The fracas was in Abuja, Thursday september 20, at the sitting of the panel to investigate the #628 million House "re-renovation" dirt involving the Speaker, Patricia Etteh and her deputy, Babangida Nguroje. It was drama, excitement and machination as lawmakers turned the House into delirium. They sweat, they ran helter-skelter, they tore each other’s clothes. It was a day the area boys in them manifested.

I am not a bit disappointed at such show of honourables. Anyone who understands polieatics would have had the premonition of whatever snowballed into physical fighting between them. Nigerians should realise that #628 million is not a small money. Such money could even make a rich man crazy talk less of ragamuffins scrambling for the remnants. It is a confirmation of the caliber of people Nigerians have chosen to "woman" their affairs. So let no one shed crocodile tears. I still maintain that the hullabaloo stems from the fact that some male chauvinists find it hard for a woman to head them. Go figure it out.

I need to confess that I often rejoice at this kind of scenario. I am addicted to watching Nigerian public officials misbehave. I love it when they slap one another instead of deliberating on something profound. It makes me proud of them. It makes me think that, after all, my criticism has basis. It intensifies my argument that most Nigerian public officials do not know what service means. It reminds me that Nigerians themselves are not ready for normalcy since their representatives are their mirror.

Though they call themselves gentlemen and ladies, their behaviour is rude and boorish. The funny thing is that such churlish attitude is expected of them any time any day. That is why there’s no reason for them to be ashamed. Etteh is probably having fun with all this attention focus on her. "I have no regret over contract," says Madam speaker. It is part of the game to remain relevant. Her predecessors enjoyed the same feel. I think it’s the nature of the position. They spend their whole tenure fighting over something – something ostentatious and vague.

The media is not exempted from this madness of purpose. Already it has been termed EttehGate. I wonder why it is EttehGate and not something else. And this surprises me more than a male senator slapping his female counterpart. The media should have coined another phrase other than Americanize one. What about EtteHouse or EtteHair. Any phrase could have been better instead of copying America’s Watergate. When shall we start inventing our own thing? When Yar’Adua leaves? When Etteh practices her real profession?

The woman has said repeatedly that due process was followed in the award of the contract for the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy, Babangida Nguroje. However, the opposition leaders in the House denied having any knowledge of the award of the contract which has become controversial. I believe Etteh because he must be very stupid not to have followed due process. After all, the man who installed her as Speaker followed due process throughout his tenure. So what kind of student Etteh if he did not follow due process in the contract of this magnitude.

Nigerians should just hold their breathe because they ain’t see nothing yet. There is reason to fight for, and this seems tob be what most Nigerians have not grasp. The Reps must fight because they do not get as close to #628 million, which ordinary hairdresser commands in such a short time. Here is the details of the kick-off. Immediately the referee, David Idoko, invited the Speaker to the ring, there was applause obviously from her fans who had filled up the venue.

Not to be over staged, one Emmanuel Jime representing Benue State and his team started shouting ole, ole (thief, thief). This is an insult too many. Where did these people see thief? Who is the thief? Patricia Etteh, the Speaker of the House? What did she steal? This is slander or libel at the least. I entreat Madam Speaker to sue these madmen who are bent on destroying her hard earned reputation. No one groomed by Obasanjo becomes thief because there’s always honour among thieves.

Besides, fighting among our lawmakers is not news. Some years back a male senator brazenly slapped a female senator. Recently, we were fed with the news that two female lawmakers, Honourables Abike Erewa and Sadatu Sanni, fought in public. So tell me what is honourable in the personality of these representatives! As I said earlier it is simply the nature of the job. When you work too much, there is the possibility to be stressed up, thereby making one crazy about little things – especially dough.

Nigerians just like to make mountain out of the molehills. Exchange of blows is part of our lawmakers’ duties. ″There’s nothing strange about the exchange of blows by some members of the panel,″ says Hon.David Idoko, Chairman of th House of Representatives Panel investigating the #628 million contract scam.

I don’t remember who among those eggheads that said Nigerian public officials must be forced (I would rather use encouraged) to undergo psychiatric test. I would add that background criminal check should also be included.

