A matter of honour
By Reuben Abati

"So do you think your sister will give up?"

"Who is your sister?"

"Sister Par"

"Sister Pat? I don't have any sister called Patience? "

"I mean Sister Patricia?"

"You are speaking in tongues"

"Sister Patricia. Speaker of the House of Representatives?"

"Ah you sef? Her matter is clear, she should resign or get impeached"

"Looks like she will not resign. She is obviously waiting for the House to return from recess on Tuesday and then, she hopes to ride the storm"

"Not the storm. I believe she is riding the tiger. The onus really is no longer on Patricia Etteh. It is now on the Peoples Democratic Party and the House of Representatives."

"The PDP says it is standing by the Speaker and that she has not been indicted for any wrong doing"

"Are you talking about the PDP or Ahmadu Ali, the chairman of the party?"

"These days, I am not too sure that there is a difference. These days when Dr Ahmadu Ali speaks, it is as if the party itself has spoken. I gather that he has directed all the PDP members of the House of Representatives to stand by Etteh and protect her and that if anybody votes against her or opposes her in any way, such a person could be recalled from the House of Representatives by the party"

"He said that?"

"Something like that and some members of the House of Reps are already kicking. They say the Chairman of the party is not in a position to dictate to them"

"Correct. They are not representing the PDP. They are representing the Nigerian people. Chairman Ali must have been joking. I mean the thing is really a joke."

"No. he meant it. The man actually had a meeting with members of the House of Representatives and he gave the lawmakers their marching orders."

"And is Dr Ali's name still on the list of ambassadorial nominees? I will be surprised if any country accepts him as an ambassador. What he is actually trying to do is to subvert the same due process that his party says it believes in. It is also presumptuous for him to seek to dictate to the legislature. If he ends up as an ambassador, don't be surprised if he tries to dictate to his host-country"

"I think the chairman of the party is really concerned about this Etteh matter. You know at the convocation ceremony of one school in Abuja, the African Business School it is called, we were told, the Chairman of the PDP suddenly seized the microphone and ordered the school authorities to honour Patricia Etteh with a Fellowship award of the school. And the school authorities obliged and the ceremony was promptly conducted with Etteh thanking Dr Ali for making her a Fellow of the African Business School"

"What school is that? What business is the institution into? Is it owned by the PDP Chairman? And is that how academic institutions award fellowships?"

"Candidly, I do not know anything about the school. So, don't pester me with questions. But I wouldn't be surprised if it is a school for beauticians. A College for Beauticians, Fashion Designers and the like"

"You mean such schools also award fellowships?"

"Have you not seen mechanics giving themselves honorary engineering degrees in Nigeria? Roadside mechanics, fashion designers and all kinds of artisans organise graduation ceremonies for their apprentices and these people wear academic gowns, they also hold academic processions, and they award fellowships. In fact, even private secondary schools award fellowships these days."

"In a country where people are crazy about titles, anything is possible. You know Etteh was even just a guest at the African Business School event. Nobody had written any letter to her telling her she would be honoured. She was just called out by the PDP Chairman who was himself a guest, I suppose, and thus, they hijacked the event."

"No finesse. No class. If for any reason that African Business School intends to run serious programmes, it has simply compromised itself. It has also advertised itself very badly. Calling people out from the crowd and giving them a College Fellowship is an abuse of due process. And Madam Speaker again accepted something that was the product of an abuse of due process. She should have turned down the honour politely"

"The whole thing reminds me of this joke about a man who was called aside by a concerned party and advised to mind his manners in public because a lot of people were already complaining about his penchant for swearing and cursing. The man looked at his friend straight in the eye and thundered: the people who are saying that about me will die violently and God will punish all of them. As they say, the thing speaks for itself."

"You and your dry jokes. What I am saying is that if the PDP Chairman so wishes, he can order the Speaker of the House of Representatives around. But if he tries to do the same to the lawmakers, the onus is on them to stand up and tell the Chairman of the party to keep off. It is the integrity of the House that is now at stake. If they sweep the matter under the carpet, it will be said that they have all collected bribes, or that they have succumbed to the PDP Chairman's blackmail."

