the incident to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. Senator Melaye vowed not to apologise to the Tinubu’s, particularly Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who took umbrage at the vituperation against his wife.

This episode predictably caused quite a stir in the public sphere, with groups demonstrating support for or against both senators. It created talking points in the media and kept the Internet abuzz for over a week, particularly given the enduring penchant of both senators to be at the forefront of power struggles.

It is obvious that the Melaye versus Tinubu feud is an offshoot of the struggle for the control of the leadership of the Senate which started on  June 9, 2015 when Saraki and People’s Democratic Party, (PDP)’s Senator Ike Ekweremadu upset the APC leaders’ plans to install their preferred candidates as the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Melaye and Remi Tinubu have remained at the frontline of the clashes.

We are dismayed at the tendency of our lawmakers to place more emphasis on power struggle and the tussle for personal aggrandisement at the expense of performing the job for which they canvassed for the people’s mandate. Each time there is a fight in the Legislature, especially the National Assembly, it is invariably over power and money. Little is heard about ideological quarrels or contentions for good governance.

The Federal Government has recently declared that our economy has slid into recession. We expect well-meaning lawmakers to place hands on deck in the search for avenues to revitalise and diversify the economy. That is the item which is uppermost in the national interest at the moment. Instead, our lawmakers are chasing rats while the house is on fire.

We urge our legislators to learn how to respect the views of their colleagues. Even when they disagree, they should do so in a civilised manner. Leaders must be role models in speech and comportment. The children are also watching.

Leaders cannot expect the public to behave well when they themselves are always behaving like hoodlums.