And that any would be lawmaker should be made to testify before the oath saying, "I Hon so...so...has never been an area boy/girl in my life and I shall not become one after assuming the exalted office...I shall not disrupt the House or call any member of the House a thief because I believe we are all one...I shall maintain esprit de corps...I shall fight only if they by-pass or cheat me in the allocation or award of contract...May the Almighty whom I worship everyday help me shun corruption and stealing and jagidijagan".

Copyright 2007                                      mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 I am addicted to ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 26.09.2007 07:23

overdryv  Villager

# 2 From the goings-on in Nigeria in recent times, it appears Nigeria is fastly becoming a nation of zombies and mugus. How could people take Ribadu, a product of the most corruption establishment, the NPF serious? It makes one nearly throw up to read and hear comments on how Ribadu is trying his best to rid the country of corrution. This is fighting corruption the Nigerian way. But his double standards are clear to even the unborn. Ribadu and EFCC were a creation of Obj to scuttle the political ambition of his opponents mainly the persons of IBB and Atiku. Ribadu was actually acting out a script written by Obj on IBB but along the line he, Obj saw that he was treading on very dangerous grounds. This informed the soft pedaling of Ribadu on IBB. Ribadu has never left any one in doubt that only himself and th Ota farmer know the real reason behind EFCC. By far, the most shameful action was visiting Obj at Ota immediately he quit office. Ribadu could today come out and tell Nigerians that he is ready to die for the country because he knows Nigerians no longer reason like normal human beings. The best opportunity he had to die by following up on IBB, he slacked. Why did he stay action on ringing in known corrupt ex governors? The war on corruption can never be won by making empty boasts on pages of newspapers. This was not the case in Ghana and other countries where corruption was fought to a standstill. If Nigerians were normal people they would ask why of all ex governors, Ribadu could only go for four of them including Kalu who had a long standing disagreement with Obj. But you find them saying ah Ribadu is trying his best he has many constraints. With his latest switch of loyalty to the NASS, Ribadu has finally come out to reveal who his master is. It is all part of a conspiracy. Now Obj is out of power, but he would continue to call the shots through his planted stooges in the persons of David Mark and Patricia Etteh. So Ribadu would continue to report back to Obj through the NASS. The purported war on corruption shows that we have become a country of jesters and time wasters. We are talking of tackling corruption but our president would appoint an AGF with a clear mandate to spare ex governors who financed his campaign. In the face off between the AGF and EFCC, the president would innocently watch the wranglings from the side line. The war on corruption would remain a huge joke as long as we have people who are certified forgers, treasury looters, murderers dictating the way things go. The most annoying thing is that almost every player in our political theater is stinkingly corrupt. Corruption has sank its teeth so deeply in our body politic that bringing it under control would entail wiping out the whole political class and the traditional institution. It is the monarchs that legitimize corruption by giving their approval at the grassroots. Posted by overdryv| 26.09.2007 10:46

naijafulani  JJC

# 3 =overdryv;20913649> From the goings-on in Nigeria in recent times, it appears Nigeria is fastly becoming a nation of zombies and mugus. How could people take Ribadu, a product of the most corruption establishment, the NPF serious? It makes one nearly throw up to read and hear comments on how Ribadu is trying his best to rid the country of corrution. This is fighting corruption the Nigerian way. Sir! Going by your thesis, any product of NPF should not be trusted, but who do we trust then? Does it mean because of the bad image of Nigerians, any product of Nigeria should not be trusted? If your thesis fails the test, then it makes sense to have a firmer criterion for appointing people. Don't mind I keep thinking like this all the time. Posted by naijafulani| 26.09.2007 10:53

