- Why former governors turn Senate into retirement home
- Politicians want pensions for ex-governors stopped
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, FESTUS OKOROMADU MAYOWA SAMUEL AND BRIGHT JACOB
Politicians, pro-democracy activists and other stakeholders have argued that past state governors struggle to get elected into the National Assembly in a bid to escape probe for their alleged corrupt practices while serving in their respective states.
They also contended that these former governors cling to the Red Chamber and lobby for ministerial and other juicy positions because they don’t have private businesses or professions that they could fall back on.
According to these respondents, the National Assembly would continue to wear a rubber stamp appendage and become less productive for the generality of the citizens until politicians cease to see the legislative arm as “retirement home” for ex-state governors.
While agreeing with the fact that these former governors have the fundamental rights to contest for any elective position in the country, political pundits and social commentators, however, frown at a situation whereby governors, upon the completion of their tenure, turn the Senate into a “retirement home.”
They said some of them didn’t do well as governors, so do not expect such people to deliver for the nation at the National Assembly.
In their views, some of these former governors just go to the National Assembly to rest, adding that some of them have never sponsored any progressive bill.
Like the ex-governors, stakeholders argue that former ministers also jostle to move to join the Red Chamber after their stay in office.
Unlike state governors whose tenure in office has a constitutional limit of eight years, four years per term, which is renewable, senators have no term limits.
In the 9th Senate, whose life expired on June 11, 2023, there were 14 former governors.
During the 2023 general elections, some then-serving governors and former governors failed in their bids to switch to the Senate, including those who had to defect to other parties to get the tickets for the February 25 National Assembly election.
Some of the then-serving and former governors who failed to win the general elections include Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu – Enugu North District), Samuel Ortom (Benue – Benue North-West District), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia – Abia South District), and Simon Lalong (Plateau – Plateau South District).
Others are Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi – Kebbi Central District), Darius Ishaku (Taraba – Taraba South District), Ben Ayade (Cross River – Cross River North District), and the first civilian Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East District) of the People’s Democratic Party.
However, at the February 25 National Assembly elections, 14 former governors secured seats in the 10th Senate.
Similarly, six former ministers also won seats in the Red Chamber, although four of them are also former governors.
There are 109 senators in the Nigerian Senate. Each of the 36 states of the federation has three senators while one senator comes from Abuja, the country’s seat of power.
“All these governors are going to the red chamber to cover their atrocities and to enhance what they call immunity so that they won’t be able to get arrested and also influence the judicial process”
Former governors who are senators in the 10th National Assembly are: Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North, APC); Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West, PDP); Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central, APC); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central, PDP); Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe East, APC); . Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West, APC); Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar (Zamfara West, APC); Dave Nweze Umahi (Ebonyi South, APC); Adams Aliyu Oshiomole (Edo North, APC); Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe North, PDP); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East, APC); Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South, PDP).
A politician, Oluwaseun Adegbite, said the country may continue with the trend for some time until youths and voters express genuine readiness to make sacrifices and desist from considering money during the electoral process.
He said many past governors have soiled their hands and committed many atrocities while in the governorship offices and that they become desperate to occupy the red chamber in order to protect them against probe.
“There are so many factors that led to this recycling of leadership in Nigeria especially as it relates to former governors. This democracy we are practicing was imposed on us by the western world and the United States precisely, and we are just getting started.
“You know in Nigeria, most of us politicians don’t have work, they don’t have certain professions. Unlike the western world, when certain public office holders leave a given office, he or she will go back to his work.
“Take for example, the former President of the United States of America, Barack Obama (2009-2017). Before he became the President, he was a lecturer, and after he left the office of the Presidency, he went back to lecturing and delivering lectures all around the world, climate change, on international law, and what have you.
“Also, the former German Chancellor, Angela Merkel (2005-2021). She was a financial expert, when she left the office of the German Chancellor; she went back to the financial industry. But, in Nigeria, you will see a certain politician who is very redundant and he will contest for an election and become a governor. After he leaves the governorship position, he has nothing to do. So, he will look for a way to let that free money continue.
“Most of these governors in the green chamber, they use those seats to cover their atrocities. You know, we could take our example from former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye. He contested for the Senate and he won. So, later, he was sent to prison because he committed so many atrocities. So, all these governors are going to the red chamber to cover their atrocities and to enhance what they call immunity so that they won’t be able to get arrested and also influence the judicial process.
“Another factor that makes these governors have their way is that the electorate worship money and they want to sell their votes, if not so, most of these governors wouldn’t have won elections into the Senate. We have so many good people around. Go to the University, you will see lecturers, experts, professionals and technocrats but they don’t have money. All these governors, after they have stolen the public funds, will use that money again to buy electorate for them to achieve their aims and objectives,” Adegbite stated.
A pro-democracy activist, Bright Oniovokukor, expressed similar views stating that former governors seek relevance and protection after leaving offices because they have committed atrocities in their various states.
