“THE Senate owes Nigerians an apology over its alleged mishandling of Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello’s disappearance saga” - Action Congress, Nigeria Opposition Party:
“The message from the Senate is simple: There are two sets of laws, one for legislators and one for others. Or how else does one interpret the fact that Iyabo was not censured by her colleagues for trashing the law when she eventually showed up?
“This woman spent only two nights in police custody, when even the former ministers being tried with her over the N300 million scam, were subjected to a longer period of incarceration. Then, the Senate decided to rub salt into the wounds of Nigerians by pampering her on return. This is unacceptable,” AC said…
“Each of the senators of the Federal Republic serves at least 1 million Nigerians. They are supposed to be models in adherence to due process and observance of rule of law. What do we have instead? A group of people who have refused to lead by example, a group of people who are more interested in feathering their own nests, whose perks - in the face of untold sufferings across the land - border on obscenity!”
Hello,
Juxtapose this with the fact that she returns to her constituency yesterday and every supposedly respectable person is out to celebrate her.
Why can’t Nigerians objectively assess a situation? The woman has been indicted but we do not have all the facts of the case till presented in court.
We should maintain the presumption of innocence but an indictment alone besmirches the office she holds.
We seem to need to honour people regardless of if they are thieves, criminals, murderers or devils - as long as they have influence, spend money and can throw a party they are innocent of any crime.
I really fail to understand my people, I do.
Akin
May 27, 2008 at 1:12 am
Nigeria, there is a problem!
May 27, 2008 at 6:45 am
Thanks for the comments Akin and Taiwo, I’m with you on your assessments.
It is becoming more and more frustrating (for me) that our nation appears contended settling for less, particularly from the elected officials.
This attitude can only lead to one end point: An illusion of a vibrant democracy - a severely impotent system incapable of delivering the real dividends of democracy.
Once this system becomes well entrenched - as we are seeing every year - we are done for as a nation!
May 27, 2008 at 4:58 pm
[...] Nigerian brand of democracy is based on weak values; is managed by elected officials playing demigods; and the government lacks clear direction after [...]
May 28, 2008 at 10:58 am