"We can only hope that there are still some decent men and women in the House of Representatives."

"There are many of such persons surely"

"If so, then I can see another round of fisticuffs in the making in the House of Representatives."

"I won't be surprised. But let them resolve this Etteh matter and start the business for which Nigerians have elected them. The house renovation scandal has upstaged everything else, no serious legislative work is taking place."

"But I will give Etteh one credit, She is a tough woman. She has at least proved that she is a fighter and she is strong. The National Association of Beauticians must be proud of her"

"I don't know about that. But surely, for her it is a long walk from the beauty parlour to the seat of power."

"A Long Walk from the Beauty Parlour. I like that. Looks like a possible title for an Etteh biography."

"How about The Rise and Fall of Patricia Etteh"

"That is too commonplace. You should be more imaginative."

"Okay. How about "Daughter of Oodualand: The Etteh Story"

"You are trivializing this discussion. Can we talk about something else?"

""I have been thinking about this Marion Jones story. I really feel for her, you know. To rise so high and then fall so disgracefully."

"The archetypal story of man. Marion Jones: From Track Queen to Steroid Bitch. No, I don't feel sorry for her. I see lessons in her experience. Here is a woman who used performance enhancing drugs, she kept lying about it until she was exposed by the media, or her conscience pricked her and she had to confess".

"The media? I didn't get that part of it."

"You know there have been suspicions about her use of steroids, how she is surrounded by coaches and friends who are associated with doping scandals... She is finished, she is broke; it is a sad story, but an entirely human tale."

"So what are the lessons?"

"One, the role of the American media. They forced her to tell the truth. If it were here, the media would have been accused of wickedness and bias"

"I know. But was it really the media or her conscience that caught up with her?"

"Two, okay, conscience or character. She at least owned up and apologised. If she were a Nigerian, she would have continued lying. It would have been her word against every other person's."

"This is Nigeria."

"Three, the strength of the American system. The five medals she won at the 2000 Olympics were promptly withdrawn and every other medal that she won after 2000 as well.. If she had been a Nigerian, there would have been a lot of talk about how she is being hounded because she is from a particular ethnic group. Some powerful men would have risen in her defence and asked that she should be left alone. And she would also have blamed her travails on her enemies or on spiritual attack."

"I see the point you are making. It is through little things like this that a society can define and redeem itself"

"Yeah, yeah. But the recurrent doping scandals in sports are also a comment on the American system, and the international sports system. If doping is so widespread, why don't they just accept it as a fact"

"I have also been thinking about the Ibrahim Idris case in Kogi state"

"A good development if you ask me. The ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal in Kogi has now taken us back to the point about the disqualification of candidates in an election. It is a straightforward case and what the Tribunal has done is to rely on the Supreme Court ruling to the effect that the Electoral Commission, INEC, has no powers to disqualify a candidate. Only a court of law can validly do so."

"I was very happy about the judgement too. But the Appeal Court would also have to treat the appeal by Governor Idris with express speed so as not to create any confusion or prolonged uncertainty in Kogi state."

"The Electoral Reform Panel would have to take note of the import of the judgment of the Kogi Tribunal".

"But you see, in typical Nigerian fashion, Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi state has accused the Tribunal of bias and lack of integrity."

"He is free to express an opinion, but the law is the law. He is required to respect the rule of law. That's all"

"What do you think will happen?"

"I am not the Appeal Court. It would be futile to speculate without having any access to the full details of the case. But the worst that can happen is that fresh gubernatorial elections would be ordered in Kogi state. If I were Governor Idris, I will start preparing for another electoral contest. And I don't care who wins at the end of the day, what matters is that our democracy is being tested and the judicial system is working"

"You mean this democracy can work after all."

"Oh yes, if we allow it to work. And if persons in positions of authority will learn to act with honour and dignity."

"Barka da Sallah, my brother"

"Same to you re, jare. But I wonder why government usually declares two work-free days for Moslem festivals. Some people celebrated their own Eid-el-Fitri yesterday, others are just doing so today. Is it not possible to harmonise the celebration?"

