#PDP crisis: All eyes on the N’Assembly As the National Assembly resumes tomorrow (Tuesday), JOHN ALECHENU writes that the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party may have an impact on legislative business The ongoing crisis within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party is set to berth in the National Assembly. As legislators resume from their two-month vacation tomorrow, the dispute is likely to assume a life of its own. This is without prejudice to ongoing mediation efforts by the party’s stakeholders. It is not a secret that a majority of the lawmakers, who secured a spot in either the Senate or the House of Representatives, did so using the party’s platform. What began as the party’s internal affair is threatening to engulf the polity with consequences better imagined than experienced. Without a doubt, the emergence of a new faction of the ruling party, has the potential to overshadow early days of legislative business in both chambers of the National Assembly. The handling of the crisis by all the parties will have an overwhelming impact on the actions of lawmakers. None of them may enjoy the luxury of sitting on the fence in this conflict which may define the future of the party. The relationship between the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives and the PDP-led Presidency, has been that of mutual suspicion. Members of the House showed a sign of rebellion against the party’s alleged dictatorial tendencies quite early. As it is now public knowledge, not all of its 208 members in the House agreed with the party’s choice of Mrs. Adeola Akande as candidate for the position of the Speaker. The party had zoned the position to the South-West. Many of the House members on the party’s platform struck a deal with their opposition colleagues to elect Aminu Tambuwal in spite of the party’s threat of sanctions. Also unknown to many in the PDP hierarchy, is the fact that the governors who are today leading the “rebellion” against the Bamanga Tukur-led executive; played a key role during this time. This was to herald a series of planned and executed political schemes which Tukur and his supporters in the ruling faction of the party have not been able to comprehend. The PDP governors, who have so-far identified with the Abubakar Baraje-led New PDP have argued that the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2011 was in violation of the party’s zoning arrangement. According to them, that singular act “murdered” the party’s time-tested zoning arrangement. A similar scene played out during the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election where some of its governors defied the party by casting their votes for Rotimi Amaechi. With the support of opposition governors, five votes from PDP governors ensured the humiliation of the party’s consensus candidate, Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who lost by 16 votes to Amaechi’s 19. Just like these past acts of defiance, the walk out of Eagle Square, venue of the just concluded mini-convention of the PDP, caught the party’s hierarchy unawares. The party had no idea such an embarrassing situation was in the offing. Worse still, it had no premonition that these governors had set in motion a machinery to declare a split from the party long before the D-day. So far, these governors appear to have perfected the art of springing surprises which more often than not, leaves the party leadership bewildered. There are fears that the governors could influence members of the National Assembly sympathetic to their cause to make things more difficult for the Jonathan administration. Some of these legislators may not have a problem declaring support for their governors because they nurse 2015 ambitions of their own. The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, underscored the gravity of the likely effect of happenings within the PDP on legislative business. At a press conference last Friday, Zakari said, “Whatever affects the PDP in the House will definitely affect the coloration of the House. “With 208 (PDP) members in the House, whatever affects members of the PDP will be felt by all of us,” stressing that with 57 members of the New PDP joining forces with APC, which has 137 members, “we are as important as any other party to win elections and cannot simply be wished away.” Being a member of the National Assembly, he surely knows what he is talking about. There were instances when the Senate adjourned its plenary just to allow members of the PDP caucus hold party meetings. Recent democratic history is replete with how the National Assembly played decisive roles in unravelling thorny political situations. For example, during the third term saga and the political impasse created by the ailment of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, members of the National Assembly played critical roles in resolving the crises. However, a party stalwart sympathetic to the Tukur-led faction, Chief Bode George, appears oblivious of the threat posed by the support base of some of these “rebel” governors among legislators. He recently said a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, faced stiffer opposition from more governors than Jonathan was currently facing. George recalled attending a meeting during which 22 of 36 governors told Obasanjo that he was not marketable and as such, they would not support him for re-election. Obasanjo scaled the hurdle when he reportedly swallowed his pride and pleaded with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who enjoyed enormous influence with the governors to intervene on his behalf. A political analyst, Mallam Abubakar Umar, however, argued that times have changed. “You and I know that what was used to treat malaria 10 years ago is not what we use now. “Ten years ago, the opposition was in disarray, now they appear better coordinated, determined and purposeful. If they continue with this level of zeal, the PDP had better watch it in 2015,” he said. This notwithstanding, the Senate and the House have a long list of bills to consider for passage. Prominent among them are the Petroleum Industry Bill and the Constitution Amendment Bill. For the Senate, a list of ministerial nominees is expected to be presented for consideration and possible clearance. On issues that would dominate deliberations among House members on resumption, Mohammed said he and his colleagues would ensure the completion of the constitution review exercise, deliberations on the PIB, as well as strengthen its oversight functions on Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies. It is also expected that the Executive will commence discussions with the lawmakers on the 2014 Appropriation Act to ensure harmonisation of positions before the budget is presented. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, said the Senate would be considering abandoned urgent matters. According to him, the President sent some nominees for ambassadorial postings which could not be screened and confirmed before the recess. He said, “We are expecting that for the seven weeks that we were out, there have been some developments in the economy which Mr. President may constitutionally be obliged to present before the National Assembly.” Enang added that the Senate was likely to fast track the consideration of bills already before it. He noted that in line with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the President might lay the Medium Term Expenditure Framework before the National Assembly. Stressing the importance of the framework, Enang said the National Assembly was compelled by law to pass it before Mr. President presents his budget. He said “If he presents it, we may give it priority because the law requires that we should consider and pass it to set the bench-mark for oil and other items of revenue that informed the budget for last year.” Equally important, is a study of the performance level of the budget of the previous year. This, he said, would also assist the National Assembly set out the exchange rate of the Naira to the Dollar and other international currencies. He also assured Nigerians that bills from the House of Representatives which require the concurrence of the Senate would be given speedy consideration. Meanwhile, as the legislators settle down for business, Nigerians expect more than mere lip service to their welfare. They also expect legislative support for efforts to bring to an end the lingering crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities. #PUNCHNEWS
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 10:14:51 +0000
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