Leon Usigbe
12 October 2008
THE end may not have been heard of Thursday's re-composition of the leadership of the House of Representatives standing committees as many members particularly those who believe that their loyalty to former Speaker Patricia Etteh has cost them their positions, are spoiling for a fight.
This is coming at a time the leadership appears to be gainingconfidence as the much anticipated turmoil over Speaker Dimeji Bankole re-constitution of the Standing Committee did not materialise.
Feelers from the former Speaker's camp suggest that they are particularly unhappy that Speaker Bankole ignored his predecessor in the appointment while appearing to be engaging in an act of vengeance. One prominent member of the group told Sunday Vanguard in Abuja over the weekend that Rep. Bankole was not altruistic in the composition as he accused him of succumbing to the wish of those he believed helped him to attain power.
According to him, he was not truthful when he said the exercise was done in a fair and just manner. "It was Othman Dan Fodio who said conscience is an open wound which only truth can heal", he said, adding that the speaker would be best advised to re-visit the exercise.
He recalled the special mention given by the Speaker to Reps. Halims Agoda and Farouk Lawan on the floor of the House who the speaker disclosed rejected supposed juicy committees offered to them for the sake of the House of Representatives. Both men were seen as the brains behind the removal of Etteh from office and the selection of Bankole as speaker.
However, many loyalists of the speaker were engaged in acts of backslapping, Friday, in the House as it appeared that most members had accepted the re-constitution which led to the removal of nine percent of chairmen from their positions, 27 percent new appointments and 50 percent of former chairmen swapping positions. Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Ita Enang, justified the selection when he told Sunday Vanguard that it was a painstaking development which most members were comfortable with.
According to him, the speaker took a lot of precaution and that was why it had to take some time to bring out the list. He had to do personal consultation, meeting with members in their houses and other places, speaking with them and discussing all issues.
"It was a very painstaking exercise and of course we expect as we are having that there will be peace in the House. We are not expecting any reactions and we haven't seen any much reaction. Members who have reacted have expressed their thanks. Members have been generally happy", he said.
The chairman did not rule out the possibility or re-adjustment later but added that it was not on the card saying, "I won't be able to say any of such things because it is not on the card. Nothing is impossible politically but it has not arisen".
Vision and direction
Also speaking, Rep. Agoda who refused to disclose the committee he turned down praised the exercise saying, "What is important is that the House of Representatives will come out stronger, purposeful with vision and direction to take on the national assignment of making good laws for peace and good governance of the great people of Nigeria. That is what is important. Continuing, he said, "let me tell you God Almighty brought me here for the third time as a member of this most distinguished parliament, a parliament where only 360 people were required out of a projected population of well over 140 million.
"Is that not even enough for me as a person? So, I need not be a chairman of any committee before I raise any issue that I feel is national in outlook. So, I can operate anywhere. I need not be a chairman of one special committee because I am a member of the House of Representatives and that is what matters most. The House has come out of the exercise more united, more purposeful and with a charge to move this great country forward. Let us forget the past and especially when we know that we are out of that exercise with nearly everybody showing a kind of relief that you are a good speaker", he stated.
He was confident that crisis would not erupt in the House on account of the exercise arguing, "If you will see a thing like that, the journey of a thousand miles always begins with a step. You would have seen the sign of rancour and crack immediately after the announcement. But what we saw was unanimity of purpose, a very big family ready to work together as untied House with the sole purpose of moving the nation forward".
Let me re-emphasize this. "Being the chairman of a specific committee is not why we are here. As a member of the House of Representatives that is hard working, you cut across all the committees. You can raise issues in any committee. What matters most is that you use any position given to you to the benefit of the House and to the benefit of the larger Nigerian public.
Leadership is a cumbersome thing. Remember, the speaker is presiding over Nigeria because the representation cuts across the entire landscape of our country and to be able to balance the interest, whether in terms of ethnic group, geo-politics, party, is a herculean task and so the fact remains that nobody is infallible, nobody is perfect, no system can be perfect.
We have to make do with what we are able to get in order to prepare for a better tomorrow. I think we have had enough of committee composition. What we have got is something that we can do with by improving more on it and working harder for the greater Nigerian interest", he declared.
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