"It is a lunar thing. It depends on when the moon is sighted. And the moon doesn't show up at the same time in the North and South"

"Look, once the moon is sighted, it can be easily communicated to every Moslem in the country. This is the age of communication. My son was asking me to explain why the festival is not being celebrated the same day, I couldn't provide an explanation."

"What's your problem? Please can we drop this subject? I don't discuss religion please."

Robot  # 1 | 12.10.2007 01:15

"Looks like she will not resign. She is obviously waiting for the House to return from reces...Read the full article.

dele26  # 2 | 12.10.2007 02:38

Their Profiles speak – (Garbage in garbage out – GIGO) Dr (Mrs.) Dora Nkem Akunyili (OFR), the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) - Medical professional - Holds a doctorate degree - Masters degree - Bachelor degree - Won international awards - Was appointed by merit (after returning £18,000 cheque to PTF) - Reserved - Comfortable - Known husband - Traceable past - Religious and God fearing - Cooks for her husband (source Ben (UK) TV) - Natural complexion - Pride of Nigeria Dishonourable (Mrs.) Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, the Speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives - Beautician / Hairdresser - Probably a school drop out - Managed to hold a diploma in law (proven?) - No single national or international award - Was selected by Concub - - - - Outrageously flamboyant - Extravagant and grandiose - Husband???? - Frozen past - Fear of God???? (official residence renovation saga) - Complexion: Fanata and coke - shame of People Demented Party (PDP) GIGO, the reason why one is successful and the other a failure; she is not ready to leave honourably

denker  # 3 | 12.10.2007 03:11

Reps' panel chairman resigns over house renovation crisis:confused1 From John-Abba Ogbodo, Abuja links CITING alleged financial impropriety by the leadership of the House of Representatives, the chairman of its Committee on State and Local Government Affairs, K.G.B. Oguakwa, has resigned his appointment. But the House leadership has linked Oguakwa's action to its inability to grant his request for expansion of the scope of the committee's oversight function. In a letter addressed to the Speaker dated October 10, Oguakwa said that in the last couple of weeks, the public perception of the House of Representatives had been that of an institution with a moral burden. He added that the situation got worse with the submission of a report by the nine-man panel headed by David Idoko, which said that due process was not completely followed in the award of contracts for the renovation of the residences of the Speaker, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh and her Deputy, Babangida Nguroje. Oguakwa said having served meritoriously as chairman of the Aviation Committee under the Speakership of Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, he found it difficult to carry oversight function with the current moral burden. "For the past few weeks, following the presentation of the Idoko panel report, many Nigerians appear to perceive the House of Representatives as carrying a moral burden which it is expected to jettison following the vision of its leadership, a group that by extension, includes chairmen of committees." Oguakwa restated his determination to make legislative contribution to the success of the programmes of the present government, but added that he would find it difficult to do so as a committee chairman. His words: "As I hereby rededicate myself to the service of my constituents and of Nigeria both through engendering legislative support for President (Umaru) Yar'Adua's seven-point agenda, anchored on transparency, accountability, respect for the rule of law and due process, and also through robust participation in this hallowed chambers, permit me to state that against the backdrop of the aforementioned perceived deficit, therefore, I find myself unable, in all good conscience, to continue to function as committee chairman under your leadership." He alleged at a press conference in Abuja that he went to the Clerk of the House of Representatives to get the annextures to the report so as to study them but he was not given on the ground that there were about 2,000 pages involved and they would take time to be produced. He said that the leadership should not be talking of whether the opposition would muster the required number to impeach the Speaker but should consider the moral questions raised by the report. According to him, the offences identified with the alleged scam would attract a punishment of 47 years in jail." The Guardian learnt that the Office of the Clerk of the House explained that it would need the sum of N7.5 million to produce the annextures for the 360 members and that it had no such budget. An official of the Assembly, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Guardian that the budget for the last quarter was already being implemented but there was no provision for such item. "Our handicap is that we have no money to produce the annextures of 2,000 pages for each of the 360 members. The whole thing will cost about N7.5 million and there is no such budget', the source said. The Guardian was told that the leadership had arranged that each of the political party leaders in chamber should be given a copy of the annexture. Oguakwa also alleged that despite the fact that the chamber was still on recess, the leadership was still sponsoring some members on overseas trips. He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant organisations to take up the panel report. Meanwhile, the leadership of the House has said that Oguakwa's resignation might not be unconnected with his request for the expansion of the scope of his oversight functions. Tendering a letter written to the Speaker over the matter by Oguakwa, the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang who addressed a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said that the decision on such request could not be made by the Speaker alone since the committees were created by the rules of the chamber. Enang said such matter would come by way of motion on the floor of the House and the decision would be taken by members and not the Speaker alone. He further said that the functions of the committees were defined in the Rules of the House and it was not left for any single member of the chamber to amend. While asking for the expansion of the scope of work of the committee, Oguakwa said in the letter dated July 20, 2007: "Your Excellency, a perusal of the mandate of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments, at Page 96 of the Senate Rules, shows that the following matters are within the purview, namely boundary disputes, inter-state relationship. We therefore humbly request that the House rules be adjusted to include issues of boundary to the mandate of our committee, including oversight of the National Boundary Commission presently included in the brief of the House Committee on Special Duties. This type of adjustment/streamlining will bring about a harmony between the House and Senate committees in the case of joint referrals or over sight activities."

