All those fanning the embers of war concerning their interests in the 2015 elections or making statements that could throw Nigeria into war must be arrested with immediate effect and charged for treason, Senate President David Mark has said.
Mark, who addressed his colleagues at the resumption of the senate from a long vacation on Tuesday, directed security agencies to track down all those declaring that the country would be on fire if particular persons are not elected into offices.
Though he did not list any name, the Senate President who had also received the Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was apparently referring to Asari Dokuboh (the Niger-Delta militant who has been breathing hot in favour of a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan even in the midst of alleged failure of the administration) as well as others who have been making dangerous statements.
To Mark, it has become disheartening that even though the general elections of 2015 are two years away, those he called political jobbers, sycophants, and hustlers have prematurely seized the political space, and are being allowed to set the tone of national discourse.
“This is an unnecessary and avoidable distraction by characters or hirelings who are desperately in search of relevance. They are only out to feather their own nests and in the process unduly overheat the polity.
“Beating the drums of war, chanting war songs and blackmailing the nation with fire and brimstone are outdated and unacceptable tools of political brinksmanship.
“But like I have said in the past, Nigeria is greater than any of its parts, and it is in our collective interest to promote her unity based on the ideals of love, peace, patriotism, faith, compromise and sacrifice. And Nigeria is certainly greater than any position any politician will ever occupy.
“I, therefore, strongly advise the security agencies to take any threat bordering on treason very seriously and to thoroughly investigate such and take appropriate measure irrespective of who the culprits are.”
On activities to be embarked upon as the senate returns back from the recess, he said: “I trust that our interactions and interface with our various constituents were meaningful, constructive and insightful. We return to our legislative task with a keener appreciation of the expectations, aspirations and hopes of our various constituents– as well as their fears.”
He reminded his colleagues to expect to be very busy with legislative activities including the 2014 budget that may be presented soon by the executive arm of government.
According to him, “soon to be dealt with are the 2014 budget, the Petroleum Industry Bill, Customs (Amendment) Bill, Pensions Reforms (Amendment) Bill, Further Review of the Electoral Act, and harmonization of the Senate and House positions on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“You will recall that the 2013 budget estimates was laid before us in October last year. Let me call on the Executive to improve on that record this year. Because the 2013 budget estimates was laid early enough, we not only scrupulously, meticulously and robustly debated it, we also ensured that it was passed before the commencement of its operative financial year.
“We are poised to do likewise with the 2014 budget estimates, if presented early. Not only shall we give it the needed scrupulous consideration before passage, we will also deploy the weapon of oversight to ensure that its developmental goals are fully realized, through full implementation, once it is signed into law,” he said.
Mark lamented the plight of the Nigerian university students who have been at home for more than two months as a result of the strike embarked upon by their lecturers. He also urged the lecturers to go back to their classes while negotiations continue on their grievances.
“The morass in the education sector is deeply troubling not only because it is retarding the educational progress of millions of our children, but also because it arrests the intellectual development of our nation, with grave consequences for the future.
“While appreciating the tremendous merit in the case put forth by ASUU, we call on its leaders to return to class, while pragmatic negotiations to address their grievances continue.
“The Senate will invest the full weight of its moral and constitutional authority to nudge both the Federal Government and ASUU towards a comprehensive settlement that addresses, in a realistic manner, the problems afflicting tertiary education in our country,” he said.
For those clamouring for the convocation of a national conference, he counselled they they make haste slowly and operate strictly within the parameters of the country’s constitution.
He said: “We live in very precarious times, and in a world increasingly made fluid and toxic by strange ideologies and violent tendencies, all of which currently conspire to question the very idea of the nation state. This sense of discontentment and alienation has fuelled extremism, apathy and even predictions of catastrophe for our dear nation.”