Leadership (Abuja)
Philip Nyam
14 November 2007
analysis
Abuja — For over three months, the Integrity Group reigned supreme not only in the lower legislative chamber but the entire citizenry looked upon them as a beacon of hope in the quest to entrench due process, rule of law in the legislative business. In this piece, Philip Nyam x-rays the composition, objectives and the scramble for Speaker Dimeji Bankole, amongst other issues.
For about three months,the Integrity Group reigned supreme in the House of Representatives leading to the disgraceful exit of former Speaker, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh and her deputy, Babangida Saidu Nguroje.
It was not just in the House of Representatives, but majority of Nigerians had looked upon this group as a beacon of hope for the entrenchment of rule of law, due process and true democratic practice in the nations parliament.
The Integrity Group fought without looking back, even daring the intimidating and manipulative powers of the ruling Peoples Democrtic Party (PDP). The members were resilient and resolute. They were also consistent and committed. They withstood blackmail and refused to bulge until Etteh was forced to swallow her pride. Today, Integrity Group has become a household name and occupies a central position in the nation's quest for a vibrant democracy.
Integrity Group is a pressure group in the House of Representatives led by a three time law maker, Hon Farouk Lawan from Kano State. The group is a child of circumstances and was formed on the spur of the N628 million contract scandal involving former Speaker Etteh. It is a multi-political group with members cutting across all the political parties and is made up mostly of radical and outspoken members of the lower house. The group is also a hitch-potch of former pro and anti-third term law makers.
The engine room of the Integrity Group is being powered by cognate members who have been in House since 1999 and some influential members that came in 2003. The foot soldiers of the group are predominantly radical members of the New Agenda Forum (2007 Lawmakers) and other 2003 members.
Those Behind the Group
Hon. Farouk Lawan: He represents Bagwai/Shanono federal constituency of Kano State and has been in the House since 1999. A prominent member of the House, Farouk played a vital role in the ouster of the first Speaker of the Fourth Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Salisu Buhari. He has held chairmanship of very important committees in the House including Finance, Appropriation, Information and Foreign Affairs and currently sits atop the education committee of the House. An academic turned politician, the diminutive Lawan is highly intelligent and a shrewd political schemer. Incidentally, Lawan nominated the former Speaker and later moved against her. He was also said to be closed to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but rejected third term in its entirety.
John Halims Agoda
Tough-talking Agoda represents Ethiope East/West federal constituency of Delta State and like Lawan, was first elected into the lower chamber in 1999. He came on the platform of the All Peoples Party, APP (now ANPP) but later defected to the PDP. He has chaired the Committees on Petroleum, Information, Legislative, Budget and Research and presently heads the Committee on Airforce. Agoda kick-started the onslaught on Etteh following the news story on the N628 million contract and would be remembered for his popular threat that there would be "an earthquake" if attempt were made to sweep the allegations under the carpet.
A fearless lawmaker, Agoda was a vitriolic critic of former president Obasanjo before he eventually crossed over to the PDP. He had before the advent of the House renovation contract scandal criticised Etteh's birthday bash in Maryland, the USA. A lawyer by training, Agoda's contributions on the floor are always given attention.
Mercy Almona-Isei
A very powerful member of the House since 1999. Almona-Isei represents Ndokwa East/West federal constituency of Delta State on the ticket of the PDP. She has been chairman, Committees on Gas, Environment and is now Chairman, Committee on Culture and Tourism.
The 56 year old mother of five was a member of the Masari Kitchen cabinet and a pro-third term legislator. She is said to be one of the pillars of the Integrity Group and worked tirelessly to checkmate Etteh's intrigues to survive the group's attack.
Lynda Ikpeazu:
A returnee member of the House, the former Miss Nigeria beauty queen was first elected in 1999, but went back to school in 2003 only to stage a come back in 2007. A known progressive legislator, she was a member of the G-18 that plotted the downfall of former Speaker Salisu Buhari. Representing Onitsha North/South federal constituency of Anambra State on the platform of the PDP, she is a force to reckon with in the group.
