A wise man may look ridiculous in the company of fools -Thomas Fuller You will acquire the vices and virtues of your closest associates. The fragrance of their lives will pervade your life. In our common parlance we say, show me your friends and I will show you who you are. Show me our Senators and I will show you foolish people. The nations most controversial Minister, the Mallam in suit, Nasir el-Rufai is at it again, he has stirred the hornets nest. Ordinarily I would have allowed this one to go without much ado as our polity is never short of such entertaining episode of some nation do have them. However curiosity took the better of me, as I could not just let this go. In a response to Senators request that he refunds some 19 million Naira that he paid out as salaries to two of his assistants for December 2003, he responded in chat with the media that silence was the best answer for a fool The Senators went gaga, in one senators words el-Rufai had desecrated the hallowed chamber The Minister was accused of calling the entire Senators foolsan unprovoked and unnecessary attack against them. The Minister had rubbished the Senate, that at every slightest provocation the Minister always took a sweep at members of the hallowed chambers. Of fools A man once called members of the hallowed chamber goats in a swift response an association for the protection of the rights of goats (ASSOGO) said they felt insulted being compared to the Senators Of fools, of all things the Senators threatened a two-day strike, its only foolish Senators that would think that the only amicable response to being addressed as fools is a strike action. Redeeming ones battered image in Nigeria is not one of the rationals for embarking on a strike action. Of fools, for Senators who claim that the labour law amendments is in line with governments bid to halt strikes and then the fools suddenly find it convenient to express their grievance through the same avenue smacks of native foolishness Of fools, because a man accused one of their own of asking him for a little greasing of 54million Naira to facilitate a take a bow reception in order to be confirmed a Minister. Of fools, the same Minister then, goes further to demolish buildings belonging to these men of the hallowed chamber and those of them that escaped demolition were asked to reapply for Certificates of Occupancy. Of fools, he went crazy by sacking hundreds of redundant staff at his Ministry, most of which got employed in the first place through notes that were given them by these men of the hallowed chambers I do not see any achievements our Senators have contributed towards the growth of our nascent democracy. The first Ghana must go moneybags most Nigerians ever saw were on the floors of this hallowed chambers. All these distinguished crooks have achieved, is building mansions here and there, and buying luxury on wheels in the name of car. They have fought the president from everything to nothing as far as it had to do with money but when the issue was masses related...Say for example petroleum palaver they sing dialogue with the Executive arm of government. The quarter past two rogues are yet to append their signatures to any masses sensitive and result oriented project in health, education, transport, but dont joke with their allowances. Right from the days of Furniture allowance, they have continually needed more money to satisfy their numerous girlfriends, concubines while those3 who put them in office suffer. Like Senator Chukwumerije told BBCs Focus on Africa programme nobody likes to be called a fool true talk, but when one finger is soiled the others get stained likewise. Not all the members of the Senate are fools however there are certainly fools among the lot. A Senate that has a pick of ex-convicts, Okija exponents and Ghana must go consultants. There are many issues on the burner of public discuss needing the attention of disgracedoh! I mean distinguished Senators before I am blackmailed or threatened. Yet they are making noise about a 19 million of last December, I say to them good morning after all when a man wakes up is his morning. The Senate Public Accounts Committee has just woken on the side of the bed in from which it only sees el-Rufai. Of fools, the Senators have sheathed their edgeless knives, leaving other important issues to ascertain their foolishness. I only wished they could embark on their so-called strike, leave their official cars and residence. I bet you most of them would betray their colleagues. Who no like better thing, Ill rather be a fool and collect my share of the national cake. Of fools, after the expiration of their 48 hours only noise no action. I can swear nothing absolutely nothing would happen. Now the apologies flood the floor of the hallowed chamber. Apologiesmy President is a humble man, I guess that can will never be an attribute of my Presido. However he has disappointed some of us with a very unobasanjo like behavior. Infact President Obasanjo apologized three hours after the Senate asked him to sack the erring Minister, while the Senate raked thunder, fire and brimstone. The President sent in another letter asking for mercy and understanding. Apologies, my Uncle Sege preached forgiveness. Hear the Generals letter. . On noticing the alleged (wrong deployment of language) Nigerians and grammar which one is wrong deployment of language. Apologies, I hope the letters include the two months constituency allowance being owed the lawmakers. A born again President, in a spate of three days two apologies saying sorry from Mr.Right. Blackmail, thats what our politics is about and what our leaders are about. Blackmail. Senate unanimously adopted the call, 48 hours, we say 48 hours to get the Honourable Minister out. Anger, temper, fists and cuffs, all na blackmail. After all are they not all Peoples Democratic Party PDP members. Birds of the same plumage. Blackmail, make sure you remove the Minister, this is what definitely makes our democracy exciting for the masses like us to watch. Cheap blackmail, failure to sack the Minister, then, forget the Trade Union or is it Labour Amendment Bill, the same bill was given speedy passage by the hallowed chambers in the name of liberalizing labour. In the early days of the hallowed chamber life, one of the really distinguished dramatis personae, the late Oyi, Chuba Okadigbo, once caught sleeping during sitting, asked why? Answered when I stay awake and listen to some of these boys and the things they discuss I weep for Nigeria (not exact words, slightly paraphrased). However with such testimony who wants to blame the Mallam in suit for labeling them fools. And as I conclude for now, pending, the continuation of the movie. Bien tot, Watch out for the part two whenever it premiers..! | 
