By Femi Ayelabowo
The first test of political complexity in the All Progressives Party (APC) will be in the choice of the presiding officers of the National Assembly. The stake is very high and the permutations as to who gets what are currently dominating talks and the scheming for the sharing of juicy national offices. The political alignments within the party are likely to be more pronounced in the days ahead.
However, as we deepen democracy, strengthen the electoral process and gradually jettison the issue of zoning in our political arrangements for merit and national interest, it is expected that the same will apply in selecting leadership positions in the national assembly. The House of Representatives altered the PDP arrangement for the zoning of speakership to the Southwest in the 7th session and went for what it considered national interest.
The Lawmakers voted for Aminu Tambuwal from the Northwest instead of Adeola Akande from the Southwest, fronted by the PDP. It is expected that the choice of the legislators in determining their presiding officers, aside the dictate of the party or the Executive, will be entrenched and sustained.
Already, political pundits who are familiar with the slippery politics in the National Assembly have warned the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, not to interfere with the leadership choice of the two chambers when the 8th session begins. It is a delicate scenario that must be carefully managed. Again, national interest and the stability of the Federal Legislature should be prevailing factors and bases for strengthening our democratic practice. A natural leadership succession plan is always the best option to strengthen the parliament.
Going by the outcome of the Presidential election and the choice of the APC candidates, it has shown that Nigerians can always vote and consider merit ahead of zoning. The plea of some political players before the March 28 Presidential election that President Goodluck Jonathan is allowed to complete a second term in office so that power can go back to the North was not heeded. The majority of the voters, judging by the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), favoured a change and not zoning. Aside the fact that both Katsina and Ogun States have dominated the political scene of Nigeria for decades without any national or regional resistance, the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has put an end to zoning as the ultimate consideration for determining the Presidency of Nigeria.
It was not envisaged that in a country of 36 States; six geopolitical zones and a population of over 170 million people with so many fault lines, Nigerians will agree to the choice of a political party picking its candidates from Katsina and Ogun States which have dominated national politics. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who served for eight years (1999 – 2007) is from Ogun State and late President Umaru Yar’Adua who died while serving his first term was from Katsina State. Aside Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, the political history of Nigeria has been dominated by political players from these two states for a long time. Obafemi Awolowo, M.K.O Abiola , Ernest Shonekan and Shehu Yar’Adua, the eldest brother of the late President were recurring decimals in our political history.
It is therefore instructive that if Nigerians could jettison a long political history that favours these two states and still went for candidates from there, in 2015, certainly, national interest has now prevailed over zoning. Consequently, there is no reason why the President-elect or any political group within the APC should try to influence the choice of the presiding officers of the National Assembly (NASS). What is sauce of the goose is equally sauce for the gander. The choice of David Mark as the Senate President (PDP) and that of George Akume as Minority Leader of the APC in the 7th session, further lend credence to merit and national interest. Both leaders hail from Benue State in the North-Central and have performed creditably to bring stability to the Senate.
In advanced democracies, there is usually stability in leadership of the congress, which is achieved through natural progression into congressional positions reserved for wise men who command great honour among fellow lawmakers, respected by the executive and trusted by the people. For instance in the US Congress, leadership stability has been institutionalised. In Nigeria, it is high time we did away with the royal and decorative attachment to the leadership of the National Assembly. It must be about national responsibility and sound constitutional obligation. As a nation, we must graduate to that point in the National Assembly such that the emergence of the executive structure does not alter or affect its leadership stability. The Legislature is the hallmark and symbol of democracy and must be allowed to grow.
As we set for the 8th session of the Senate, it is only politically natural for APC Minority Leader, George Akume, to assume the Senate President position. It is also politically natural for David Mark to become the Minority Leader of the Upper Chamber. There is usually a written or unwritten understanding of right of first refusal in advanced democracies for this seamless progression. It is incumbent on the APC to first offer Akume this position and the same with the PDP for Mark. Until such offer is refused, the party will be doing itself a disservice to throw it open. We may take a cue from John Andrew Boehner of the Republican Party and Nancy Patricia D’Alesandro Pelosi of the Democratic Party in US Congress. The history of positions held by them in the US Congress suits this seamless progression in the leadership of a legislative arm. The National Assembly must therefore lead the way for State Houses of Assembly to fortify our democracy.
There is a high risk for the APC in throwing open the contest for the leadership positions in the Senate. Lest we forget, at the heat of the defection of Aminu Tambuwal to the APC, the party made it abundantly clear that presiding officers of NASS can come from any party as long as it is supported by the members. The implication of this is that a united PDP can still produce the Senate President with 45 Senators supporting a single candidate, if the 64 APC Senators divide their votes along two or more contending members for the seat. Bukola Saraki is said to have shown a strong interest in the position, including two other Senators from the North-East. The number is growing among returnee senators from the North-Central and the North-East.
The APC must bear in mind that the leadership contest in NASS is capable of causing a deep crack in the party if not well managed. The PDP never recovered from the Tambuwal-Akande saga after the intervention of the executive led by President Goodluck Jonathan. The choice of Ghali Umar Na’Aba which was resisted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo almost earned him an impeachment. The politics of NASS is a delicate one for any ruling party. The best option for the APC in the Senate is still to allow a natural succession plan where Akume automatically becomes the Senate President. It will be seen as given because the North-East too has a valid case in zoning formula. Anything other this arrangement may kick-start an unending battle for supremacy in the Senate.
Nigeria is in dire need of a Senate that will guide it to good governance. Akume has shown that stuff and quality as Minority Leader to even do better than Mark. He should be supported without any rancour or needless political manoeuvering.
- Mr Ayelabowo, a political scientist, sent this piece from Ibadan via Femilabowo@gmail.com