overdryv  Villager

# 4 =overdryv;20913649>From the goings-on in Nigeria in recent times, it appears Nigeria is fastly becoming a nation of zombies and mugus. How could people take Ribadu, a product of the most corruption establishment, the NPF serious? It makes one nearly throw up to read and hear comments on how Ribadu is trying his best to rid the country of corrution. This is fighting corruption the Nigerian way. But his double standards are clear to even the unborn. Ribadu and EFCC were a creation of Obj to scuttle the political ambition of his opponents mainly the persons of IBB and Atiku. Ribadu was actually acting out a script written by Obj on IBB but along the line he, Obj saw that he was treading on very dangerous grounds. This informed the soft pedaling of Ribadu on IBB. Ribadu has never left any one in doubt that only himself and th Ota farmer know the real reason behind EFCC. By far, the most shameful action was visiting Obj at Ota immediately he quit office. Ribadu could today come out and tell Nigerians that he is ready to die for the country because he knows Nigerians no longer reason like normal human beings. The best opportunity he had to die by following up on IBB, he slacked. Why did he stay action on ringing in known corrupt ex governors? The war on corruption can never be won by making empty boasts on pages of newspapers. This was not the case in Ghana and other countries where corruption was fought to a standstill. If Nigerians were normal people they would ask why of all ex governors, Ribadu could only go for four of them including Kalu who had a long standing disagreement with Obj. But you find them saying ah Ribadu is trying his best he has many constraints. With his latest switch of loyalty to the NASS, Ribadu has finally come out to reveal who his master is. It is all part of a conspiracy. Now Obj is out of power, but he would continue to call the shots through his planted stooges in the persons of David Mark and Patricia Etteh. So Ribadu would continue to report back to Obj through the NASS. The purported war on corruption shows that we have become a country of jesters and time wasters. We are talking of tackling corruption but our president would appoint an AGF with a clear mandate to spare ex governors who financed his campaign. In the face off between the AGF and EFCC, the president would innocently watch the wranglings from the side line. The war on corruption would remain a huge joke as long as we have people who are certified forgers, treasury looters, murderers dictating the way things go. The most annoying thing is that almost every player in our political theater is stinkingly corrupt. Corruption has sank its teeth so deeply in our body politic that bringing it under control would entail wiping out the whole political class and the traditional institution. It is the monarchs that legitimize corruption by giving their approval at the grassroots. PS: This reply was wrongly posted here. Posted by overdryv| 26.09.2007 10:55

Toku.A  Villager

# 5 Those guys are perfectly normal. Psychratic test or not the guys were actually boxing for their financial survival if Madam speaker is spending 628million for renovation of her official residence and 98million for massager what would be left for the other members of the house. Posted by Toku.A| 26.09.2007 10:56

overdryv  Villager

# 6 =naijafulani;20913654> =overdryv;20913649> Sir! Going by your thesis, any product of NPF should not be trusted, but who do we trust then? Does it mean because of the bad image of Nigerians, any product of Nigeria should not be trusted? If your thesis fails the test, then it makes sense to have a firmer criterion for appointing people. Don't mind I keep thinking like this all the time. It is a well known fact that the NPF ranks among the most corrupt and indisciplined body in Nigeria. This was recently corroborated by another body set up to examine corruption in the various ministries. Even the layman who had never had any interaction with the police knows this. NPF must be the only establishment in Nigeria where police officers at road blocks routinely disobey IG's orders not to extort money from motorists. In the upper echelon one can say it without any risk of contradiction that all our past and serving IGs are corrupt to the marrow. You are a living witness to legacies of IGs like Adewusi Ehinduro and Tafa Balogun. The present IG, Okhiro is himself neck deep in corruption. His name has been linked with diversion of police fund under Ehinduro. But true to the Nigerian spirit,he would never be exposed. His appointment as an acting IG was done in total disregard to honesty and merit. In Nigeria, IGs are appointed to carry out dirty deals for the government at the centre. You may want to ask Obj. On the issue of trust, there was never a basis for a police officer in Nigeria not to indulge in corruption as this was the rule rather than an exception. If Okhiro and Ehidero could not take a cue from what befell Tafa Balogun, show me that police officer who is above board. Corruption in NPF can never abate, it would only mutate. Posted by overdryv| 26.09.2007 11:12

JAGA-JAGA  Villager

# 7 =overdryv;20913657>PS: This reply was wrongly posted here. INEC should note; one of the new qualifications required to be elected into the House of Reps must include proven records of membership in a physical fitness club. If you are a boxer better, a wrestler, karate specialist the best:D:D:D Bye-bye-oh. I be una broda, JAGA-JAGA Posted by JAGA-JAGA| 26.09.2007 17:05