Onitsha, Nigeria

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been the cynosure of Nigeria’s political arena since the inception of the fourth civilian administration in 1999. It would be recalled that since 1999 there have been four different Senate presidents, including the present and embattled Adolphus Wabara. A close survey at the trend shows that of all the five states that make up the Southeast region, only Enugu State is yet to taste the seat; maybe it is its turn or maybe, still, there is a game going on at the Senate that is aimed at bringing someone else to the coveted seat of power.

It is the purpose of this article to find out.

THE TREND

In other to maintain the myth of power sharing in the country, the Senate presidency was ceded to the Southeast, having conceded the number one and two seats to the Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani -- the other power blocs. By that order, the Senate president is the third most powerful person in the country, after the president and vice. That is the trend but it is not the trend I am talking about.

Since 1999, there have been four Senate presidents including the present. The first was Senator Evan(s) Enwerem from Imo State, who was impeached and immediately replaced by the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo from Anambra State. Unlike his predecessor, Dr. Okadigbo was bundled out in the most embarrassing way. He was the second, and he too fell. Then came the brave Senator Anyim Pius Anyim from Ebonyi State. I called him “the brave” because he survived till the end… sorry, maybe psychologically he fell before the last regime could come to an end and simply joined the “sit-down-look party,” rather than being disgraced like his House of Representative colleague, Alhaji Ghali Na’abba. Did you see the game?

Well, if not, maybe you will see it as we continue.

Then came the second regime and the die is cast once again, not different from the previous. Yes, not different because Senator Adolphus Wabara from Abia State is being accused of the same offence as his predecessor, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo. Is he going to survive it? I do not think so, even though I may want him to. So why won’t he survive it? Because the game is “get what you bargain.”

So what did the third most powerful nation in the present dispensation bargained for?

WHAT WE WANTED

Without doubt, what the Southeasterners wanted was the number-one position but, unfortunately, they got the number three. But even the Bible says that to whom much is given, much is expected; but, to whom little is given, even the little will be taken away from him. So I am not surprised that Chief Audu Ogbe, National Chairman of the ruling party, PDP, warned that the Southeast might lose the Senate-president seat should they allow Wabara to be impeached. I am not surprised because we have not managed the little that is given to us. I use “little” because the number-three position is too small for a “great and powerful” people like the Igbo people. I use quotes in “great and powerful” not because the Igbo people are not great nor their greatness in doubt but, if one should take into consideration what is going on in the Senate, then one will have every reason to question that greatness.

Now that we have the third position slipping out of our hands, do we really see it as a means towards getting the number-one position or even slipping further down the political power hierarchy? Let us await the next news.

WHEN THE WISE ARE NO LONGER WISE

We pretend to be wise, yet we are not because we are yet to decipher the game that is going on in the Senate against the Igbo ambition --- if at all we have an ambition. For the benefit of doubt and for the sake of some sincere Igbo politicians, let me agree we have an ambition come 2007. Now, to what extent have we put to practise our ambition?

There is hardly a day past by without one of the dailies carrying news about the likely return of former military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) or Vice President Atiku Abubakar gearing up for 2007 and the rumours and speculations that “Baba” (President Olusegun Obasanjo) is nursing a latent agenda to continue in power. Of course, they are rumours, but how many of such rumours are said of the Southeasterners? Oh, sorry there is a rumour, and I heard of it. Did you? Maybe you were at Aso Rock the night the rumour came up. Of course, I heard it and it says, “Senators from Enugu State are gearing up towards taking over the presidency…sorry, I forgot to put “Senate” before “presidency,” so help me out. That is the rumour, and that is the game. Enugu State: it is your turn; don’t let it pass you!

THE GAME

Four years ago, we lost the presidency by a glimpse, and there was even a stronger point to contest and win it four years after. Rather than having one candidate and one “Judas” -- as in the first case, there were so many candidates and so many ‘Judas.’ How did it happen? Soon after the presidential election in 1999, everyone went to the drawing board for the next fight. The Igbo people also went to the drawing board, fighting seriously amongst themselves to preserve what they bargained for. I am sure it is becoming clearer to you now.

Inside the Senate and outside the Senate, they were busy looking for candidate(s) who would become the next Senate president, while the other nations were busy looking for candidates to become the next president. It paid off, and so the Igbo lost – sorry, they won because they got what they bargained for -- the Senate presidency.

This is another race. What are we doing? The battle to preserve the Senate seat has begun and even so the threat to lose it has been made by Audu Ogbe. Senator Ike Ekweremadu did not waste time in telling Ogbe that the seat belongs to the Igbo people and that it is our right. Is it our right? Maybe it is his right to replace Adolphus Wabara… wait a minute: Is he from Enugu State? Ah ha, forget it, boy; they won’t allow you.

HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED

The game is between three people, and one of them is greedy and selfish. Another is a coward, but somehow he has the upper hand. The last one is speculating on the year the Constitution will be amended so that he would be in control. 2007 is the target because it will continue till 2010 -- the year of late head of state General Sani Abacha’s “Vision 2010.” Somehow, it is working. Visit the Vision 2010, and you will see it is working.

The three parties playing the game have launched the first card. All of them are very much aware of their individual lapses, but the selfish one is not ready to capitalise for the benefit of his people who are watching. Rather he will prefer to play to his own morbid aggrandisement. And that is what the first has manifested

We are not planning for 2007, but we will be the first to cry foul. The North and the Southwest have started the game inside the Senate so that you and I will concentrate on preserving the Senate presidency, while they strengthen their plans towards the presidency in 2007. How long shall they make you their slaves and make you feel as though you are wise? I am beginning to agree with the Bible that wisdom shall be given to babes and suckling; otherwise, how can our so-called political leaders allow themselves to be dribbled in such a way that they are yet to recover even as we approach another presidential election? God! I feel like tearing apart, yet I cannot because I love my people even when they are being deceived.

CONCLUSION

Where are the wise men of the land? Where are the warriors, the rulers and builders of the land? Arise wherever you are and rescue us from this terrible condition. At Aso Rock, they are “errand boys” but, in their fathers land, they roar like the lion of Judah. What a shame that you cannot roar at your “enemies.” They have succeeded in making Anambra State their footstool and lo no leader can rise from the State because a man who cannot make peace in his house cannot be peaceful in the society.

Where are you going to start looking for your president? In Imo State? Where the likes of Rochas Okorocha took us to the “mountain of hope” only to leave us like a “sheep amidst the wolf?” Let us concede defeat, unless we think we can still win the 2007 game. If you think we can, feel free to add it below for everyone to read. As for me, I have conceded defeat. Oh, wait a minute, there is a chance! Can you see it?

If Enugu State is finally given the chance, then there will be left no state in the Southeast that has not tasted the Senate presidency, and we might have time to plan. But when will Wabara be removed? Well, it is left with our illustrious son -- Senator Arthur Nzeribe, who recently won the “Judas Iscariot” award of Hallmark newspaper. Please help us.