| The Nigeria House of representatives on Tuesday | | | | 1. Choose Representatives based on integrity: |
| 22nd June 2010 got involved in what could best | | | | Representatives of the people should be chosen |
| be described as a show of shame and national | | | | based on integrity and past records, and not on |
| embarrassment; as the law makers threw caution | | | | party loyalty or affiliation. It is only by this method |
| to the winds and engaged in fisticuffs in the full | | | | that people with character and track records |
| glare of publicity, with some ending up with | | | | would be nominated to represent their |
| broken nose, broken arms and torn clothes. | | | | constituencies |
| Trouble started when eleven members of the | | | | 2. Give constituencies power to recall erring |
| house - Dino Melaye, Salomon Awhinawi, Ehiogie | | | | Representatives: when constituencies are given |
| West Idahosa, Gbenga Oduwaiye, Independence | | | | the power and legal backup to recall erring |
| Ogunewe, Austin Nwachukwu, Kayode Amusan, | | | | representatives, those who are elected to protect |
| Bitrus Kaze, Abba Anas, Gbenga Onigbogi and | | | | their interest would sit up; because they know |
| Doris Uboh, accused the speaker Dimeji Bankole | | | | they would be recalled should they disappoint their |
| and the leadership of the house, of financial | | | | constituencies |
| misconduct. The case was even reported to the | | | | 3. Make corruption punishable: a lot of people are |
| Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) | | | | getting involved in corrupt practices because there |
| by Dino Melaye. | | | | seems not to be adequate punitive measures put |
| The speaker of the house organized his own | | | | in place to make corruption unattractive. The |
| group to try to intimidate the eleven members | | | | moment people are punished in proportion to their |
| who were bent on fighting corruption in the house. | | | | crimes, they would no more engage in corruption |
| Their eventual suspension and an attempt to | | | | with impunity. |
| forcefully drag them out of the chamber led to a | | | | 4. Removal of parliamentary immunity: Immunity |
| physical combat, during which some of them (five | | | | should be removed from office holders in order |
| of the aggrieved members) had their clothes torn | | | | to make them answerable to the electorate while |
| to pieces; one left with a broken nose. However | | | | still in office. When they know they are |
| one of them was able to over power one of the | | | | accountable to the masses, they would stop |
| aggressors, leaving him with a broken arm. | | | | plundering and looting public treasury. |
| This show of shame is coming up at this time | | | | 5. Reduce salaries of politicians: the only people |
| when Nigerians have all become weary of | | | | enjoying unrestricted salary increase in Nigeria are |
| corruption; and the government of Dr Good luck | | | | the politicians. This should be stopped. Anybody |
| Jonathan as trying to put in place better | | | | going into public office should do so for the sole |
| mechanisms to eradicate corruption in Africa | | | | purpose of serving the people. If they go there |
| largest country | | | | because of the attractive salaries they will never |
| But why would the law makers go to that extent | | | | give their best to the electorate. |
| of taking laws into their hands? Politics in Nigeria | | | | 6. Assets declarations: politicians should be made |
| has become an investment platform; where | | | | to publicly declare their assets before assuming a |
| people invest all they have in order to get into | | | | public office and on completion of their tenure in |
| office and then later steal over a 1000% of what | | | | office. |
| they invested. They want to sit tight in office | | | | 7. Freedom of information bill: the freedom of |
| since it is the highest profit yielding investment | | | | information bill before the National Assembly |
| ever. Instead of losing such high yield investment, | | | | should be passed into law as a matter of urgency. |
| they would rather lose their integrity and get their | | | | This would enable the public give information |
| names rubbed with mud. | | | | concerning any corrupt politician without fear of |
| How can we control this trend? | | | | molestation. |