When recently some Senators swept into the floor of the Upper House, on a tidal wave of showbiz razzmatazz, some arrayed in sharp suits, perfectly designed natives and flowing Agbada smiling, to debate on the propriety or otherwise of such issues as the same sex marriage, homosexuality and lesbianism, those who had thought the lawmakers were there to amuse themselves and waste the time of millions of Nigerians who glued to their televisions to listen to the debate, were obviously disappointed at the close of deliberations. For seasons on end, the issue of same sex relationship has continued to play-out against fundamental human and peoples' rights. While the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to practise and associate on what they believe in, the lawmakers were unequivocal about what African moral beliefs abhor and so did not just condemn the clamour, but advanced a law outlawing such issues. Indeed, the speed in which the lawmakers discarded the matter more than anything else, pointed to the increasingly changing times in the Upper House.A few years ago, our lawmakers some of whom have carved for themselves palaces and spectacular fountains that were in stark contrast to the crippling drought and poverty being suffered by the Nigerian people, would have enjoyed a raucous laughter and talked in front of cameras like the Biblical King Nebuchadnezzar, who pampered himself with sweet wine while everything around him drifted to the cliff. But not anymore. We have, in recent times, witnessed robust debates on the floor of the Senate. We have seen instances where in the face of mounting pressure from colleagues some senators have stood their grounds and fought for the people as opposed to personal interests. We have seen a few deservedly distinguished senators like the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character, Smart Adeyemi, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ayogu Eze; the then minority leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Uche Chukwumerije and the former Governor of Kwara State and Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Bukola Saraki, among others, whose ostensibly high-principled stance and, who, driven by the desire to make a positive difference in the lives of the people whose trust they enjoy, ensure that some otherwise 'sacred' issues are discussed on the floor of the senate. From the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) aimed at tackling corruption, to the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) report; from issues on poverty alleviation to fuel subsidy, and the shock discovery of the importation of Germans and Chinese, particularly, the case of an Indian, who works as a messenger in a hospital in his homeland, to handle construction works, which Nigerians could competently handle! Senator Chukwumerije, a former minister and three-time senator, for instance, dared the powers-that-be when he insistently cajoled his colleagues and stood his grounds against dissenting views that such thing as Official Secrets Act and trade secrets, which provided cover for corrupt public office holders while they siphoned money are no longer useful. He is also remembered as one of the few senators who vehemently opposed the Third Term Agenda of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.Following in his footsteps, the FOI lead sponsor, Senator Ndoma-Egba, in liaison with Adeyemi, Eze, Mamora, among others, combatively put up a spirited defence, chronicling its long history, and the multiple fractures it had received for eight years to rub in their argument until the bill was passed into law, though with some modifications. Only recently when the issue of the BPE report came up on the floor of the senate, Adeyemi, seemingly bent on upending the old order, stressed the need to implement the recommendations in the report, which blamed the failure of the agency on Obasanjo, to the letters. Adeyemi, who urged his colleagues to punish the former president, warned of dire consequences of sweeping the report under the carpet.Commendable as it were, these may however, pale into insignificance when compared with the recent shock discovery by Saraki of how some high-heeled faceless individuals have been fleecing the nation of billions of Naira under the cover of fuel subsidy. The former governor, who dissected the financial records to the awe of his colleagues observed that although N240 billion was budgeted for the entire year for subsidy, so far as at end of August 2011, N931 billion has already been spent, resulting in a variance of N771 billion or 700 percent above the budget. He went on to say that with the foregoing, by the end of the year, the nation would have spent N1.2 trillion as against the N240 billion. The senator, who expressed disappointment over the management of the fuel subsidy fund, describing the processes, audit and value for money as everything, but transparent, warned that except urgent steps were taken, the entire budget of 2011 may be affected and hopes of Nigerians of better days ahead dashed. Sufficiently alarmed, he explained that in the first three months of the year, both NNPC and Independent Marketers did not exceed N62 billion, but suddenly revved up their expenditures between N159 billion and N186 billion. Saraki, who instigated the ongoing probe on fuel subsidy, maintained that there is nothing personal about his motion, but that due process should be followed. Interestingly, this was not the first time the former governor credited with the introduction of what is today known as Due Process while serving as Special Assistant on Budget to Obasanjo, is showing zero tolerance for corruption.Similar to Due Process, he established the Price Intelligence Unit (PIU), which greatly regulated government pricing policy in Kwara State as governor. Today, perhaps, those who at the time had dismissed the initiative as 'over-rated' know better as the measures have become the life wire upon which the state has steadily remained afloat against all odds. With close to N40 billion saved for the state during his eight- year administration through the PIU to augment federal allocation every month, Bukola has proved himself a perfect example of a visionary leader and manager of resource. Remember, he had declared his assets at emergence as governor. This was investigated and confirmed to be honest and true reflection of his assets acquired outside office by the Code of Conduct Bureau.Described by friends and associates as an incorruptible and meticulous strategist, Saraki had also acquitted himself in the area of job creation and human capital development. The former governor not only dreamed big, but worked assiduously to ensure that all his templates for a self-sustaining Kwara State were enthroned.Nudged on by the desire to bequeath a highly skilled and competent workforce, as well as create employment opportunities for the youths, Bukola established the Aviation College, Stock Exchange Commission and the Kwara State University, committing funds running into billions of naira. His unfading footprints are also seen in the Cargo Terminal, which he established and which has since been positively rubbing off on the Shonga Farm Project. Little wonder, therefore, that distinguished Saraki and the army of emerging prefects in the Upper House, are bent on upending the old order through robust debates and a high sense of responsibility, so Nigerians long denied of better life can begin a march to a new world where public office holders are accountable and instrumentality of government business devoid of corruption. It is, indeed, a new dawn.'Bolakale wrote in from Ilorin, Kwara State.
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