Has change finally come to the National Assembly?

monjola sotubo

April 27, 2016 10:59 AM

The youths marched to the Assembly under the umbrella of the Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS) and demanded the resignation of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

On April 26, 2016, a group of young Nigerians marched to the

The youths marched to the Assembly under the umbrella of the Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS) and demanded the resignation of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Saraki is being tried for corruption before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) but he has insisted that he is innocent of the charges.

The Senate President has also vowed not to resigndespite several calls for him to do the honourable thing by stepping down.

“Those who are contemplating calls for resignation want to circumvent the judicial system. They are obviously being sponsored by some politicians,” Saraki said through his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

“The Senate President is not contemplating any resignation. He will surely have his day in court,” he added.

The protesters also expressed anger at the recent purchase of expensive vehicles by the Senate and demanded that the 36 Senators who received the vehicles should return them immediately or face the wrath of Nigerians.

The protest is a sign that Nigerians have had enough of the Senate and its insensitivity.

It’s amazing that elected officials have zero respect for the people who put them in office and zero consideration for the unpleasant economic situation in the country.

Nigerians are struggling with poor health care, poor electricity, fuel scarcity among other things and their representatives have the audacity to acquire luxury cars at the country’s expense despite their already ridiculous allowances.

The mentality of the average senator was expressed by Senate Leader, Ali Ndume who said that he and his colleagues have to buy new cars because they are too important to ride in official buses.

“Look I am a senator representing 9 Local governments. A Minister was appointed, 36 of them. All of them are driving a convoy of at least 4 cars. By protocol I am the senate leader,” he said while appearing on Channels TV on March 4.

“How can I be going in a bus? You want me as a Senator to go in a bus? Senators going in a bus is as a matter of choice. When Senators are going to one place outside Abuja, how do you expect to pack them in a bus?” he added.

The main problem with elected officials in Nigeria is that they see the office as a privilege, as a one-up to the average citizen, rather than the call to service that it is.

The Occupy NASS protest is a step in the right direction, but to ensure lasting change in the National Assembly, Nigerians must exercise their right to vote come 2019 and flush out everyone who thinks he is too important to be a servant of the people.

monjola sotubo