House of Reps member takes the fight to GEJ in this oped: Tambuwal, Amaechi & the story of a desperate president

by Ahmed Kaita

Rivers_State_Governor__Rotimi_Amaechi__ThisDay_

The recent “the man at the top” incident involving the grounding of the jet carrying Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the Speaker, House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal left no one in doubt as to the trajectory of politics and politicking in Nigeria; particularly in preparation to the next round of elections.

It is saddening that despite numerous attempts, Nigeria is yet to achieve minimum level of global standard of democracy. While many countries in Africa that hitherto looked up to Nigeria as guide have since developed democratic skills and tolerance, Nigeria is left wobbling dangerously close to a crevice that leads to nowhere but political doom. Perhaps, this may explain the trashing of the President of the “giant” Nigeria by a lesser known President Boni Yayi of a less visible Benin Republic in the last round of elections to elect leaders for the African Union (AU).

It is obvious the presidency is jittery about the bandied idea of Governor Amaechi supporting any of the Northern contenders to the office of the president come 2015. While it was an irritating nightmare for President Jonathan to have a governor from his South-South region threatening to confuse and upset the most important agenda in the mind of President Jonathan; that of candidature come 2015, it is real horror to the presidency to have a hint of a combined threat from Governor Ameachi, known for his political acumen and dexterity and an equally suave and articulate Speaker of the House of Representatives; arguably the most promising politician among the new generation with the clout to cause an upset to current permutation oozing out of the villa hence, the desperation to harass, embarrass or even intimidate the duo. It does not matter to the presidency if by doing so one have to desecrate the offices of a Governor and the Speaker, House of  Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that symbolises democratic freedom and as well abuse policies and basic constitutional provisions that enhance smooth democratic culture.

It is apparent, the President or his handlers are living in self-denial. Of course they should know, if tricks and procedural abuse can achieve results Amaechi and Tambuwal would not be governor and Speaker respectively. Both might have been lost in some obscure offices being punished for exhibiting signs of democratic independence. The whole Nigeria stood watching, live on TV the unfolding drama of an intense tug of war between the mighty presidency on the one hand and the “bowler hat” wearing, suave and confident Tambuwal; both scheming to outdo one another trying to install Speaker for the House of Representatives.

In the end, the overwhelming acceptance of Tambuwal that cut across party and ethno-religious sentimentality carried the day. The House, in an unprecedented move elected Tambuwal the Speaker. It was clear, the House intended to have a well equipped leader with a mind of his own that can give the House the required confidence to deal with an executive arm loaded with excessive tendencies to abuse procedure and short circuit the system — one of which was the intense desire to deny the House the right of choice to its leadership as enshrined in the Constitution.

It is, therefore not entirely out of character if the government is not weaned from its dictatorial tendencies. Matter of fact, Nigerians should be ready to face more of these excesses from this government, particularly now that nobody is in doubt about its inability to deliver a fraction of the expectations of the public as well as its fixation to a 2nd term (or is it 3rd term?) The reality of this could be perceived from the recent arrest and detention of two reporters from the LEADERSHIP Newspaper stable for reporting a clandestine attempt to subdue some leading members of the political opposition merger effort by attacking their business interests. This was meant to conquer the “merger fear” that is giving the presidency sleepless nights.

Further confirmation to the willingness of the regime to abuse and subdue the public could be seen from the recent $40million internet surveillance contract alleged to have been awarded to an Israeli company to spy on the internet communications of citizens as well as to intercept and read private e-mails. The Nazi government of Adolph Hitler was not careless to go this far.

Against all decorum, the presidency acted against its fake claim to democracy and its tenets. This becomes apparent when one considers the intense campaign to smear General Muhammadu Buhari as undemocratic through the usual pretence of judging a military regime with a democratic scale. Perhaps, General Buhari may now have a breathing space with President Jonathan doing worse acrobatics with a Constitution than what he (Buhari) supposedly did with military decrees. May be Doyin Okupe, Reuben Abati and Labaran Maku should start explaining the difference between the travails of Guardian’s Tunde Thompson and Nduka Iraboh of the “decree 4” fame on one hand, and the LEADERSHIP crew being harassed for the expose explained above.

