by Habeeb Lanlehin
The dry season ushers in the rain, the rain falls then fade and leaves the stage for Harmattan. That is the cycle of life; as the earth spins around the sun, so do changes take place. Egwu Samuel Chinaemerem, the honourable President of the political science department, the University of Ibadan presided over his second senate meeting on Friday 4th of November, 2022.
Where is everyone?
Is the mighty bell in the hallowed chamber faulty or do some things never change? Are the honorables in the chamber having a hard time honoring time or just lackadaisical, or are some senators representing their constituency only because it will look good on a CV and not because they are willing to serve? These are the questions asked last administration and sadly, these are still recurring questions during this administration.
It is important to state that the President, Deputy President, Clerk, chief whip and less than thirteen (13) senators were punctual and at the sitting venue before the stipulated time, 9:30 am. But can the President and his principal officers do all the job? No, they can’t. The Senate cannot hold a sitting without the presence of a minimum of thirteen (13) members to form a quorum, the frustrated president had to ask the clerk, Sen. Sunday Noah “are they not aware we have a sitting?
We are new but nonchalant
The first business of the day was to swear-in Senators-elect, but where are they? Stuck in a traffic jam or leisurely eating a sumptuous breakfast while bidding time to wait? Some things we’ll never know. However, it is disturbing to notice the absence of Senators-elect representing the 100lv constituency, being freshmen, where is their excitement and eagerness to venture into something new? Should a first-timer who got to work late on his first day be trusted with his office?
Sen. Solomon, a first-timer representing the 200lv constituency was also supposed to be sworn in after recently emerging victorious in a bye-election and also chose to be late on his first day which also doubles as his swearing-in day.
Following Sen. Solomon’s footsteps is Sen. Boniface representing the 300lv constituency. Although not a first-timer, at the end of his tenure in the last session, he decided to contest for the post of department’s vice president, an election he lost to Miss Faith Etuk.
Presently, he is back in the house after being given the baton by his constituency members to represent their interests but he had to sit with congressmen after missing his swearing-in ceremony. He was barred from contributing as a senator till he can be sworn in.
Notably late was Sen. Opeyemi also representing the 200lv constituency.
Duty can wait
Membership in any arm or apparatus of the department’s organization has always been voluntary. The organization consists of the Executive arm, Legislative arm, the Press, and Literary and debate society. Members join or contest for positions with the sole aim of serving without any financial compensation, no one is compelled or blackmailed to belong to an arm of the organisation.
All members of the department’s legislative organ expressed interest and promised their constituents an excellent representation, but how have some represented their constituents? By being absent!
The hallowed chamber runs on a simple majority to make decisions affecting the department and each constituency, every vote, motion and counter-motion counts to ensure fair representation but is the representation fair when half of the Senators are absent during sitting? Why did they take on a responsibility and then decide to abandon their duty?
Conclusion
To the Senate President, dear sir, what is the punishment for lateness and outright absence from sittings and what are steps you plan on taking to curb and enforce discipline in the house?
Lastly, all constituencies should be lectured on the process of “recall” and made to know it is in their power to recall and replace an ineffective representative.
