Leadership (Abuja)
24 May 2008
Pensioners from across Gombe State plan to descend on the State House of Assembly to complain that they have been allowed "to rot in poverty". Already, the leadership of the retirees is sensitising and mobilising members, with a view to launching an attack on the lawmakers, LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered.
The legislature recently approved a whopping N200m for Governor Muhammadu Danjuma Goje and N100m for his deputy, Mr Lazarus Yoriyo, ostensibly as their pensions and gratuities, as part of the state's reform of the pensions system. The governor had earlier submitted a proposal of N500m for himself and N300m for his deputy, but had to withdraw it 24 hours later when he was advised against it.
A few weeks ago, Goje defended the pension scheme for the former leaders of the state, explaining that it was in line with the report of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
But the state's pensioners have continued to pour scorn on the state's lawmakers for approving such huge sums as pensions of current and past leaders, when they (pensioners) are languishing in abject poverty and hunger, due to the state's inability to settle their pension arrears.
A pensioner, who simply identified himself as Mallam Bako Abdullahi, told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND in Gombe that "the state lawmakers had no choice but to pass such a ridiculous bill, as it has become their tradition to pass all laws proposed by the executive without any form of checks and balances." He attributed the development to the circumstances leading to the 'election' of the legislators, in which all the 24 members [with the exception of the AC member] of the state legislature were returned unopposed.
According to him, the rational choice theory, which entails that voters be allowed to exercise their rights in the election of representatives like a consumer who wants great value for his money, was thrown into the trash-can during the last general election in the state. He stated: "It is not surprising that the legislators decided to pass such a preposterous proposal from the executive. It is not unusual to see these things happen in a state where all the lawmakers are in the pocket of the state executive. And one should also put into consideration the academic qualifications of most of them. I can tell you that, with the exception of the three or four of them who are graduates, all the others are either school dropouts or parade fake certificates.
"And you can only understand the extent of the Assembly's weakness and helplessness when you look at the speed with which bills emanating from the executive are passed, without scrutiny. Suffice it to say that the Gombe State Executive Pension Act and the 2008 budget proposal were passed barely 24 hours after they were sent to the House. Indeed, no bill spends more than 48 hours in the House."
Further findings by our correspondents have revealed that, because the 24-man House was handpicked by the governor in flagrant disregard of all known democratic norms and the right of the people to vote and be voted for, most of them now see and treat the governor as a demi-god whose word is law.
Most members of the House, especially the speaker, Hon. Munga Musa Bojude, and his deputy, Hon. Inuwa Garba, are so blinded by Goje's 'magnanimity' that it is now an abomination to disagree with him on any issue, even if the House has a superior view.
For instance, last year, on the purported orders of the governor, the lawmakers hurriedly passed a motion expressing their opposition to the appointment of the incumbent minister of the federal capital, Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo. It was gathered that, already, the House was putting finishing touches to a motion which would endorse and sponsor the governor as the presidential or vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, should the Supreme Court nullify the 2007 presidential election. The thinking in the Goje group, LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered, is premised on speculations that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua may not be disposed towards re-contesting in a rescheduled election.
While Governor Goje and his camp are busy mapping out strategies on how to catapult him to the Aso Rock Villa should the unexpected happen, LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered that the majority of Gombe citizens are now regretting their mistake of allowing the governor to impose his stooges as their representatives in the first place, just as many members of the legislature no longer visit the state for fear of being lynched by the people of their constituencies who are already disappointed in them.
Last week, the people of Yamaltu West moved against their representative and deputy speaker of the House, Alhaji Garba, while his political godfather was away, as they initiated moves to recall him for his inability to live up to their expectations.
Alhaji Garba, a 'small boy' and school dropout who is not schooled at all in the act of lawmaking, even at the lowest level, was picked up on the streets and made deputy speaker of the House by Goje, against the wishes of a majority of the members of the House. This is why the deputy is always ready and willing to do anything for Governor Goje as long as the price is high.
A former lawmaker in the House who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity described his colleagues as total failures. He said posterity will hold them responsible for their failure to make life better for the people of the state. "They are a disappointment to the entire state. How can a state like ours where our educational and health facilities are dilapidated, where things are not working properly at all, have people like these lawmakers who would just wake up one day to pass a bill paying their governor and deputy the sum N200million and N100million respectively as pensions?
"This is why Nigerians are saying that for lawmaking business to make sense, people like the deputy speaker and many others alike in other legislatures, must not be allowed to be in the hallowed chambers," the former lawmaker stated.
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