NIGERIA’S Senate may have chosen a bad day to crusade for life pension and immunity for their principal officers. Hardly had the ink on my last week’s column dried than readers began to bombard me with mails that spat venom at the senators. Their offence? For daring to further indulge themselves at a time things are terribly rough and ill at ease for most Nigerians; and when two of their big men are having their days in court.
Space would not permit me to publish all the letters but I sincerely hope you would enjoy the chosen. Enjoy.
The Senators are mistaking vengeful riot for a thanksgiving carnival
Shola,
I have just finished reading your thought-provoking masterpiece with the caption: A CONGRESS IN MORAL RECESSION. Your thoughts reflect my heartache about our so called representatives. It is very regrettable that what we have been doing with the election of our legislators over the years could be likened to exchanging one monkey for another baboon. This present crop of legislators rightly fit this description. Majority of them do not know why they are elected, neither do they have the common interest of those who elected them at heart. One common denominator that binds all of them, irrespective of party, is greed, self-centredness. Nigerians are wiser now; and very soon, they will meet a road-block on their way to achieving their selfish desires. Our present crop of lawmakers should be competing for the award of worst congressmen in the world. The Legislators should better see the dagger in the eyes of the common man before they mistake vengeful riot for a thanksgiving carnival. I am, indeed, on the same page with you on this particular matter.
-Capt. Okpara Enyinna (rtd)
Apapa, Lagos
Project Nigeria Is A Big Lie
Dear Shola,
I believe you are one of the journalists that haven’t sold their conscience. You may wish to prove me wrong. I am sending this rejoinder to your article: A CONGRESS IN MORAL RECESSION as service to this nation. Therefore, you may publish or thrash it.
Truth is, I am very frustrated by this project called NIGERIA. It is a lop-sided arrangement, deliberately skewed to favour certain sections or groups or persons. Nigeria has never been one nation; it’s a mere political contraption. It has always been a big lie. That is why there is so much chaos in the land. That is we have found ourselves at this juncture of greed, lies and hate. Those who have access to power are only concerned about what comes to them. That is why they loot the way they do. They don’t know that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. I have no problems with the Senators wanting jumbo pecks for themselves, and the President going to UK, every month, for holiday, or to treat tooth ache; provided they allow Nigerians access to good life; provided they give the same privileges to millions of Nigeria’s jobless graduates, artisans who can longer work because of NEPA, office cleaners and security men who work so hard but can’t feed their families well. If they can’t guarantee this, then, on to your tent oh, Israel.
One of the most painful things in these whole shenanigans is that Nigerians are behaving as if these APC politicians have hypnotised them. They are suffering so much under this government of change and nobody is talking. People are suffering and smiling. They are just going about as if everything is alright. What is life without good food, decent accommodation and security? Good, they are fighting corruption, but what have they done or what are they doing with all the billions they have recovered? Isn’t it time for Nigerians to begin to feel the positive effects of the recovered billions?
The most annoying thing is that there are known thieves in APC who are championing the anti-corruption programme, and are chanting anti-corruption slogans everywhere. Everybody knows them. But has anybody investigated them? Can Buhari touch them? Even the media is reticent. They have compromised. They have lost their voice. Yet, the media is the last hope of the common man. What is more, erstwhile fiery critics of every government in power, who are now in this government, have joined them in telling bare-faced lies and deceiving Nigerians. What a shame? I will rather resign than work against my conscience. Life is not about money.
Thank you.
-Ejike Reuben, 08034729060
Awka.
The Press Must Intervene
There is no Nigerian who would not be shocked by the Senate’s crave for their leaders’ life pension when they might serve a term of four years. It would take at least ten years for a public servant to qualify. I was so surprised by details of NASS members’ remunerations in (Ebere) Wabara’s article in Daily Sun of June 20, 2016, page 16, that I had to call for intervention of the press, in my rejoinder, to fight their listed new demands in your piece which he also rebuffed in his article.
Let me thank you for sharing the same position on the issue and deciding “to talk” instead of taking “siddon look” option on it. NASS is fond of asking for benefits based on what obtains in advanced climes, without taking into consideration disparities in economic and other relevant parameters between Nigeria and country in comparison. However, the demand for their leaders’ offer of immunity should be considered. As for the timing, such is best done now but operational at the resumption of succeeding batch of legislators.
It is obvious that Buhari is taking advantage of that lacuna on the Senate right now. The likes of events going on between the Presidency and the legislative arm are unhealthy for good governance.
Once again, please, avoid “siddon look” over on Nigeria issues. More grease.
-Layi Ashadele, 08023632992
Lagos
You’re on point!
You hit the nail right on the head. You spoke my mind. I like your conclusion: “Nigerians must resist them because they are as self-serving as they are repugnant. What the lawmakers are proposing to feed their greed would further pauperise Nigerians and make them sink deeper in economic slavery. That is why the two proposals must die.”
Thank you, Shola.
-Prof. Niyi Osundare,
(Internationally acclaimed poet, dramatist, critic, essayist, author and columnist)
University of New Orleans, United States.
These Senators represent nobody; but their pockets
Thank you for your article: A CONGRESS IN MORAL RECESSION. To say that our Senators are selfish is an understatement. They think not of Nigeria and Nigerians but themselves, and themselves alone. There are many pensioners whose pensions are denied despite court rulings in their favour; what have they done? Nothing. NITEL Pensioners are a case in point. Our case has lingered for years. Many of our colleagues have died, waiting. What has this Senate done? They are not representing anybody. They are representing their pockets.
-Michael Ubogu (NITEL Pensioner), 08030970906.