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Etteh’s House of Area
Boys
By Hakeem
Babalola
It thrills me
whenever I watch our lawmakers exchanging blows either
in the House of Representatives or in public. The
gentlemen and ladies of the Lower House recently turned
a supposed House of intellectuals into Boxing Arena. The
tournament was the continuation of the hitherto cold war
between the pro- and anti-Etteh groups at the State Box.
But instead of allowing the star of the match to show
her artistry, the spectators decided to enjoy their own
five minutes of fame.
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 sweated, they ran
helter-skelter, they tore each other’s clothes. It was a
day in which the area boys in them manifested.
I am not a bit
disappointed at such show of honourables. Anyone who
understands politics would have had the premonition of
whatever snowballed into physical fighting between them.
Nigerians should realise that #628 million is not 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 focused 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
exempt from this madness of purpose. Already the affair
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 she
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 is Etteh if she did not follow due process in
the contract of this magnitude?
Nigerians should
just hold their breath because they ain’t seen nothing
yet. There is reason to fight for, and this seems to be
what most Nigerians have not grasped. The Reps must
fight because they do not get as close to #628 million,
which an 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 a mountain out of 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 the 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 tests. 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".
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Note: The term “Area Boys” means thugs in local
parlance. Etteh is Nigerian Speaker of the House of
Representatives who is being investigated over 5 million
dollars contract scam. At the sitting of the
investigation, her fans applauded while the opposition
booed. The result is fracas in the House.
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Nigeria: Patricia Etteh Quits Lower House
Tuesday, October 30, 2007—Madam Patricia Etteh, the first
female Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives,
resigned Tuesday, following her indictment over the
misappropriation of public funds in multiple contracts
of N628m (US$5 million) for the renovation of her
official residence and the purchase of 12 official cars.
The Representatives had exchanged blows as they fought
over the case and Dr. Aminu Safana, the House Committee
Chairman on Health, slumped during the pandemonium. He
was rushed to National Hospital in Abuja where he died
shortly after and the Speaker was accused of causing his
sudden death. She ignored and dismissed calls for her
resignation until Tuesday.
Nigerian Times
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posted 26 September 2007 |
