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By MYIMA Y. AGU
ON June 5, 2007, Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh was
sworn in as the speaker of the House of Representatives, becoming
the first woman in Nigeria and only the forth in Africa, to hold
this position. Her election was considered a giant step for Nigerian
women and Nigerian democracy as a whole. This elation was to be
short-lived, however, when barely three months into her tenure. Mrs.
Etteh was named in a scandal involving the appropriation of 628
million Naira for the renovation and furnishing of Etteh and her
deputy, Hon. Babangida Nguroje’s residences.
After 11 weeks of intense conflict and high drama, Mrs Etteh along
with her deputy were forced to resign over their indictment in the
renovation scandal, now succinctly referred to as Ettehgate. It’s
been barely three weeks since her resignation and already there’s a
new speaker in the House.
The nomination and subsequent election of Mr. Dimeji Bankole as the
new speaker was spear-headed by the Integrity Group within the House
of Representatives (who ironically were also instrumental to Etteh’s
election). The group led by Alhaji Farouk Lawan, saw to it that a
new speaker was duly elected by the House members and not merely
forced on them as it has been in the past. The emergence of Dimeji
Bankole, a representative of the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency
in Ogun State may have been a routine election, but for the fact
that he comes from a state outside the zone endorsed by the PDP with
regards to the nomination and election of a speaker for the House of
Representatives. The Integrity Group was total in its defiance of
the instructions laid down by the party. The House member by their
actions have shown their readiness to resist external pressure(s) in
the conduct of the House affairs. This blatant defiance of the
party’s wishes by the Integrity Group, may very well mark the
beginnings of true democracy in Nigeria. It may indeed mark the
beginning of an era where leaders are no longer forcefully imposed
on Nigerian citizens by the so-called political powers-that-maybe.
Bankole’s emergence as speaker is proof that democracy can work,
even in this country if a few, honest, determined individuals rise
to the political challenges.
Nigerians long for a time when their leaders are in their positions
by virtue of votes cast, via a free and fair election and not by
forceful imposition. Bankole’s election is evidence that some
Nigerians are determined to see competent leaders, regardless of age
or ethnic origin, elected for what they will be able to contribute
to the country, by virtue of their abilities. Many Nigerians believe
that our political system is too corrupt to be straightened out, and
so they neither contribute or participate. By taking a position and
standing by it, the Integrity Group and indeed members of the House
of Representatives have given a lesson in democracy. That if
Nigerians are determined and stand for what they want, they will get
what they want, particularly with regards to election of their
leaders.
Bankole’s election is indeed a victory for democracy, nevertheless
it raises some questions.
Will there be repercussions within the House? The PDP has had a long
monopoly of leadership, will they react negatively in a bid to
regain control of the House?
Will the members of the Integrity Group pay for their actions?
Despite the fact that they are powerful within the House, the PDP is
till the ruling party and they clearly went against the PDP by
electing Bankole as speaker.
The Integrity Group has done well, but what are the motives for
their actions. Are they for (future) selfish ambitions or for
genuine public interest?
Are the members of the Integrity Group beginning to wield too much
power? Did the action benefited the whole country but will their
future actions do so?
Will the new speaker defer to the people who obviously got him into
his position? Will he choose their interest over the country’s
interest?
Some Nigerians do not like the idea of groups within the House.
Their fear is that one group may eventually gain tremendous power
and ultimately control the policies and decisions of the entire
House.
The Integrity Group stood against the PDP, can this sort of
independence be sustained? Can it work at other levels of our
political economy, for instance at the state or local government
levels?
The truth is that the Integrity Group did well by electing Bankole
on speaker, our hope is that he will carry out his duties without
fear, favour or selfish interest.
AGU, is an intern with New Nigerian Weekly.
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