ONCE again, an attempt by the Nigerian people to fight the monster of corruption has fallen headlong, leaving many wondering whether the political class will ever summon the courage to confront and subdue corruption. And it is pathetic, because corruption has grown to become the main obstacle to sustainable growth and development in Africa's most populous country.In the beginningWith the introduction of democracy in 1999, expectations were high, that, since elected representatives of the people would be in government, they were going to do everything possible to protect citizens' interests and the commonwealth. But 13 years of unbroken democratic rule is yet to assure the people that this system recognizes their needs and that the practitioners are willing to protect them.And so, Farouk Lawan, one of the peoples' representatives, who until now had discharged himself with utmost candour in his duties at the House of Representatives, is in the dock. Lawan, who is doing a record fourth term, is alleged to have received some bribe $620,000, as part payment in a $3million deal from Femi Otedola, owner of Zenon Oil, in order to delist his firm from the list of companies that have benefited fraudulently from subsidy payments by the federal government over a period. Lawan, until Friday was chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating fuel subsidy payments.This is not the first time the legislature is in the news, for participating in fraudulent activities, but this is the first time the minuscule camp of legislators who put up the appearance of integrity is being polluted and unmasked. Already, this has recorded a major loss for ordinary Nigerians, who had looked up to the Lawan's in the legislature to rescue the Fourth Republic from an imminent collapse.The last leadership of the House of Representatives, under Dimeji Bankole left on a note of ignominy. After a hot chase by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for failing to abide by its own laws on public procurement, the leadership of the House was charged for corruptly breaching due process in the purchase of television sets, computers and vehicles.That matter is in court, where lawyers, as usual, are aiding Bankole to frustrate prosecution. And that was not the first time allegations of criminal financial deals would be raised in the House, just that Bankole was somehow unlucky to be caught in the act.Talking about the need for integrity in public institutions recently, former President Obasanjo decried the sorry state of institutions of government, including the legislature, where men of integrity are in short supply. According to him, there are 'rogues and armed robbers,' in state legislatures and the National Assembly. He did not stop at the legislature; he mentioned the Police and the Judiciary in a discourse that had to do with 'Strong Systems: Necessity for Building a Virile Nation.'The following day, members of the House poured invectives on OBJ, calling him names without situating his remarks in the appropriate context. Perhaps, if they had waited for this moment, they would be convinced that the man was after all, not talking amiss.OBJ as president did not play politics in his relations with the legislature for the eight years he was in office. He saw majority of them as lacking requisite experience and integrity for the job and he did not fail to call their bluff. At that time, legislators went to Abuja and discovered that a lot of money could be fleeced from 'making laws' for the people. They took home bogus allowances and before you know it, they began to buy homes and luxury apartments.OBJ, a very shrewd and stingy public servant did not like the new lifestyle some of the legislators had adopted, especially as some were jobless prior to 1999, and he wanted to regulate their manner of lavish living, through some kind of imposed leadership that is mature and introspective. But they kicked and preferred to elect their own kind.Once Evans Enwerem, now late, was deposed as Senate President and the other one in the House, Salisu Buhari had drowned himself in some certificate scam, the NASS did win its freedom, but at a great expense to the masses.It is on record that the average legislator in Abuja earns more than their counterparts in many developed and economically stable countries. In plain terms, it is difficult to calculate the actual salary and allowances of a legislator, because they are busy all through the year earning from different sources. Some are members of more than one committee and they collect different allowances as they go.Once, former FCT minister, Nasir el Rufai gave OBJ an opportunity to expose some Senators, when they allegedly demanded money from the former minister in order to confirm his appointment. It turned out to be a racket among legislators, to harass members of the executive, who either come for screening or to defend their budgets.Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara lost his position when he and others allegedly connived to demand a bribe from Fabian Osuji, a former education minister.In the House at inception, there was some measure of populism, as fresh graduates of political science got the first opportunity to test their certificates. But it turned out to be more of showmanship. What took place was more of ego trip between young legislators and one old man in Aso Rock. In the process, some Ghana Must Go Bags were displayed on the floor of the House, allegedly from some Presidency supporters.While it was a good piece of show, nobody was directly linked or prosecuted for the bags and it is not clear how the bags were disposed of.After 2007THE NASS from 2007 seemed to mean business, at least with some determined effort to confront corruption. Perhaps, it was the reflection of the mood at Aso Rock. Late President Yar'Adua desired to transform the political system and the lawmakers appeared to be interested.The Power Probe by the House to unravel how about 16billion dollars was spent during the Obasanjo years was remarkable. It featured pomp and seriousness and it got the public hooked, in the hope that those who spent the money to revamp the sector without really doing much could be held accountable.Ndudi Elumelu and his committee were celebrated for the serious revelations. But shortly after, the committee itself was dogged by allegations of N52bn scam. Aspects of the allegation are still being prosecuted, and some disposed of, but the main report of the committee was subdued till date.The BPE probe by the Senate was equally interesting, because Nigerians desired to know how some public institutions were sold under circumstances that are not very clear.While pretending to have in place a due process apparatus to sell ailing and dead public corporations, senior persons in government actually went behind to buy them, through phony arrangements.The committee did very well and the report is in the public domain. As at today, nobody has been prosecuted based on the report.The Senate again looked into pension payments for the Police and the worms spilled from that exercise are still crawling. There are indictments here and there and some prosecution is ongoing. Members of the probe committee are alleged to have shared in the N32.8bn pension fund loot. That confusion is still ongoing.The House again overreached itself, when it decided to probe the capital market and got its hands burnt. Former chairman of the committee on capital market, Herman Hembe, did not go to equity with clean hands. The House quickly disowned him before he soiled the entire system. And he is back in the house after a brief visit to the EFCC.Now, it is the turn of Mr. Integrity, Lawan Farouk, soft-spoken and intelligent lawmaker, to carry his own cross. He was given a very difficult assignment, apparently because he was among the best, in experience and uprightness. Then, he fell by the way side and the mob in the House quickly trampled on him.Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said on Friday after Lawan had been suspended as chair of the committee on subsidy and education that, 'we must as a country learn to separate institutions from individuals and we must admit that, in the present case, the alleged conduct of an individual cannot negate the conclusions of the whole House. Let me reaffirm here that we have not been compromised and we shall never compromise our stand against corruption. The credibility of that report therefore remains inviolable and we stand by it.'How' When part of it has already been violated' Clearly, it is the ruling party that must determine whether it wants to fight corruption or not. The ruling party must determine whether it wants this democracy to continue or not. It is the Presidency that will help the legislature to make real its pet dream of wanting to expose corrupt practices. If there is no synergy among the main players in the polity, efforts will be wasted and the circus show will continue.The legislature has done sufficient work in terms of making available to the executive some facts and figures, which if followed up, could arrive at some answers to why things are not working.
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