Oru-Ama  # 4 | 12.10.2007 05:35

Anyone expecting Ms Pat Etteh to resign will be day-dreaming big time. How many of our politicians in the past have traded this part in the past and how many took the honourable part of resigning? Like Mr. Abati rightly said, the onus is now not with Patricia Etteh but with the House of Reps. One thing the House of Reps should bear in mind as they return from their break on tuesday, is that the world is watching them. They should also remember that their creditability will be (to a larger extent) be measured by their actions or otherwise as per this issue. As for PDP, they need not tell the world they stand by their member... we already know their stand as soon as the news broke! The world also know the calibre of people that made up PDP. I would have personally been shocked if their statement were to the contrary! Nigeria and Nigerians have had enough of stealing and looting. We are tired of being marked-down as people from a "heavily corrupted" nation. We are tired of public officers being seen and treated as being above the law. We want a change and that change MUST start one day. The House of Reps members' must stand up and be counted. Let them for once call a spade a spade and put the demonic spirit of stealing and looting in the lives of our public officers to shame!

ALORAINIDDEVIL  # 5 | 12.10.2007 07:17

Who cares about Etteh not resigning, so long as the likes of HON JIMEH are still there, the fight this time around will be with daggers, machetes, axes and charms….

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  # 6 | 12.10.2007 13:49

In 1999, it was Buhari/Enwerem. In 2003, it was Wabara. And now, in 2007, it is Etteh. So goes the regular ritual of the "Casting Out of the Head Legislator". :) The challenge for those who want to see Mrs. Etteh out of office is to keep the matter of her renovation contract prominent in the media for as long as they can. Nigerian politics is very media-led - the moment a new story comes up in the media to push this off the front pages, that's pretty much the end of the affair, as the matter will be dragged into the backrooms to be sorted out as "a family affair". As to her resigning, I wouldn't hold out much hope for her colleagues to pressure her to go. A Nigerian politician is hardly a paragon of moral integrity, and he is only going to push for this action if he sees personal gain (or the avoidance of personal hurt) for him. I guess the question really is how powerful Etteh's backers are - if she has no political backing, then her fellow legislators may think nothing of casting her to the wolves just so that they can look good as fighters against corruption. On the other hand, if she does have people behind her, then there really is little incentive for her fellow politicians to move against her.