He noted that those former governors who are now Senators may not achieve much in their various constituencies.
He said, “When you look at most of our politicians, they are looking for ways to get access to some resources and you know these political offices are where they get this money. And some of them always try to escape certain things and atrocities that they have committed in the office as governors. They see the National Assembly, especially the Senate as immunity against their past misdeeds. But the major thing is that they have tested power and they don’t want to go back as someone who is no longer relevant. You will see them hustling to become Senators and some of them who cannot be Senators want to be ministers or holding one key position or the other.
“In a country that has over 200 million citizens, you see few persons who have occupied various positions still wanting to go into the Senate. This is just proving that there is an element of greed and penchant to remain in power and live ostentatious lifestyles. It’s also painful that nobody checks their track record to see what they are doing.
“They are only concerned about themselves, they are not really concerned about Nigerians or our welfare, they are only concerned about themselves and what they stand to benefit in the office they occupy. They run a clique and they want to be worshipped always and it’s not good for our democracy. These governors who become Senators are not making any impacts and that’s the worst of it. If you see a governor who didn’t do well when in office and goes to the Senate, he should use that opportunity to correct the past misdeeds, but what do they do, they become worse.
Another civil right activist, Ayo Ologun said the nation may continue to experience leadership recycling if Nigerians continue to see politics as a dirty game.
“We continue to have recycled persons in leadership in Nigeria not because of a dearth of quality people or lack of human resources but because in most cases, the best of us distance ourselves from politics calling it dirty and not wanting to be associated with filth or be ridiculed by those who ordinarily cannot even buckle their shoes.
Another thing that prevents the best in leadership from limiting us to recycling is a lack of resources and a war chest financially to compete with the moneybags since our politics has become so monetized that only those with deep pockets can contest election to lead others and hence, those that get elected into public offices so enrich themselves ahead of the next opportunity to contest election and force themselves on the people since we get to have limited choice(s).
A civil servant, Jeremiah Okhai, said the only way to stop the recycling of politicians in various elective positions in the country is by legislation.
“Like the civil service where there is retirement law, laws should be made prohibiting any politician who has occupied one office from receiving pension if he is elected into another office.
“For example, if someone has served as a governor and wins an election into the Senate, his pension as a former governor should stop. It’s not only the politicians, some military officers and even retired civil servants from the rank of directors venture into politics and win elections to become governors or senators or even appointed as ministers, while still receiving their pensions, they receive salaries as governors, lawmakers or ministers.
“The unfortunate thing is that the people who are to enact the laws are the beneficiaries. They are oppressors, only God can deliver us from their evil programmes that have impoverished us the more,” he said.
For Kingsley Abayi, a politician and businessman, “the problem Nigeria has is that most politicians are professional politicians. They don’t have any established business or meaningful career before going into politics. They see these positions as opportunities to enrich themselves so they can do anything to hold onto power and they are the people that turn election to “do or die”. We have governors who at the end of their tenure are not interested in the Senate, they retire to their businesses. This issue of pensions for governors was forced on Nigerians by the politicians who are not bothered by the suffering of Nigerian masses.
“As a politician, I will advise that Nigerians shelve aside those primordial sentiments and vote wisely during elections. If we are waiting for the lawmakers to legislate against it, we will wait till eternity and nothing of such will happen. As for the youth, I am one of them. Our problem is that these same caliber of persons are the moneybags who influence the outcome of elections because to them everybody has a price and they can buy even the authority. But the youth can be resolute to reject their monetary offers that will deny them their privileges and rights in the long run.”
A diplomat and journalist, Salisu Iliyasu Gadu, also decried Nigeria’s political system and structure which has been kept away from the reach of youths, and has enabled politicians to make their services to the people a money making venture.
Gadu urged Civil Society Organisations in the country to organise seminars to look at how youths with fresh ideas can get more involved in politics, rather than recycling the same old politicians who have refused to give way for new people.
According to the immediate past Taraba State Peoples Redemption Party Senatorial candidate, it was sad that many youths are more interested in being thugs and errand boys for politicians.
“The situation has to do with the kind of political system and structure we operate because politics has become a means of empowerment. Many politicians have decided that they won’t contribute in other ways but through politics.
“You’ll see academic professors who ordinarily should be in the class teaching, and all kinds of people trying to get into politics, so that they can make good their aims because once you’re in politics and you’re able to secure elective position, then you’re made.
“We’ve put so much money in the political system and structure that it has now become a money making venture. The CSOs should come in; there should be seminars and political action groups that would put this thing on the front burner. We need to be able to stop this, it’s a matter of persuasion, and it’s a matter of tweaking the political structures in this country, so that we’ll discourage people.
“Somebody will start as a House of Assembly member, the next thing for him is House of Reps, then he becomes Senator, next he wants to be a minister. They just go there to fill up the space, denying those who are eager and have all the capabilities to help out. A governor won’t work for about eight years, then after he’s done that, he’ll just come and become a Senator.
