Friday, February 25, 2005

The suspension of Hon. Haruna Yerima By Reuben Abati

HON. Haruna Yerima is a member of the House of Representatives representing Borno on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). In the past few days, nearly every newspaper on the street has carried either a full-page, or a half-page advert, emblazoned with the logo of the House of Representatives, signed by Hon Abike Dabiri, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, and significantly titled "House of Representatives suspension of Hon. Haruna Yerima". The advert is unprecedented, for it is, in every respect, a disclaimer issued by the House of Representatives on one of its own members.

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I have seen the advert in at least five newspapers and I am wondering why the House of Representatives should be so desperate that it would spend so much money just to tell the public that it has suspended one of its members for one month. I can only hope that the lawmakers, who approved this advert are paying for it from their own pockets, for I cannot see how the effort advances public interest. Writ large on every line of this advert is the recklessness of the House of Representatives, the division among its ranks, its undue excitement over Haruna Yerima and whatever he may have done, and the illogicality of its reaction. The first paragraph of the advert talks about the role of the House of Representatives, and the need to protect its integrity. Sounds like hot air.

In the second paragraph, we are told that "on 17th February 2005, the House of Representatives moved to discipline one of our colleagues for statements that were indeed detrimental to the house and disrespectful to its members. The Honourable Haruna Yerima (ANPP Borno) has been suspended for one month for using coarse and disparaging language to describe his interpretation of legislative proceedings and individual members. The sweeping and generalised aspersions of Hon. Yerima were unprofessional especially since the allegations were mere hearsay and not supported by hard evidence". Now, this paragraph is magisterial. We are not told what the allegations are, and how in specific terms, Haruna Yerima disrespected his colleagues. It is a pity his photograph was not included in the advertorial to make it more deliberate, but we are told that Yerima was "unprofessional". What profession? Is membership of the National Assembly now a profession? Is this the understanding of the leadership of the House of Representatives?

In paragraph three, the House of Representatives tells us about a certain code of conduct. Then, for the first time, we are given an idea of the allegations made by Dr. Yerima, something about MTN recharge cards now under investigation. And now, we are told: "The outcome of that investigation as well as other issues is being awaited by the House". If Dr. Yerima's allegations are still being investigated, then on what grounds was he suspended? If there is an investigation in place, why and how was he adjudged guilty and punishment meted out to him? What if the investigating panel vindicates him? In paragraph four, there is yet another dose of chest-beating hot air as the House boasts about "a respectable and professional level of performance on behalf of our country (for which reason) unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo must not be cast or misinterpreted as the truth".

This advert is ill-advised to the extent of its contradictory nature. Since the House of Representatives has chosen to take its matter with Hon. Haruna Yerima to the court of public opinion, it must be prepared for our intervention. This being Nigeria, I need to make some clarifications. I do not know Haruna Yerima. I have never met him. I do not know whether he is a bum or a gentleman, and really what does it matter? The facts of his dispute with the House of Representatives are sufficiently of public interest. For record purposes, may it be stated that Yerima's problem with his colleagues began when he chose to act the role of a whistle-blower, and gadfly, a rebel, an insider who chose to throw stones into the House, thus breaking the code of honour among thieves. Yerima chose to stand apart, and expose the weaknesses of the same House of which he is a member. He did not do so quietly. He did so in the marketplace, and loudly too.

In the week of February 14-18, 2005, Hon. Yerima told House correspondents that members of the House of Representatives extort money from Ministers and Heads of Government parastatals in order to appropriate funds for them in budgets and that every month, MTN, a GSM company bribes legislators with recharge cards. His words as reported: "Whoever tells you there is no corruption in the House is in fact corrupt. Ministers and heads of parastatals are often asked to bring money by some Honourable members so that their budgets can be passed. MTN bribes us every month. It brings cards worth N7,500 monthly to each member. I am not working for MTN so I see no reason why MTN should be doing that monthly. I want to write to the Chairman, House Committee on Communications that please we have 360 members, when you go to MTN to collect these things please collect for 359....Most of us are contractors. Most of us come here to make money, make what you can make and leave. Most of our debates are beer parlour debates. No research. We argue like ordinary people on our streets. Our debate is shallow". Then, Yerima added the clincher by observing that in the past 18 months, the House has not passed any legislation that is beneficial to the long-suffering people of Nigeria.