JAGA-JAGA  # 7 | 12.10.2007 13:54

=Oru-Ama;209177512>Anyone expecting Ms Pat Etteh to resign will be day-dreaming big time. How many of our politicians in the past have traded this part in the past and how many took the honourable part of resigning? Like Mr. Abati rightly said, the onus is now not with Patricia Etteh but with the House of Reps. One thing the House of Reps should bear in mind as they return from their break on tuesday, is that the world is watching them. They should also remember that their creditability will be (to a larger extent) be measured by their actions or otherwise as per this issue. As for PDP, they need not tell the world they stand by their member... we already know their stand as soon as the news broke! The world also know the calibre of people that made up PDP. I would have personally been shocked if their statement were to the contrary! Nigeria and Nigerians have had enough of stealing and looting. We are tired of being marked-down as people from a "heavily corrupted" nation. We are tired of public officers being seen and treated as being above the law. We want a change and that change MUST start one day. The House of Reps members' must stand up and be counted. Let them for once call a spade a spade and put the demonic spirit of stealing and looting in the lives of our public officers to shame!QUOTE> Oru-Ama, I can see your passion for the revival of sanity in our political system. However, I'm really afraid about the house of reps sincerity and courage to address this problems. Remember that as you rightly pointed out we know the stand of their party, it follows that majority of the house memberships are from the PDP. How do you think this can work. ,most of them are corrupt and were elected based on false hood. They can't act otherwise. I also will be surprised if they differ from their Party.

gwobezentashi  # 8 | 13.10.2007 12:52

N628m Contract: Etteh Should Resign – Poll Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:07:00 House of Representatives Speaker, Patricia Etteh, should resign or be impeached over the N628 million renovation contract controversy for her official residence and that of her deputy, Babangida Nguroje. By Tunde Abatan and Ayodeji Ajayi (Lagos) This is the opinion of respondents to a survey conducted by Independent Newspapers Limited (INL). The online poll lasted one week. A total 1,124 respondents, representing 88 per cent of all votes cast, demanded impeachment, while 160 or 12 per cent were against it. The total number of votes cast was 1,284. Etteh, 54, a three-term lawmaker represents Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole Federal Constituency in Osun State. However, the rank of her supporters and opponents continue to swell, as Nigerians await the House resumption on October 16 when the report of the David Idoko-led panel would be debated. We learnt that the Presidency has refused to concede to the various requests by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Ahmadu Alli, who want Etteh to retain her job. Authoritative sources say some powerful forces in the Presidency want Etteh to step aside and allow the report to be presented and deliberated on with another person on the saddle as Speaker. The argument is that it would be improper for her to preside over her own case. Besides, our sources contended that this tallies with the attitude of the Presidency to encourage transparency, without being seen as an interested party in the whole affair. As at Friday evening, there were still moves on both sides in the saga to pave way for a rancour-free deliberation when the House resumes on Tuesday. Feelers from Ogun also indicated that the state was angling to fill the position in the event of Etteh’s resignation or impeachment. We gathered that the State Assembly Speaker, Mrs Titi Oseni, and the state PDP Secretary, Elder Yemi Akinwunmi, favour the state producing the new Speaker and are working with the governor, Gbenga Daniel, on the issue. Daniel is, however, said to be torn between Dimeji Bankole, a two-term member of the House and son of a notable politician and Egba high chief, who like Obasanjo attended Baptist Boys High School, and David Salako from Remo federal constiuency and a three -term Reps member. Those who want Etteh’s replacement from Ogun reason that Osun had failed on three previous occasions in terms of appointment, citing the Senate presidency, which revolved round the five South East states between 1999 and 2007. Meanwhile, Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is said to be under pressure to consider either Wale Oke, from Oriade federal constiuency, Gbenga Onigbogi, Ilesha federal constituency and Honourable Leo Awoyemi, Osogbo/Olorunda, both two-term members, as replacement if Etteh vacates the position and the state still have to fill the slot http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=154&a=3411

Mikky jaga  # 9 | 13.10.2007 13:14

Why are people so fixated on Patricia Etteh and conveniently forgot about her deputy B. Ngoroje (I bet many villagers cannot remember his name unless prompted). The guy must be a very clever one the way he has succeeded in keeping his nose clean from the scandal. They were both on the panel that approved the expenditure. They were also expected to be beneficiaries of the renovation project. I believe if Etteh must go, his deputy must go too.