Date: 2014-11-21

To every true democrat, the show of shame dramatized by our parliamentarians and security men at NASS on Thursday is a big stain in the garment of our democracy and nationhood. The manner in which the All Progressive Congress, APC, lawmakers projected their grievances has put them in same coach with miscreants. Where in the world will you see an elected official jumping fence in defiance of security threats just because he/she wants to fight injustice meted on his/her colleague? I think it could only be in Nigeria where position of authority is bastardized just for transient political gains.

The way and manner at which they approached the issue of denying the Speaker of the House of Representatives entry to House by our supposed partisan security outfits had blemished the honourable prefix attached to their names and at the same time earned them dishonourable prefix. Reason being that their behaviour gave no room to distinguish or contrast them from thugs and hoodlums.

If they can resulted to fence jumping to protest their dissatisfaction, who are they to tell us to ensure peaceful protest when demanding our rights? Who are they to tell Boko Haram and other insurgent groups to observe decorum in airing their grievances? They can't! Because they have failed in leading by example.

Every well-meaning Nigerian and lover of democracy are on their side, knowing that bad treatment and disrespect being accorded on Hon Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwa since his defection to the opposition is unfair and undemocratic. Freedom of association/choice is boldly captured in our constitution and anybody can align with whoever he wants without fear of persecution. If there is no ill-treatment of defectors from APC, if they can be celebrated for their gallant step, there shouldn't be condemnation, persecution or ill-treatment of defectors to APC because Nigeria belongs to us all.

There has to be level play among our elected officials regardless of their political affiliation provided they do not misbehave to utmost authorities, in as much they do not take steps or make any outrageous comment that can jeopardize our democracy or threaten our existence as a sovereign nation. There should be fair play in our governing system. We must uphold the concept of equality in all our dealings and abided by principle of equity as encoded in rule of law.

Bolaji Aladie is a 300 level Linguistics and Nigerian Languages student of Unilorin.