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Frankly speaking, the killing of National Assembly initiated constitutional amendment bill, first, on the 16th of May 2006, in the Senate chamber, subsequently in the House of Representative and post 3rd term comments from intellectuals like Dele Sobowale, has clearly shown that some Nigerians especially the judgmental columnists in Lagos axis, are textbook democrats who’s practice and belief in democracy exist only on the pages of Newspapers.
Intellectuals like Dele Sobowale and Co., who ordinary Nigerians like this writer had expected to get direction from in terms of objective reflection on the political cost implication of the failed constitution amendment bill to Nigeria; the cost of failed constitution amendment bill to Nigeria from the point of view of answering national question(s); how much tax payers’ money was sank into the constitution amendment process from the year 2001, when the then Senate under Senator Chuba Okadigbo, of blessed memory initiated the process of amending the Constitution, to 16th May 2006, appeared to have elected to chase the wind as reflected in his Sunday column on 11th June 2006. Frankly speaking, do Nigerians deserve to be told by the wastrel National Assembly that the constitution could no longer be amended, having spent more than 4 Billion Naira (4B) on the project? Judgmental Sobowale could offer explanation.
Frankly speaking, one would have thought that National Assembly, particularly, Senators being polity stabilizers, having identified the vexed clause – 3rd term in the constitution amendment bill, should have gone ahead and consign it [3rd term clause] to the trash can, instead of the wholesale killing of the amendment bill.
Frankly speaking, one had expected that intellectuals like Dele Sobowale should know that the principle of separation of power in democracy presupposes non interference by the executive arm in the business of the legislative arm, and applies to National Assembly initiated constitution amendments and 3rd term. If our dear Sobowale takes democracy seriously, emotion should have taught him to know that, if the principle of separation of power must be observed to the latter, the issue of 3rd term should be seen as being purely for the proponents and opponents to iron out at the National Assembly, after all, they initiated the process of constitution amendment in the first place. Frankly speaking, Dele’s vilification of president Obasanjo on account of 3rd term could at best be describe as emotional outburst of a pretentious democrat, for the mere fact that the killed constitution amendment bill was not an executive bill and therefore could not be said to have emanated from the executive arm of government in the first instance, at least, from the stand point of separation of power.
Frankly speaking, Dele may wish to know that in, October 19, 1999, president Obasanjo inaugurated a Technical Committee on the review of 1999 constitution, headed by Dr. Clement Ebri. Rationally, if Clement Ebri’s Committee had turned in a constitution amendment bill to the national assembly, with 3rd term clause inclusive, then Deles vituperations on the person of president Obsanjo would have been understandable. For now, the only plausible reason for Sobowale’s attack on president Obasanjo could simply be ENVY of Obasanjo’s accomplishments in life including probably, his from “prison to presidency” feat.
In the second republic, each and every political party was controlled by its leader. Few examples will suffice here. In the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Chief Obafemi Awolo was effectively in control of the party, just the way Obasanjo is in control of PDP of today. For Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), Zik of Africa was the commander-in- chief. For National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the President then, Alhaji Shehu Shagari determined what happened in the party through the likes of Umoru Dikko. Dele may wish to know that Alhaji Umoru Dikko was to tell chief M.K.O of blessed memory that Nigerian Presidency was not for the highest bidder, in apparent response to Abiola’s intention to run for presidency on the platform of the party. Abiola was to quit the party thereafter. Frankly speaking, Obasanjo’s firm grip on his party is in accordance with the principle of “Leader of a party should be in control in Nigeria”.
Rationally, if we assume that “Obasanjo himself dug the political grave of the PDP when he first undertook to impose the party chairman, replacing principled chief Solomon Lar with chief Gemade; and the interventions he made with regard to the president of the senate…….”, how come PDP has not disintegrated since Obasanjo’s first attempt at imposing his stooges on the party? Why must those aggrieved in the party wait till the failure of 3rd term? Or the failure of constitution amendment bill, to be reconciled? One would have thought that they- the aggrieved members would have left the party before now. How anybody in his right senses could think that those aggrieved members of PDP whose anger apparently started five years ago at least from Dele’s comment, when Obasanjo started the policy of imposition in the party; would not take advantage of the current reconciliation effort in the party to get integrated. Dele Sobowale must be a “political Joker” to think that PDP will not come out of the current reconciliation effort stronger. Dele will be a greater joker if he thinks that anybody who gets Obasanjo’s endorsement in PDP will live to regret it.
Pronouncement: Dele Sobowale may wish to know that as far as Nigeria of today is concerned, President Olusegun Obasanjo remains a Nationalist known to majority of Nigerians. Naturally, on account of this and in the event that the reactionary forces in the country refuse the long over due amendment of the constitution they gave to us in the first place to allow for justice, equity and peace, he goes ahead to anoint a successor in his mould. If on the other hand, these forces of darkness allow for the amendment of the constitution to give each and every zone in this country sense of belonging, then, who succeeds Obasanjo becomes the responsibility of Nigerians. One more thing Dele, Chief Obafemi awolowo of blessed memory once said “Nigeria is a mere geographical expression”. Since that assertion, has Nigeria changed in your estimation? If it has, why is the whole southeast zone of the country having just 85 local government areas, while Kano and Katsina account for 82 local government areas on consolidated basis? And you think Obasanjo cannot determine who takes over from him when the fundamental political platform does not offer level playing ground. Since Dele has emotionally refused to acknowledge that 3rd term is a scientific approach to answering National Question, he must convince intellectuals on how best to tackle the current political confusion in Nigeria, engendered by the failed constitution amendment.
Emeka Oraetoka
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