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Saraki’s trial must be devoid of political coloration

By Terhemba Daka, Abuja
06 October 2015   |   11:58 pm
A lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Golu Timothy has warned against the political coloration the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Olusola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)
Saraki

Sarakiyht

A lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Golu Timothy has warned against the political coloration the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Olusola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), is allegedly assuming and cautioned that the political strand be completely removed in the interest of equity, fairness and sustainable peace in the country.

In an interview with The Guardian, the lawmaker noted that: “the way the case is being celebrated clearly shows that it is politically motivated, because, it has never been like this before. Why is this one special? Why is it different? You know, take it or leave it; the Office of the Senate President has to be respected. There are more honourable and dignifying ways to handle matters of this nature.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, who described the saga as ‘very unfortunate’, lamented that the development was being allowed by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to degenerate for political reasons.

He cautioned the APC “not to fight anyhow because it is the same (APC) boat that is carrying the rest Nigerians, irrespective of the political party you belong to,” adding that: “if we allow ourselves to be divided along party lines, it will create serious problems for all of us.”

Timothy who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, while fielding questions on whether the confidence level of Nigerians in the anti-corruption crusade of the President Mohammadu Buhari-led government would wane, if a political solution to the issue as being suggested is adopted, said; “ if something happens like this, regardless of the constitutionality of it, there should be morality in it as well as political considerations.

“Because when a husband and a wife fight in the presence of children, it always has negative implications. So whoever is behind this should have known that there are better ways by which we can handle this thing. There are constitutional provisions, but there are also extra-constitutional measures or means by which we can address such issues, especially when our people are involved.

“What I am saying is that the political elements of the trial should be thrown out completely. How many people have been taken to the Code of Conduct Tribunal with the entire international media invited to cover it live? Has it ever happened anywhere, and especially at this level of our growth. That is just the concern.

“Whoever is found guilty of anything should face the law but before you do that, follow the due process so that everybody will have confidence in the process. As it is now there are mixed reactions on the legitimacy and the credibility of the process of the trial of the Senate president. That is why it must be done carefully in such a way that everybody will know there are no influences here and there. If you ask many people now they will tell you that even within the judiciary now they are divided. It has never been like this.

On how Nigeria has fared in the last 55 years as an independent nation, Timothy while congratulating Nigerians said “so far, so good, except for the Nigerian civil war, there has never been any serious crisis that has threatened the fabrics and the foundation of the country,” adding that majority of Nigerians were really committed towards making the country work.
“There are always few people who would always want to take Nigeria back, but majority of Nigerians will always not accept that,” he stated.

According to him, things are moving well and especially democracy in Nigeria is moving faster than it has ever been in any part of the world. “I will say Nigeria’s democracy has been un-interrupted for 16 years only, but you can see the level of progress, you can see the level of peace, you can see the level of stability. There is no human society that will be as peaceful as you can ever imagine, it’s not possible, but depending on the level, and with the many tribes that we have in this country. If with all that, and then the religious groups that we have in this country, with all the issues at stake we can still be at this level, then I can tell you that democracy is working,” he submitted.

Speaking further, he said “from 1999 when president Olusegun Obasanjo took over power and up till this moment, democracy is till standing and standing tall, because if we are not progressing, if things are not moving, Buhari would not have been president this time around. An opposition party would never have taken over the reins of government from the ruling party that controlled almost all the states in 16 years. It’s not easy. Nigerians decided to vote this way and then they did it with ease because it is their own choice.”

Also on how the Nigerian legislature has fared in the last 16 years, the lawmaker said a lot has been achieved by the parliament. “The legislature in Nigeria has done well and is doing well. With all these years that democracy has been practiced in Nigeria, even with the military interruptions, the legislature has always suffered anytime there is a military intervention.

“Unlike before now, past legislature have always been living in fear or always tensed up because you’ll find a legislature working under a military government which is not right and which cannot produce any result, this is because we are living on the whims and caprices of the military people in power. The legislature like the executive needs total freedom, needs independence, needs liberty to be able to express itself, as well as the understanding of the people too.

“The executive is not as close as it is. It gives directives but the legislature works directly with the people through oversight. The executive doesn’t oversight, and when you don’t oversight, you are not close to the person you are supposed to oversight. But the legislature, you move to where the people are and that gives you the opportunity to relate very closely with the people. And sometimes too, if you don’t do well you are at the mercy of the people too. Sometimes our closeness to the people could make us object of attack.

“I am not talking about physical attack and the rest of them. When people shout at you, you are always together, but for the executive you can shout and the person will only watch and see you on the television. It is difficult for people to see President Muhammadu Buhari, even myself as a legislator hardly see him. Once in a while we may meet, but nobody within my constituency that wants to see me today that will not see me. I go home for events and for one thing or the other. But the President and governors could not do that, not even the council chairman.

“Nigerians must commend the legislature for the quality and indeed for getting to this level. Because if not for the legislature, democracy would have been very weak, and it is because of the steadfastness of the National Assembly members who struggled to assert the independence of the legislature during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was not by the consent or benevolence of Obasanjo that the Nigerian legislature got independence or autonomy in 2001, it wasn’t.

“They don’t want the state legislature to be autonomous, the same way they do not want the National Assembly to be autonomous, they don’t want us to be free. However through the determination and the doggedness of members of the National Assembly we have been able to secure the autonomy of the legislature in Nigeria. So, lawmakers in the country must be commended. At least we have done 70 to 80 percent more than the executive at every level of governance.”

2 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    Giving political consideration for allegation of crime shows the level of corruption in our system. So, if President Buhari commits a crime, rather than impeach and replace him, senator Timothy will propose political consideration to set him free rather than address the breaches. What a diffident way of reasoning by an incompetent lawmaker. If there is an allegation of crime against the senate president, it is up to the state to proof their case and if successful, he gets a conviction, which can be appealed. So, why is Saraki afraid if has not breached any law? Shame on you senator.

  • Author’s gravatar

    The Senator better know that Nigeria of today is not the Nigeria of yesterday. Nigeria of today is the biggest democracy in Africa and a leading democratic country in the entire world – FINALLY! …and so if the senate president, who is the No.3 citizen is criminally indicted due to his own actions and is on trial, the entire international media would invite themselves – Because it is news worthy! – the entire planet wants to know what is going on because democracy, rule of law guaranteeing freedom, liberty and pursuit of happiness for all , is universal. And he does know or must know that Boko Haram is an international threat, the oil militants before affected world oil prices through their threats, so Nigeria is important and fixing Nigeria is of interest to the entire world – so that it will be a source of stability and peace for Nigeria, Africa and the world.

    So sorry, Mr. Senator, Nigeria is no longer the zoo PDPlutocrats worked so hard to degenerate it into under the leadership of a professor in zoology or is it fisheries or whatever Phd Mr. Jonathan had