The Nigerian state is constantly under siege. It is hostage to everything negative. Nothing good appears to be come out of the country, nothing cheerful. It is sad. Even when there appear to be some minuscule of progress, it turns out to be a well-crafted fraud of gargantuan proportions. Please don't get me wrong. I am not one of those cynical Nigerians who see nothing good in Nigeria or Nigerians. I am certainly not one to run down his country at the slightest opportunity. No. However, it would amount to unpardonable dereliction to look the other way when things are going wrong. It is our duty as citizens of this country to resist any attempt to undermine the economic well being of the nation - no matter who is involved. The common patrimony should not be allowed to be frittered away to satisfy the lust and greed of a few people who call themselves representatives of the people. The question is: Why are these so-called representatives NOT representing the people they claim to represent? Why? Why is the 'messenger' feeding fat on the commonwealth to the detriment of the 'master'? Why?
Recently the ever controversial ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo voiced out what we all knew - and grumbled about, even if in muted tones - how federal legislators (add to that local government chairmen, state legislators in some states) mindlessly appropriate for themselves jumbo pay packages and allowances. There is no rational explanation for legislators to earn more than any other Nigerian, including professors, doctors, lawyers, etc. None whatsoever. If truly they represent the people, they ought to show solidarity with the people by ensuring that their remuneration is commensurate with the times and if necessary, take a pay cut to demonstrate their empathy with the suffering masses. What kind of representative would consign their constituents to perpetual penury by indirectly looting the treasury?
Our Federal legislators should urgently retrace their steps in the interest of the nation. Recently a comprehensive research was conducted by ThisDay newspaper on the level of performance by individual legislators in the National Assembly. That edition has become for most people, a collectors item as it was a detailed account of the contribution of each legislator to debates at plenary and committee levels. It was not surprising that most of them performed woefully. They failed. The naked truth is that majority of our legislators should be recalled for offences ranging from truancy, disgraceful non-performance or both. It was a disastrous outing for most of them. Some of them have not as much as opened their mouths (except for 'chopping' jumbo pay) since they resumed at the National Assembly! The report showed clearly that many of them don't understand legislative business. And they couldn't care less. Included in this group are legislators whose only understanding of legislative activity is oversight functions which affords them the opportunity to interfere in the running of government agencies and parastatals. It is an opportunity for them to collect inducements and lap up some other perks to add to the jumbo pay. This shameful conduct is what makes us wonder: is this what we bargained for in the titanic battle for democracy? Do Nigerians truly deserve to be treated so shabbily? Does it not offend the senses of decent Nigerians that at a time of great economic hardship and difficulties; at a time when the average Nigerian is scavenging refuse dumps for food and clothing, a few 'elites' are going home with jumbo, mouth-watering pay with constituency funds to boot? Where is equity in this democracy? Where is justice? Where is decency?
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