BY DUPSON COLLINS
What are Nigerian former governors turning our Senate to? A Retirement Home for expired politicians? A lot of people might have written about the mad rush of some former governors to the Red Chamber, I am writing this piece to further joined those who have condemned this trend.
The Legislative arm of the government which National Assembly represent ordinarily should serve as check and balance to the executive and making laws and not a rubber stamp to the executive.The National Assembly has become one of the major threats to the country democracy; nobody is saying it doesn’t fall within their constitutional rights to aspire to any position of their choice but when their major intention is to stick to power, then, Nigerians must begin to kick against this selfish agenda.
2023 poll is a few weeks from now, going by the list released by INEC, not less than 28 ex-governors and serving ones are candidates of their respective party. What kind of law are they going to make for the country? For instance, how many of the governor can vote for the passage of death sentence bill for corrupt public officers? Is it possible for these ex governors to support bills that will eventually swallow them if sign into law?
If it might interest you, many of these former governors are having one corruption case or another hanging on their necks. Since immunity is no more, the only place that can protect them from the hands of the law is the Red Chamber where likes mind rally each other in time of trouble when EFCC comes knocking.
We have cases of ex governors turned senators handled different jail terms; the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu think the Hallow Chamber will save him from justice but the hammer of justice hit his head, though, still going in and out of Court to quashed the judgement.
The Senate ought to be a place reserved for distinguished members of the society with good intentions but the money bag politicians who see politics as money making ventures have hijacked the system. Many of the former governors and serving ones have stolen state resources at their disposal to buy the conscience of an average hungry Nigerians as low as N2,000.
The power drunk and self-serving governors with huge pocket have hijacked the Assembly that is saddle with the responsibilities of making laws for good governance of our country. The pertinent question is, why the rush to the Red Chamber?
Most of these governors can’t live without power. Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, some of AGP (Any Government in Power) have not for once left the centre stage of Nigeria politics. They keep on recycling themselves, jumping from one party to another, just to be relevant because most of them are professional politicians whose trade is Politics.
It is more of what are they still looking for having governed their respective states for eight unproductive years in office. It is not about service to the people but continuation of looting, stealing and slaving the people the more.
While in office, they turn their State Assembly into puppets and mere rubber stamp. The quest to stick to power and continue to be powerful in the local politics at both the state and national levels saw them leaving office and retiring to senate immediately without taking a break.
In my state, Ondo for instance, the two former governors that tried to catapult themselves to the Red Chamber met their Waterloo at the poll. The Late Dr. Olusegun Agagu was defeated by Senator Yele Omogunwa while Dr. Olusegun Mimiko lost to Senator Ayo Akinyelure. The same can be said of Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State who failed to secure a seat at the Upper Chamber.
Nigerians must begin to reject these people with their votes; they can force themselves on their party to get the ticket but people must learn how to vote against non performing governors aspiring to represent them at the National Assembly.
To stop this trend of retiring at the Senate is not going to be easy but we must rise and raise our voices against these political jobbers. February 25 is an avenue to say no to governors turning our Senate into Retirement Home.
14 serving senators who are ex governors and another new 14 ex governors are joining their colleagues at the Senate; Nigeria is not safe with these people.With this number of expectant senators in the 10th Assembly which will no doubt constitute 25 percent of the 109 Members, you should be expecting a strong voice whenever it comes to national discuss. Sooner than later be expecting organization like Senate Ex Governors Forum.
What would failed governors add to the law making process of the country? It is high time we begin to let them know that leadership position is not their birthright to be transferred or inherited by their children and siblings. Enough is enough; this mad rush by the “Excellences” to the Red Chamber must stop.