Abike Dabiri
A broadcaster turned legislator, Debiri came to the House in 2003 and was Chairman Committee on Media and Publicity under the Masari era. She represents Ikorodu federal constituency of Lagos State and was an avid critic of Etteh's leadership. A mother of two who remarried recently, she wields much influence in the Integrity Group. Her adept management of the media affairs of the House are said to have contributed significantly in saving former Speaker Aminu Masari from being impeached.
Other key members of the Integrity Group are Ahmed Wadada (PDP Nasarawa State) Ahmed Salik (ANPP, Kano, Bassey Edet (PDP, Cross River), Olaka Nwogu (PDP, Rivers), Igo Aguwa (PDP, Rivers) KGB Oguakwa (PDP, Enugu) Chuma Nzeribe (PDP, Anambra) Binta Masi Barba (PDP, Adamawa) Temga Isegba (PDP, Benue) and a host of other renowned members .
New Agenda Forum
Prominent members of the New Agenda Forum that made the Integrity Group thick include former Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, Samson Osagie (PDP, Edo) who also nominated Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Chiedu Elumenor (PDP, Anambra). Others are Henry Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa).
Objectives Of Integrity Group
The Integrity Group was formed principally to redeem the image of the House of Representatives, which had been badly battered at the outbreak of the N628 million contract scandal. The members quest for transparency, due process and accountability gave birth to the Integrity Group that insisted that the allegations against Etteh and her leadership must be investigated.
When Hon Halims Agoda addressed the press on the desire of the group to pursue the allegations to a reasonable conclusion, he was called names. Supporters of the group had alleged that members of the group were aggrieved with Etteh over committee chairmanship appointments. But the group remained undaunted and Nigerians began to see reason with them. They succeeded in compelling Etteh to set up an investigation committee, which returned a damning report against the leadership thereby vindicating the group of the allegations against it.
Although, the initial intention of the Integrity Group was to unravel the truth concerning the contract, the report of the Idoko led panel further expanded its mandate. Since the report indicted Etteh and her leadership, the next assignment was to kick her out to clear the bad impression Nigerians had about the legislators.
Secondly, the group had wanted to demystify the PDP's overbearing influence on its members as well as its domineering manipulation of the nation's political space. Former president Obasanjo and his loyalists ran the party as an empire, hiring, sacking and murdering democracy. with the successful sacking of Etteh who was imposed on the House by Obasanjo, the Integrity Group has as well defeated the Obasanjo/PDP's politics of imposition.
New Interest
Before Etteh was sent packing from the exalted position, the Integrity Group was united in its opposition. It spoke with one voice and there was never a time any member of the group deviated from the original target of the group. But managing success is always difficult and like any other group, the Integrity Group is faced with this task.
Scramble For Bankole
It is obvious that Speaker Dimeji Bankole is a creation of the Integrity Group. Apart from being a member of the group, Bankole was nominated and voted overwhelmingly by the Integrity Group. Every member of the group would like to have the attention of the Speaker and this will certainly engender the competition amongst the members. Already, there are insinuations that the leader of the group, Farouk Lawan and Abike Dabiri want to hijack the Speaker from the group.
Again, the personal interest of each member will determine whether the group can stay on or be disbanded. Some of the members would want the new Speaker to dissolve the Etteh-constituted committees and reconstitute them to enable them get committees of their choice. Whereas, those who got committee they wanted during the Etteh days are routing for a continuation of the past.
In addition, the election of principal officers may divide the group. There are allegations that some key figures in the group who played prominent roles in forcing Etteh out are jostling for leadership positions. In the wake of Etteh's resignation, the House decided to relieve the majority leader, Chief Whip, Deputy leader and deputy Whip of their positions. These positions are still vacant and are up for grasp. How members of the Integrity Group eyeing these position conduct themselves will go a long way in reshaping its future.
Fight against corruption
Integrity Group was primarily set up to fight corruption, but with the group emerging victorious in the war, it remains to be seen if it will continue to serve as the watch dog of the lower house. Will the members conduct themselves and follow due process, which they held sacrosanct? Can the group live above board? These are many questions begging for answers and only time will tell.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 Leadership. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