Weighty words, no doubt. But Yerima's colleagues felt affronted. When he showed up on the floor of the House, someone moved a motion for his suspension for one month which was promptly seconded by another aggrieved lawmaker. One other person stood up and informed the House, without any research or qualifications in this context, that Yerima is a mad man, in need of psychiatric treatment. He then added that suspension would not do, Yerima should be expelled from the House. In his own contribution, one fellow called Hon. Abdul Ningi stood up and declared that Yerima's allegations amount to an invitation to the military to seize government, and an incitement of the public against federal legislators. Other lawmakers who advised caution were shouted down, and out-voted. Then, after judgement had been delivered, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges was asked to investigate the allegations! But Dr. Yerima stood his ground: "I did not talk about institutional corruption but individuals and committees. I insist they are corrupt, If I am crucified over it, so be it. I owe nobody any apology".

The reaction of the House of Representatives in this matter has merely vindicated Hon. Haruna Yerima. The man complained about beer parlour debate in the House and indeed, the discussion of his allegations was done at the level of the beer parlour - with his critics reacting emotionally like a group of beer-drinkers in exceptionally high spirits. In the advert, the House talks about its "code of conduct". Does this code include, the stifling of the freedom of expression? Dr. Yerima was expressing an opinion; he did not mention any specific names, rather he declared his impressions about the conduct of his colleagues. There is nothing he has said that is either new or original. Are his colleagues angry because he is saying the bitter truth? Are they angry because he is acting like a traitor, pretending to be holier-than-thou?

He says there is corruption in the House. But this is common knowledge. I do not see how such a declaration would bring the House into any further disrepute in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public. He says the quality of debates is low. He is entitled to his opinion, and that right should be respected. In any case, he belongs to the ANPP, an opposition party. Why would PDP members expect a member of the opposition to say that which would please them? He spoke about free recharge cards from MTN. The House Chairman of the Committee on Communications has confirmed this to be true, although he insists that it is PR. Which is understandable considering that this same House of Representatives once opposed the idea of regulating the kind and quantum of gifts that its members should receive in the course of their duty.

But what is to be noted is that Yerima's disclosure of the recharge card deal immediately resulted in a number of legislators protesting that they have never received their own share of monthly recharge cards. If cards are sent to all the members monthly and some members do not get theirs, does this not confirm Yerima's protests? So, what does the House mean when it talks about unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo? And as for members making laws for a fee, or the lack of productivity in the House of Representatives, an appropriate response would have been to use this opportunity to tell the public what the House has done, in real terms, in the last 18 months.

By suspending Yerima and issuing a disclaimer on him even before the investigating Committee submits its report the House has acted as the judge and the jury in its own case. It has denied Hon. Yerima, his right to fair hearing. If indeed he has committed "an offence", he should have been given a chance to defend himself. With the present public display of righteousness by the House, it is obvious what the outcome of the investigation by the Ethics and Privileges Committee would be. And of course, this is not the first time that this Committee will be used to cover up the House of Representatives. So much money is being spent to discredit a man who is merely expressing his opinion, except in one regard. When a lawmaker slapped another lawmaker and when two members wrestled themselves to the ground, within the premises of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives was not as enthusiastic as it is now about its image. Is physical combat therefore, allowed under the House rules of conduct?

Yerima's suspension is undeserved. He should be recalled forthwith. The more substantial aspects of his statements should be subjected to close investigation and serve as a wake up call to the House of Representatives. In the same breadth, the publication of that wasteful advertorial must be discontinued. If there is any one that has been paid for, but has not been published, it should be withdrawn. The Ethics and Privileges Committee must worry more about the use of public funds by the House of Representatives, to fight battles that are in no way beneficial to the Nigerian people. I rest my case.