Kogi Central: Time to Look Beyond Vainglorious Oratory and Pageantry

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Yesterday, constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District marked a month since they lost their voice at the Senate, the bastion of democracy in Nigeria. As the crises of ego that led to the ignominious six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan rage on, we cannot but reflect on the unnecessary and avoidable controversies which could have been nipped in the bud if quality reasoning was raised above personal interests and the quest to fight imaginary enemies by the lawmaker.

One thing that makes the National Assembly distinct from others is its documented self-regulating mechanism which all members are supposed to be acquainted with in order to avoid chaos in the institution that pride itself as custodian of constitutional democracy. Just like the constitution, items in the Rule Book of the Senate are binding on all members no matter how beautiful, eloquent, certificated or “connected” you may be.

The right narrative must be imprinted that the Natasha/Akpabio imbroglio which led to the disgraceful suspension of the former is simply avowed determination of the Senate to enforce its rules while the sexual harassment interlude, which allegedly happened in 2023 was hurriedly brought in as diversionary to the main issue.

Before Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, we have had Senator A. T. Ahmed, Senator Muhammed Ohiare, Senator Salihu Ohize, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi, Senator Salawu Ogembe, Senator Yakubu Oseni and Senator Sadiq Ohere. All these former lawmakers did not only represented Kogi Central Senatorial District to the best of their abilities, but they were intentional in their portrayal of Ebira nation as a people of worthy character who are not deviant to the Senate as an institution. Their stay at the National Assembly was drama-free with explicit exhibition of true Ebira ethos. They understood that having excellent work relationships with their colleagues would translate to benefits for the people they represented.

Senator A. T Ahmed’s achievements in terms of human capital development remain unmatched. His successors also stamped their impacts on infrastructure and empowerment, and Senator Yakubu Oseni particularly invited former Senator President, Senator Ahmed Lawal to commission the GYB Ultra-modern CBT Center in Kogi Central. People may have reservations about their achievements based on political convictions, but they will forever be remembered for not trivializing the business of lawmaking to the abyss of mockery, unsubstantiated allegations, and unpatriotic determination to drag Nigeria to the mud at the international community.

The National Assembly is an institution that houses seasoned technocrats, former Governors, former Ministers, former Ambassadors, and other serious-minded people whose patriotic zeal is to lift their constituents out of austerity, make meaningful contributions to the national discourse on policies, and drive the development agenda of the country by projecting Nigeria positively to the international community. The Senate is not an institution for paparazzi and social media content creation. It is also not a venue to exhibit defective parental upbringing, callous opulence, deviance to constituted authority, and enthronement of deceitful character through emotional gameplay on unsuspecting constituents. If these attitudes are condoned, the institution may condescend to a mere theatre of comedy.

We call on the good people of Kogi Central to rise up to correct this intentional perpetuation of wrong image on Ebira nation. We must look beyond misguided oratory and show of foolery called boldness. This trend of calculated fabrication of unfounded stories against Kogi State political leaders and that of the National Assembly for mischievous reasons should not be allowed to define us as a people. We are of worthy character and the entire nation and the world should know us in that light.

– Shaibu Ajanaku wrote from Okehi, Kogi state.


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