Nigerian Senators Don’t Deserve To Be Addressed As ‘Distinguished’- Sagay
The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, (PACAC) Professor Itse Sagay, (SAN) Thursday in Lagos said ” the attachment of the word ‘Distinguished’ to a senator’s name is a horrible bastardization and gross abuse of that term.”
Sagay who spoke at the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation Re-union in Lagos pointed out that Nigeria as a country is blessed with limitless natural resources but has failed to optimize its potential.
He added that the situation was further compounded by political elites who he said have lost value for integrity and honesty among others.
He said , “Our current ruling class, particularly the Senators have no value, no honour, no vision, no integrity, no compassion for the sufferings of fellow Nigerians. The attachment of ‘Distinguished’ to their name is a horrible bastardization and gross abuse of that term. Now, I reject it with contempt when anyone addresses me with that unfortunate term,” he said.
It would be recalled that the Senators and Sagay have declared a war of attrition with Sagay accusing the legislators of milking the nation’s meagre resources dry, while the lawmakers accused him of being a loose cannon, calling on President Muhammdu Buhari to call him to order.
Sagay, who corroborated views earlier canvassed by prominent Nigerians on the need for mind restructuring, said that with the current system of government the country is running, it will be inconceivable for any state to grow.
He said, “It is a known fact that some governors spend more time in Abuja than in their respective states and at the end of every month, the 36 honourable commissioners of all the states of the federation will assemble in a class room at Abuja presided over by the Federal Minister of Finance to share money in the Federation Account based on a formula no one really understands.
“This money comes from three major sources, oil money from Niger Delta, duty collection and VAT from Lagos State. After sharing, the commissioners will head back to their respective governors for allocation sharing based on what they consider priorities and wait for the next monthly allocation. It is inconceivable for any state to grow with this type of structure that puts state on welfare benefits.”
According to him, the plights of northern population are completely self inflicted, adding that the elite and ruler in the region continue to suppress their own populations and keeping them down.
Sagay fumed, “All the Local Governments Areas received federal allocations and with 419 LGAs in northern part as against 355 southern and 19 northern states as against 17 southern states the bulk of national funds go to the north. So why is more poverty in the North than South.”
The former Secretary-General of Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku who was the chairman of the occasion regretted that Nigeria as country have never been so divided like what is being witnessing currently.
He blamed it on lack of historical knowledge by younger generation, saying “The most regrettable aspect of it all is that history is no longer taught in our schools which means that the younger generations are growing up unaware of the society values that existed earlier in this country. They are growing up not knowing the differences in ethnicity and religious in Nigeria.”
