Hon. Nwuke Ogbonna, a former member of the House of Representatives, in this interview with ADELEKE ADESANYA, says that the current Senate has wronged Nigerians for daring to confront the Presidency on a number of issues lately. Nwuke, therefore, advises Senate President Bukola Saraki to call his colleagues to order. Excerpts:
The Senate is currently at loggerheads with the Executive over some issues, among which is Magu’s. How do you see this?
It is not unusual to hear things like this. Of course, it is human nature to manipulate issues and to engage in activities that are sometimes not as edifying. So, if we are looking at what has transpired literally in the Senate, I’m sure you will agree with me that not many Nigerians think that the signals that we are getting from the Senators by this time is the kind of signal that we need. This is a country that at the moment is constrained to deal with issues-economic issues, issues that affect our country and how to recover from the recession. Issues that are intended to build confidence among the people, particularly in our democracy. Issues that affect us as a country in the eyes of other countries, the fight against corruption and all. Moreover, there is no doubt that as a country, we are not happy with the way we have conducted ourselves in the last few months. Though we argue on separation of powers, but we have seen an arm, the legislature, on a collision course with the Executive, and all these will not move us forward as a country.
Last week, former senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, was suspended by the Senate following his call for the investigation of Saraki and Melaye. How will you view this as a former lawmaker?
I think that Ndume may have come up with allegations proved or otherwise. I agree that the Senate has the rule book, which specifies relationship between members and what will happen. But I think that Ndume spoke under privilege and he ought to have been protected by the Senate. Whether we like it or not, there is a relationship between what has happened to Ndume and the position of the constitution on freedom of expression. Of course, I do know that is political chance as well and you can see, too, how it has affected Sagay, who made a comment and the Senate also reacted sharply.
So, when you view this very well, you will see that this Senate is not ready for criticisms, and I don’t see a trace of democracy in such an arm of government.
With this development in which the Senate suspended Ndume and also summoned Sagay over his comments in the media, what will you say is the position of the Senate concerning the rule of law and freedom of speech?
It will be mischief to say that the Senate does not respect the rule of law. Perhaps, what the Senate ought to do is to exercise extra care and precaution, because part of the basic freedom we enjoy here as Nigerians is the freedom of expression. And in the case of Sagay, if he criticised what he saw in the reactions of the Senate on issues, one would expect that the Senate would have reacted, maybe to explain his position or to dismiss the allegations of Sagay. The rush to invite Sagay suggested to a large extent that the Senate, which expresses its views on so many issues across board, have been intolerant about statements relating to it. I think the Senate should rather act on the side of the people while reacting to issues of the moment.
Some political analysts have blamed President Buhari over these problems with the Senate, saying if Buhari had checkmated Saraki, when he became the Senate President against the wish of the party, the current problems would not have come up. Do you support their views?
I think that in the beginning, just the way we do things in Nigeria, that Buhari ought to have been hailed for giving respect to the decisions of the lawmakers to have their own leadership. That should not been seen in anyway as a mark of weakness. The same Buhari went ahead to congratulate Saraki even when he was not a product of either the Executive or of the Presidency. One would expect that after Saraki emerged as the Senate President that the foundation for collaboration between both arms of government would have been strengthened. So, for those who said if Buhari had dealt decisively with Saraki at the time, they have their arguments. Buhari’s intervention at that time would have amounted to some interference in the affairs of the National Assembly. I think that Saraki and his colleagues in the Senate shouldn’t, therefore, see the fact that the head of the general house didn’t move against them as evidence that they can do anything and get away with it. Most Nigerians screamed when the Senate said it was not going to screen those who had been brought before them by the Executive, because their major requests haven’t been granted and the Executives are not complying.
But do you see the Senate’s current hard stance on so many national issues helping the country?
I think this is not what Nigeria needs at this time. Honestly, the main thing here is not to trade blames or blame anyone. I think that the national interest is greater than the interest that is exhibited at the moment by the Senate. This country must move forward. There are vacancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission that’s got to be filled; there are ambassadorial positions that have got to be filled. Personal interest or even group interest are not to be placed far above Nigeria’s national interest. The national interest, as far as I’m concerned, is what the National Assembly, the Executive arm and the Judiciary must protect at all time. To do otherwise is to sabotage the country and to betray the growth of the country and right of ordinary Nigerians that put them in that power.
As it is, what do you think this current situation between the Senate and the Presidency may portend for this administration?
All these didn’t happen while we were in the National Assembly. But I believe our democracy is rather moving forward. The fact that we have seen that one arm of government is even willing to set up a committee to reconcile with another arm, and that in my mind is statesmanship. I believe that Nigerians should know their way behind the institutions. That in my mind is significant and I think it holds the key to the future. The only way we can move forward as a country is through constant dialogue and through constant engagement. Fortunately for us, the Executive is showing interest to move one step forward in the interest of Nigeria. It’s my expectation that the National Assembly, particularly, our senators, who are senior citizens, will also see the very strong need to accept the olive branch that the Executive is waving in their face.
econciled, take the issue of Magu, for instance. If the Executive had come on the fact that they were not available at the time Magu was screened and if through deliberate engagement with the National Assembly and the Senate, it is able to present those signs, should we say it is because the Senate had already made a pronunciation on the matter and there is no way the case can be reopened? Could it be in line with national justice? Those are issues. But I think there is hope that we must look forward. There are bills before the National Assembly that need to be attended to seriously. There is progress that we must meet before the end of the year. I think good reason will prevail at the end of the day that those who are bothered by some people, who are concerned by some power flexing, will see the need to address the Nigerian question. Those are the issues, as a former law maker, my mind tells me that the arms of government should look at. That the Nigerian government is working on and the whole world is staring at them, and that our expectation, collectively, is that we must do what we can to get Nigeria out of recession and the signs are good enough that the government policies that are aimed at getting us out of what we found ourselves in are already working with the stimulus that are coming from the both arms, the Executive and the Legislature.
