Why we lifted Jonathan, by Rep
From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City GUARDIAN | Feb.15.2010

AGITATIONS by Nigerians on the whereabouts of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua despite obvious opposition to the call for a debate on the state of the nation compelled the National Assembly to reluctantly pass the resolution that empowered Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Acting President.

A member of the House of Representatives representing Ovia Federal constituency in Edo State, Ehioge West-Idahosa, stated this in Benin City at the weekend at a seminar organised by the Benin City branch of National Association of Seadogs (NAS) a.k.a Pyrates Confraternity.

Meanwhile, a Lagos-based businessman and Edo State indigene, Mr. Norbert Ivare, has said that Jonathan's elevation would help the quest to cement national unity.

In a telephone chat with The Guardian at the weekend, Mr. Ivare who is also the Lagos Zonal Head of the Neo-Black Movement (NBM) of Africa lauded the "courage and patriotism of the National Assembly and all Nigerians that helped to douse tension and checkmate a potentially explosive situation."

West-Idahosa said the criticism by Nigerians that the National Assembly failed to act promptly on the matter was because those who did not want the status quo to change even when it was obvious that change was needed were more in number and therefore defeated initial attempts to raise the issue on the floor of the House.

"Those who said they didn't want us to discuss it were in the majority so we have to strategise, some people were ready to pull down the roof to please their masters...what eventually passed out was the agitation of the people."

He also criticised the ideological dearth in political parties in the country which he said had also contributed to the weak state of opposition parties.

He said: "Most of the political parties (if not all) are bereft of any ideology upon which its membership is built. In the end, strange bedfellows together with their supporters and cronies gather in the name of one party or the other. In their kind of conventions, they gather at one square or the other merely to re-assure themselves about who is loyal and deserves what or which godfather has the right to sponsor who. Such is our clime".

He contended that the country's political leaders required more education, saying: "Some of them are barely literate and have no capacity to study."

According to him, Nigeria has failed to respect the dictum of equality before the law as public officials accused of embezzling public funds are free citizens.

He went on: "The irony of it all is that there are many ordinary people languishing in various prison formations in the country for allegations as elementary as wandering. The law entraps the weak in Nigeria and sets the strong free."

The lawmaker also lamented that the present crop of political leaders "lacked the discipline, know-how, patriotism and intellectual flair to succeed." And that the few who know what should be done lacked the political will to do so.

He said Nigeria's electoral system was too weak just as he called for reduction of the number of political parties as, according to him, not more than five of them are viable.

NAS national leader, Emmanuel Bassey, charged Nigeria's political leadership to be accountable to the people just as he said that the association banned students membership of the group since 1984 when it became obvious that the original intentions of its founders were being abused.

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