Nigerian federal lawmakers have developed some phobia for the next general election in 2011 and perhaps, the fear of 2011 is the beginning of wisdom. But one would rather say that unless things begin to work in their favour, as many of them would confess secretly or otherwise, the race for 2011 might prove a bit too difficult to win, especially for those of them who are dreaming to come back as senators and House of Representative members.

Some of them leaked that line of thinking on the floor of the chamber of the House of Representatives last week. In fact, the estimation, as expressed for some days, starting from Tuesday, when the leadership led by Honourable ‘Dimeji Bankole successfully extricated itself from the contraption of alleged corruption charges that Honourable Dino Melaye had tried desperately to hang on the neck of Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, the Chief Whip, down to Thursday, could well be said to represent the collective fears of the entire House.

It is also possible to say that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the parliament were confronted with the problem. One needed to listen to Speaker ‘Dimeji Bankole, last Tuesday, before he adjourned the plenary, after the chamber had been thrown into much rowdiness, following the Melaye vs Ihedioha final episode.

After the rancorous session, which lasted for more than two hours, the Speaker was forced to say in summary that “2009 Budget: FG’s performance‘ll determine 2011.” It was a statement no doubt made by Speaker Bankole in reference to the poor and lackadaisical way in which the Federal Government(FG), led by President Umaru Yar’Adua, had tried to handle the implementation of the 2009 budget.

What provoked the statement, however, had its immediate root in the sad event of Melaye vs Ihedioha incident which witnessed the former recounting some allegations against the latter, thereby leading the House into not treating any of the legislative issues slated for that day.

According to Bankole, who warned that members had no more time to engage in needless bickering and political shenanigan, there was the need for members to close ranks and forge unity among one another.

He said what should engage the attention of members was the full implementation of the 2009 Budget, the Electoral Reform and the 1999 Constitution Review, thus letting out the fears being nursed by some House members regarding the said budget.

Honourable Igo Aguma, the following day, took off from where the Speaker stopped when he raised a point of order on the issue of urgent national importance. He drew the attention of the Speaker to the poor implementation of 2009 Budget and wanted Bankole to permit him, through the leave of the House, to properly move the motion for debate of the issue.

The leave of the House was eventually sought and the Speaker later hit the gavel. But Aguma never failed in his submission to draw the attention of the House to the fact that the said budget, as reported in the media, had never gone beyond 20 per cent implementation in spite of the fact that release of funds had been made by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation with the Due Process Office certifying the payment.

Last Thursday, the House of Representatives, after debating the motion on the implementation of the 2009 budget, collectively queried President Yar’Adua over the selective manner in which he tried to implement the budget, particularly on the directive issued by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that Ministries, Department and parastatal Agencies of government (MDAs) must not undertake new projects besides the ongoing ones.

Yet, as lawmakers took turns to speak on the motion brought by Aguma, the worry that they might not have anything as testimonial of performance to show the electorate in 2011 could be clearly seen.

Those who spoke in support of the motion, including Honourables Dalington Okereke, James Idachaba and Saadatu Sani, declared that it was wrong for the executive to execute the 2009 budget in a selective manner, as they pointed out the danger that the action would pose to the PDP-led government and by extension, their political fortunes.

It took the intervention of the deputy Speaker, Honourable Usman Nafada, who quickly scouted for those who were opposed to Aguma’s motion even though numerous members raised up their hands to condemn Yar’ Adua’s handling of the budget, thus indicating that the fears over 2011 are, indeed, genuine and cannot be dismissed by a wave of the hand.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/03072009/house.html

Pdp forgets say as they wan chop others wan chop too - Na only masters in art of Rigging go survive. 2011 will definitely be bloody

Please get your popcorn and coke ready - Action movie is about to start.

At the end its the poor innocent nigerians that suffer. . . .

I bliv most hv started attending certificatìon courses in RIGGING

Tudór:

At the end its the poor innocent nigerians that suffer. . . .

Cause they haved refused to act.

blacksta:

Cause they haved refused to act.

Believe me, they will act this time around. Theyve taken enough shyte already.

nuzo:

Believe me, they will act this time around. Theyve taken enough shyte already.

Are u sure - i hope it will start from China