“It’s unfortunate, it’s a catch-22 situation. We want to encourage the youths, but some of them, the way they behave in politics and others, it’s not encouraging. Some of them don’t appear to be serious about politicking. They want to be errand boys, thugs and all kinds of things.
“Also, I’m saying it bluntly that there’s a conscious attempt to deny the youths from coming in because the others want to be there in perpetuity but that doesn’t augur well because it’s about leadership selection process, leadership grooming process, and if you don’t groom the youths to be able to contribute their quota to the country, we’re going to end up recycling failures.
“The youths don’t have the opportunity to contribute their own quota. It’s a job for the civil society groups; it’s a matter that will be very difficult to legislate on because it affects the fundamental rights of people and the choices of the people. So, I think what action groups should be able to come up with is to advocate and make sure that these things are stopped,” he further asserted.
Reacting, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Joseph Aka, said the practice exposes the excessive power at the disposals of the executive arm of government in the fourth republic. He noted that the executives have become emperors in their domains and have been able to put the legislative arm which is supposed to regulate their actions under control.
He recalled that the first set of governors in this fourth democratic dispensation introduced this trend in 2007 when many of them unconstitutionally manipulated their state legislators to pass bills granting them jumbo retirement benefits and pension allowances.
“The pension laws supporting these payments were made based on political considerations. The fact that some states enacted laws to back up the wrong practice in 2007 encouraged others to follow suits.
“Unfortunately, the Attorney General of the Federation who ought to have challenged the laws passed by the states to legalise the outrageous benefits has failed to do so.
“I am aware that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), secured a judgement from the Federal High Court, Abuja compelling former governors and other public officials to disclose their life pensions, but it goes beyond disclosures, the call should be to abolition,” he said.
He noted that the rewards tied to political offices in the country are what give room to the ‘do or die’, kind of politics we practice.
“The situation has to do with the kind of political system and structure we operate because politics has become a means of empowerment. Many politicians have decided that they won’t contribute in other ways but through politics”
A human right activist and director, People’s Right, a non-governmental organisation, Tive Denedo, described the jumbo pension scheme by former governors as criminal.
“Those in power have always found ways to gratify themselves at the expense of the people. This is a function of the failure of the system to check corruption. Some ex-governors apart from collecting jumbo allowances as retirement benefits still go ahead to become Senators receiving remuneration from the same system.
“The current economic woes of our country are due to mismanagement and greed of our political leaders, from the Federal to States and Local Governments. Our leaders do not have regards for sincerity and honesty. How do you reward a person who served the system for a maximum of eight years with so much, yet civil servants who served for 35 years live in penury after retirement?
A clergyman, Emeka Onwuha, said wishing recycled leaders away would not help to flush them out of the national life of Nigeria.
According to him, not only do they influence Nigeria’s democratic realities, but frequent the Presidential villa in Abuja, thereby being “in the face of the president.”
Onwuha said because of the presence of these leaders at the Villa, other Nigerians who have so much to offer the nation find it daunting to have an audience with the president.
“I pity those who want to wish recycled leaders away. That is not a solution because it will be near-impossible to make them go away like that. How do you wish people away who have for years been influencing our so-called democratic realities?
“If you go to the Presidential Villa today, to your chagrin, it will be these same leaders you will regularly see, loitering around the corridors of power and they know all the nooks and crannies as well as staircases in Aso Rock. In fact, they know where the laundry areas are.
“These leaders are, therefore, the ones in the face of the president 24/7, grinning from ear to ear. They will not allow anyone else outside their league to come near the president and, sadly, they have mastered the act of manipulation and the president is usually left with no choice but to listen to them.
“But the ordinary Nigerian, who has the wherewithal and mindset to lift this nation out of its mystery will never be allowed to go near there or have an audience with the president. They will bounce such fellows out,” Onwuha declared.
Offering solutions on how the menace of tired, recycled leaders could be addressed, Onwuha said there should be a law barring ex-Governors from the Senate for three years after they must have left office.
Onwuha also said it was time youths began to work together to promote their cause and not allow politicians to “divide and conquer” them.
He said, “I think one way out of the confusion is to enact laws that will check these ex-governors who may want to use the Senate as their retirement home. There should be, for instance, a law barring ex-governors from contesting for Senatorial or House of Representatives seats for the next three years after they leave office.
“Unfortunately, lawmakers and governors are in cahoots, and this kind of law will continue to remain a pipedream and will never see the light of day.
“As for the youths, they are the architect of their own misfortune. Youths have been known to betray themselves in the past because of the crumbs they get from these politicians, and they (recycled leaders) know this and that is why they always use divide and conquer tactics to relegate the youths to the bottom rung of the ladder. The youths must wake-up and seize their country from these leaders….no one will do it for them,” Onwuha concluded.