Of course, Tambuwal and Amaechi may be conveniently grounded (though not stranded) in Akure for spurious and childish reasons by the all powerful Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), but certainly it cannot ground the aspirations of the Nigerian public to support anybody with the potential to kick this confused and rudderless regime out of power.

Read this piece in Leadership

Comments (8)

  1. Ahmad Keita, just c d way u painted Amaechi and Tambual as if de are angels and supersaints. Haaa, abi dem don greese yr palm b4 u write? Look, even GEF, Amaechi, Tambuwai and Keita- none may live 2 c 2015 if u remain adamant- b warned. Nigerians are suffering in silence and living in penury but u ple want 2 govern us without caring 4 us. God will punish u all and destroy all of u into hell fire. Yes.

    1. Na you 1 kill them. Its not good to wish death on others.

  2. Useless write up indeed… Ynaija…smh for you guys.really..must you guys publish every silly stuff, seriously?…Uncle writer, in as much as am not making excuses for this focus less government, dont you think you should be asking how come a governor cruises around town in a 7 billion naira private jet?…while the rest of us go hungry?..you all better stop your Nonsense!

  3. Nobody is a winner in any fight or war for anything and why do men fight in the first pleace!
    Whence come wars and whence come fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members? James 4:1
    Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty. Here is a decided warning to avoid all criminal friendships with this world. Worldly-mindedness is enmity to God. An enemy may be reconciled, but enmity never can be reconciled. A man may have a large portion in things of this life, and yet be kept in the love of God; but he who sets his heart upon the world, who will conform to it rather than lose its friendship, is an enemy to God. So that any one who resolves at all events to be upon friendly terms with the world, must be the enemy of God. Did then the Jews, or the loose professors of Christianity, think the Scripture spake in vain against this worldly-mindedness? or does the Holy Spirit who dwells in all Christians, or the new nature which he creates, produce such fruit? Natural corruption shows itself by envying. The spirit of the world teaches us to lay up, or lay out for ourselves, according to our own fancies; God the Holy Spirit teaches us to be willing to do good to all about us, as we are able. The grace of God will correct and cure the spirit by nature in us; and where he gives grace, he gives another spirit than that of the world. The proud resist God: in their understanding they resist the truths of God; in their will they resist the laws of God; in their passions they resist the providence of God; therefore, no wonder that God resists the proud. How wretched the state of those who make God their enemy! God will give more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, pray for it are thankful for it, and such shall have it. Submit to God, ver. 7. Submit your understanding to the truth of God; submit your wills to the will of his precept, the will of his providence. Submit yourselves to God, for he is ready to do you good. If we yield to temptations, the devil will continually follow us; but if we put on the whole armour of God, and stand out against him, he will leave us. Let sinners then submit to God, and seek his grace and favour; resisting the devil. All sin must be wept over; here, in godly sorrow, or, hereafter, in eternal misery. And the Lord will not refuse to comfort one who really mourns for sin, or to exalt one who humbles himself before him.

  4. One sided write up. All allegations against president Goodluck are not true; they emanated out of the immagination of the writer or what may be rumours from those dictators like Ameachi who thinks he can ride on the back of GEJ towards his over ambitious bid to rule Nigeria. You had better gone to rivers state to verify from true citizens of Rivers State the leadership style of Gov. Amaechi and you will learn first hand about the man who is sellfish,arrogant,vissionless, clueless, overambitious,and a non performer.

  5. God wil save us in Nigeria no job, no lite, no security we are suffering and they fite post God wil judge them oooo.

  6. Mr Ahmed Kaita just bcos u av a space to air your view, doesn’t mean u shuld be saying rubbish…..firstly is it cos u av things u culd say abt tambuwal dats y u brought him into this matter? Cos he was neither on Ameachi’s aircraft nor was his own grounded…He was at d scene, just as so many other office holders dat went to Akure…Get ur facts!!
    I’m not criticising ur political view, but it is lame for you to support any one or duo contesting for the presidency in 2015 just bcos they have the potential to unsit the incubent, else I can assure you by 2017 you’ll be here again raising similar issues.

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