THISDAYonline

Without any fear of contradiction, one must assert that the outgoing National Assembly is the most rapacious, corrupt and pathologically greedy legislature Nigeria has ever produced. The first evidence of their corrupt intentions was their shameless struggle to collect furniture allowances, ranging from N2.5 million to N3 million.

It is a matter of public record that this is the first national legislature that decided to repeal and amend the Anti-corruption Act 2002, mainly because its two main principal leaders - Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Speaker Ghali Umar Na'Abba - were asked to defend allegations of corruption against them by the Justice Akanbi Commission. Even more ridiculous is the fact that the Senate and the House of Representatives did not only water down the original Anti-corruption Act, but also took insane step further to grant them immunity from prosecution, which was a clear abuse of public trust. By their insensate and arrogant posturing, the lawmakers have destroyed the credibility of the National Assembly as one of the key institutions of our democracy.

Morally crippled, the National Assembly has to begin a clean slate when the new legislature is inaugurated during President Obasanjo's second term in office. In order to redeem their morally paralysed public image, the in-coming National Assembly must elect new leaders who are not only competent and morally credible, but also those who perceive public office in terms of service rather than passion to worship the golden calf. The new National Assembly must resist attempts by old members who are discredited to impose themselves through technical manipulations.

The widely reported ambition of Dr. Usman Bugaje from Katsina State to contest the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives gives Nigerians who know his antecedents a deep sense of hope. With the integrity of the House of Representatives in tatters over the corruption cancer that invades their soul, new members with better records and better commitment to public service, as opposed to personal material aggrandisement, must be given the opportunity to give our democracy a respectable image.

In fact, the success of our democracy cannot be separated from the credibility of our leaders, the National Assembly inclusive. Dr. Usman Bugaje's unassailable record stands him in good stead and he's qualified in his own right to succeed Speaker Ghali Na'Abba, who finds the war against corruption a dirty ward, hence his collaboration with Senator Pius Anyim to kill the crusade against the vice.

Unassuming and broadly experienced, Dr. Bugaje who is currently the Political Adviser to Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, by far towers above all aspirants from North-West who are aspiring to step into the shoes of Ghali Na'Abba. The sheer versatility of his training makes Dr. Bugaje to stand out as a formidable candidate.

His broad training ranges from Pharmacy, history and education, all of which saw him rising to the position of a researcher and lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University. Besides a B.Sc. degree in Pharmacy, Masters degree and a doctorate from the University of Sudan, Dr. Bugaje also attended courses in Government and Economic Reforms at the Havard University, JFK School of Government, U. S. A.

A prolific writer on national and international issues, the Political Adviser has academic and non-academic published works and books reviews to his credit. His membership and leadership of various professional associations and scholarly bodies, add feathers to his brilliant career. Apart from attending various international and national conferences on many issues, Dr. Bugaje also had the privilege of serving on different committees, including education, constitutional review, G-18 and G-18, National Boundary Commission and many others.

However, what makes Dr. Bugaje's record of experience and leadership remarkable is his social and moral orientation. As the Chairman, Network for Justice, an NGO based in Kaduna, Dr. Bugaje has been a consistent advocate of good governance and leadership by example. His thoughts on public issues, shows the Political Adviser who feels bad about the degeneration of our society.

One of his famous treatises was entitled, "No More Heroes, Only Bullies". In this philosophic discourse, Dr. Bugaje argues that, although "evil is part of life, its growth undermines life; its triumph suffocates life, making it hardly worth living". By all accounts, his spiritual orientation influences his actions and attitude. He believes that for our children to find this life meaningful and develop patriotic spirit leaders must demonstrate exemplary virtues.

For a National Assembly that is in moral decline, or even paralysis, due to large scale corruption and graft, we need men like Dr. Bugaje who have sound reputation to salvage the image of our legislature. Outgoing Speaker, Ghali Na'Abba and the rump of his loyalists, who managed to secure election, are bent on frustrating the ambition of any credible new member who seeks to become the next Speaker, which Ghali regards as hereditary.

Because of the fear of being exposed, Na'Abba and his myrmidons have already introduced some ridiculous technical rules, intended to stand in the way of new members who might seek to aspire for Speakership and other principal positions in the House of Representatives. For example, in their typical attempt to insult the intelligence of other Nigerians, Na' Abba and his group say that ambitious new members must possess cognate and previous legislative experience.

What previous legislative experience did Speaker Na'Abba have when he was elected Speaker to succeed his humble predecessor, Alhaji Salisu Buhari? In fact, Salisu Buhari himself did not have previous legislative experience before he became Speaker. The new rule by the Na'Abba group is selfish and undemocratic and the newly elected members must challenge the attempt to foist discredited old members on them as their leaders. All members are elected on equal terms. Therefore, old members have no right to obstruct the legitimate ambitions of new members through the asinine rule of cognate and previous legislative experience. Na'Abba initiated the rule, thinking that he would be re-elected for a second term once again to occupy his hereditary throne or in the alternative have his staunch loyalist succeed him where his second term bid failed. This trick is coming out in the wash. Now that he has lost re-election, Na'Abba is falling back on the ridiculous rule of cognate and previous legislative experience to foist his loyalist to cover his tracks.

As far as I am concerned, Na'Abba and his die-hard loyalists have morally disqualified themselves to lead the in-coming House of Representatives. Indeed, Reps who give themselves immunity from prosecution for corrupt behaviour have lost public trust, and unfit to stand election. The election of Dr. Bugaje would go a long way to restore the dowdy image of the House of Representatives. His moral credentials are incontestable, and he is the man we need at this time to bring respectability to the House, which has been identified with greed and venality rather than service to the people.

Zagga writes from Abuja