Our society would be a bit rancour- free and more habitable, if we could hold ourselves accountable, accept responsibilities of our actions and inactions and be willing to judge ourselves based on every decision taken and behavior exhibited at any prevailing situation.
We should all be mindful of the solemn truth, that our present position is a reflection of our past choices and decisions. Consequentially, our future is likely going to be a reflection of the choices we make today.
Unarguably, it is quite a seamless task to trade on blame games, utter censorious commentary and buck passing in a scenario that presents unfavourable and unpleasant to us.
Meanwhile, in a workable and rational society ,the onus should lie on the shoulder of a great leader at the helm of the affairs to accept the success and/ or failure of the institution, because the bulk stops at his or her desk.
In retrospect, the on going tussle at the Senate due to alleged 2024 budget padding that led to suspension of Dist.Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, representing the good people of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, from frank disposition devoid of calumny, vituperation and not being immodest is due to lack of capacity in information and conflict management on the part of the President of the Senate, His Excellency Godswill AKpabio.
To face the storms of this issue genuinely, if him ( AKpabio) is vast enough in the modus operandi of the Senate,he should have managed and halted the ugly outcome behind closed doors without letting the cat out of the bag.
Though, the odds favour him as the President of the Senate and since power and leadership comes from the Supreme, but he really needs to sit up and blend his relationship with his colleagues.
One of the badges of degradation that is prominent of AKpabio is his inability to consult widely before uttering a statement and taking hasty decisions ,not knowing that once a statement is out of your domain and ills decision is administered, the consequences are irretrievable.
A leader should be a good listener, slow to speak and have fervent capacity to transmit ideas in an honest, open and transparent medium.
The misnomer caused due to suspension of a renowned ranking Senator ( Ningi) have weakened the pillars of the Red chamber and created a conducive atmosphere for cockroaches and reptiles to gain entrance into the cracked walls of the Senate Chamber.
Indefeasibly, the Red chamber is a Serene upper house that should be occupied with matured minds full of intelligence, towering integrity, competency and outstanding resume to handle herculean tasks.
The recent rowdy and unhealthy display in the Senate is perceived to be due to high quest for supremacy, self esteem and political witch- hunting devoid of positive objectivity.
In an atmosphere where justice and fairness is of priority, once an election is conducted and a winner emerged, he or she automatically becomes the senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria, irrespective of political and religious affiliations to enact laws, present bills and move motions democratically for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians.
The elected president of the Senate should be well equipped with skills for integration, coordination, fraternization and harmonization of individual potentials to enable them function as a virile team.
Over the years now, the Senate plenary and other forms of deliberations have been blissful and the senators have developed a formidable strategy on how to address internal wrangling and infighting until the recent saga.
Our democracy to some large extent has come of age and the 10th Assembly does not have that lofty vacuum for abysmal and ineptitude performance.
Though, there are still rooms for change and improvement,Akpabio’s scorecard so far is not remarkable enough to be displayed in the legacy showroom of the Senate.
The President of the Senate, AKpabio should guard caution jealously as the Banana peel syndrome is still kept in the archives of the chamber.
The previous Senate President that escaped the peel were able to blend and manage the symptoms meticulously.
There is still tendency to beam search light on the where about of the Banana peel if there are obvious break down of communication.
There’s no Victor’s crown without a struggle.
Akpabio should use his uncommon sense to smoothen his relationship with his colleagues to avoid a divided house and falling prey to the laid trap.
Adikwu Samuel Ebo
Public Affairs Analyst,
Abuja.
[email protected].
