Date Published: 07/12/09
Sen. Ayogu Eze, Songs of Victory and the Drumbeats of Second Tenure
By Ezugwu Benson Whyte
The recent comment by the Senate President David Alechenu Mark, on behalf of the distinguished senators of the Peoples Democratic Party extraction, that the ruling party should grant automatic ticket to the PDP Senators, has continued to generate controversy across the length and breadth of the country. Many Nigerians have advanced arguments based on their understanding and interpretation of the matters at hand.
During the PDP stakeholders meeting with their representatives in the upper legislative chamber, Mark was quoted as haven demanded from the party leadership, automatic ticket on the bases of what he called ‘experiences and huge resources’ already invested on them (the legislators) in the art of legislative assignment, arguing that such would be wasted if the members do not return.
While the controversy rages, the fact that needs to be highlighted here is that the senate president is an individual and is free like any other citizen to express his wishes, especially in his political domain. It is one thing for the party leadership to grant whosoever they wish a ticket whether automatic or otherwise and another for the electorate to vote such person to represent them in the senate. Going by the statement, some political analysts from the Enugu North Senatorial Zone were unanimous that while some senators deserve a return ticket not all of them on the platform of PDP deserve not even a return ticket talkless of automatic one.
They cited the case of Senaotor Ayogu Eze representing the zone, who they were of the opinion that he has done well and deserves a return ticket.
They agreed with senator Mark that experience plays a crucial role in legislative proceeding, and it is based on this fact that they are of the opinion that the senator Ayogu should be given another opportunity to improve on his performance. According to Comrade Basil Ossai, he said that Ayogu should be given another chance by the party in Enugu State so that he will mathematically progress from point one to two and increase his wealth of experience which would be better for the people of his constituency and the country at large.
In as much as I disagree with the senate president that all PDP senators should be given automatic ticket, I see some wisdom in the statement. Some senators have done well while others have practically done noting there. But be that as it may, the sovereign ticket belongs to the electorate. So under a normal democratic process it is the people that will decide who represents them not the party. Here in Enugu North senatorial zone our senator has been doing his best and I suggest that PDP should give automatic tickets to the senators on the basis of their performance rather than on mere sentiment.’’
Senator Ayogu Eze as far as I know deserves a second tenure and if he is given automatic ticket by the party I am sure the people of Enugu North will return him. He has warmed himself into the heart of the people’’ the comrade stated.
In his comment, a chieftain of the PDP in the Zone Titus Mama, argued that he does not believe that the party’s ticket should be distributed on the alter of party loyalty but rather on the floor of good performance. ‘If the party does not want people to contest for party positions, performance should be a yardstick for automatic tickets,’’ he said.
Mama, a graduate of political science and a local government chairmanship aspirant, however concurred with the views of the senate president that continued high turnover of Lawmakers to the legislative house at every election hampers effective legislation. He cited the case of the United States of America where some senators spend upto twenty years learning from experiences, saying that it is time Nigerians imbibe such political culture. He said the people of Enugu North are very comfortable with the performance of Senator Ayogu Eze so far, adding that such senator needs to be given a return ticket so that he can consolidate on their achievements.
According to Mama; ‘I think the issue of changing legislatures like rappers is not a very healthy one, as it does not give room for continuity which is required in legislative business. I quite share senator David Mark’s sentiment but it must be done on performance basis rather than mere bandwagon. Somebody like senator Ayogu Eze if given several more opportunities will be well grounded in lawmaking and so also several others.’’
‘David Mark himself is an example of continuity. He is a ranking senator and we can see how he has carried on the affairs of the senate since his assumption as senate president. The experience he has garnered over the years has helped him in steering the affairs of the senate and Nigerians are better for it today. So I believe the party hierarchy should look into this issue critically and know those who have represented the party very well and probably give them a return ticket.’’
In advanced countries of the world such as the United States, Britain and others, some Members of Parliament remain there as long as they were able to carry on the legislative duties and this has brought about stability in both the legislature and the government. But in countries like Nigeria where political office is seen as opportunity to partake in the sharing of the national cake, people see such request by senator Mark as selfish and egocentric.
However, a political commentator from Enugu North, comrade Christopher Ugwuoke, disagrees with the notion that Nigeria Parliamentarians are only there for what they can get, arguing that some of them are mentally equipped and genuinely ready to render invaluable services to the nation. He was of the opinion that the longer a legislator stays the healthier for his constituency and the nation, adding that for young senators like Ayogu Eze, the party needs to encourage them to return to the senate so that they can continue to learn and consolidate on the act of law making, in this way he said, the future of the party would be guaranteed.
‘Look at the Democratic and Republican Parties in America as well as such as Labour Party in Britain, that have existed for years unbroken, it was as a result of building of younger generation of politicians through the process of the legislature. I think the PDP can be livelong party in this country if they take such decision but it must be purely on credible performance. The contribution of such senator on the floor of the senate and his concern for his constituency should be fully taken into consideration. It does not mean how much of constituency projects attracted by the senator what matters most is the overall contribution of the senator to the growth and development of the country which by and large includes his constituency,’’ he said.
On some widespread rumours that some PDP bigwigs in the zone is already angling to challenge for the seat come 2011, he said; ‘As far I am concerned there is no vacancy for the senatorial seat of Enugu North, Ayogu remains the only candidate both for PDP and any other party, though in a democracy anybody can contest. But the truth is that we don’t need a successor for now. Our people are satisfied with what we have now and may not need any replacement in the nearest future. Thank God he has been cleared by the Appeal Court. He has given another image to our people. He has brought us to the limelight and we will support him to the last. There is the saying that ‘one good turn deserves another.’’ Ugwuoke stated.
It could be recalled that the appeal Tribunal sitting in Enugu, Friday upheld the election of senator Ayogu as the duly elected senator representing Enugu North senatorial district. The tribunal declared the earlier ruling by the lower tribunal nullifying his election as null and void, saying that the lower tribunal erred in law.
As Senator Ayogu continues to sing the songs of victory and dance to the drumbeats of calls for an encore by the electorate, one only wishes that the Peoples Democratic Party is taking note.
Ezugwu Benson Whyte, is the National Coordinator Nsukka Solidarity Network
