The story of the jar of life has many versions and varieties but the one that attracts attention most is one pertaining to the jar being filled with big rocks or call it stones, and the small pebbles placed on top. The jar was carefully placed in its position with status quo ante maintained until there was tremor and the small pebbles rushed to the bottom because by natural arrangement, that lower part of the jar is their places.
This anecdote of the “jar of life” aptly describes the drama in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria commonly referred to as the “Hallowed Chamber” because crisis separates the small from the big. In one-word, little people will behave “little” in times of crisis even if you force them to occupy the big positions.
The jest, the comedy and unseriousness sometimes displayed by some members of the house seem to suggest that there are a couple of chaffs in the sack of grains in the assembly. Certainly, as one watches the conduct and the ensuing drama one cannot but conclude that the woman in the melodrama is a misfit in that chamber because of her inability to appreciate the role of leadership in a nation and her incapability to differentiate between Godswill Akpabio and the Institution in which she is a senator.
In 2016, media space was agog with reports of a Senator from Kogi State threatening to beat up and impregnate a female colleague in that house. Though he denied it but his response according to media sources is not better as he responded to questions saying “It is fallacious, malicious and a lie that I said I will impregnate Senator XXXX. Biologically, it is even impossible to impregnate her because she has arrived at menopause”, (news.trust.org dated July 20, 2016). What a crass display of lack of maturity and finesse by someone who is in one of the highest offices in Nigeria? Is this not the case of a small pebble on top of a big stone?
Certainly, the institution of the senate is too big for Nollywood show and street corner comedy. Therefore, the house must properly regulate its own activities and conduct with the intent to check the excesses of the rookies who, though, won election in their constituencies but lack the credentials to operate in a mature environment where decorum, cool headedness and humility are essential requirements for quality output.
The House should not be deterred in imposing sanctions and enforcing timely discipline to erring members. Afterall, there is a benchmark below which no member of the house can degenerate. Let those who are threatening court actions proceed with their actions. Afterall, it is their constitutional given right to do so.
The issue in contention is not rocket science. The assembly has its rules that every member is bound to obey and without which disorder will rule the day. Therefore, laying grievances and subjecting oneself to the rules of the house are not mutually exclusive. Certainly, It smears of innocence and naivety about the inner working of the house for a member to say, “I am not obeying the rules because I was sexually abused”. This is where there should be clear distinction between Godswill Akpabio as an individual and the institution that he represents as a president.
At this critical moment, the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is going through a trying time. However, it should not succumb to unwarranted political skirmishes and gimmicks borne out of emotion and sentiment from those citizens who chose to substitute falsehood for facts. It is more damning that a couple of Nathasha’s supporters are those who should be on the side of the institution but rather chose to give-in to unnecessary sentiment that could at the end of the day jeopardise the interest of the National Assembly and turn it into a “Banana Republic”. We should realise that a child who commits matricide will also have supporters, therefore, we do not expect the female senator not to have support from those who share similar characteristics with her. Afterall, the Yoruba adage says “enia bi ahun ni o nri ahun he” literaly meaning “it is someone who has the characteristics of the tortoise that finds it easy to pick tortoise in the bush”. The matter is further compounded by a nation of extremely dramatic individuals who will always sacrifice “common sense” on the alter of sentiments, emotion and pettiness.
The fact that there is no single senator on the side of the woman during a house vote on her suspension speaks volume about her character and relationship with other members. It also speaks volume about the perception of her supporters because no matter what, nobody can claim to be greater than the institution. The aforementioned supports the need to let the rule of the house prevail so that arrogance, immaturity, stubbornness and tendency for cheap blackmail are once and for all expunged from the lexicon of the assembly.
It is more damning and shameful that the senator in question is a lawyer who is expected to understand that there is a difference between the two issues in contention. I doubt it if you can take a case of theft to court and insist on getting judgement on divorce.
Disrespect of any form no matter the smallness to our institution should not be encouraged because the institutions are greater than the individuals running them. After Akpabio and Nathasha, the Senate continues.
Granted that there could be a case of sexual harassment, but we must draw a thick line between the two and do justice to each of them in a separate setting.
God bless the Republic of Nigeria.
Ojikutu is a retired Professor of Statistics, University of Lagos.
