I begin today’s piece by eating a huge humble pie for being optimistic about Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin’s ability to resist the pressure from his party folks, following his elevation to the Speakership throne on January 7, 2021. I remember arguing forcefully that, despite being an unrepentant member of the eagle-headed Umbrella, his love for the country and the desire to leave a legacy would override his love for party. Recent events have proven how wrong I was!
Yes, I Know he is human and is bound to exhibit some human weaknesses; but not this faux pas: Flagrantly disregarding the Constitution by allowing a vote to ‘reject’ the 2022 Budget to please party folks. A friend called it ‘political buffoonery’ and I couldn’t agree more.
I’m not a lawyer, neither have I ever been a Member of Parliament (MP). But the combine effect of Article 104 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 109 (1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament is so clear that the Speaker cannot claim to be oblivious of the fact that he required at least 138 members before putting a question. Could it be incompetence or mischief?
I’ve heard some say it may have been an error. It may be so, but I don’t buy it. The man is not only a lawyer, but also the most experienced man to ever sit in the country’s Fourth Republican Parliament. He is too competent and experienced to make such a grave mistake. I see a hidden tattered Umbrella in the matter!
I feel like shedding tears anytime I remember the sad events of January 7, 2021: The day one of our own betrayed the Great Elephant and joined those under the Umbrella to make Bagbin the Speaker. I vividly recall wondering what could have motivated a Kukrudite to show such gross disloyalty to his party. I also asked how someone riding on the Elephant could delude himself into believing that promoting the cause of the Umbrella was not a foolish act.
Have I not been proven right? Has the betrayal not started bearing fruits right before our very eyes? Is the blatant disregard for the Constitution and political Buffoonery displayed by Rt. Hon. Bagbin not clear enough for one to see the extent Zu-za is ready to go to destabilize the Nana Dee government?
Is it not ironic that the Minority, who requested the inclusion of some projects and reduction of the E-Levy rate in the budget, made a complete U-turn when the Finance Minister came to the House to oblige their request? If they really meant well, I’m not sure they would refuse to give him the opportunity to incorporate their requests in the budget.
One thing that is clear is that Zu-za would fiercely resist the implementation of the E-Levy because it is going to be their nemesis. They know too well that revenue from the E-Levy would serve as a catalyst to infrastructural development. And we all know what that would do to the chances of the Dead-Goat resurrecting in December 2024.
Abusuapanin, what is happening in parliament is good! It should be a good lesson to the Great Elephant. It should teach the party leadership, be it constituency, regional or national, to avoid using their position to give undue advantage to their preferred candidate or to victimize others. It should also teach our MPs to learn how to appreciate, satisfy and manage the expectations of footsoldiers. Not forgetting how it should teach the footsoldiers to eschew the ‘skirt and blouse’ phenomenon, irrespective of the level of provocation.
As for Rt. Hon. Bagbin, I don’t blame him too much. He is only trying to do things to benefit his party and I expect more political buffoonery and tomfoolery from him. I would do same if I were in his shoes.
The Elephant can only blame itself for the hung parliament and all the noise thereof. It must learn lessons from the cacophony in parliament and remember that TRAGEDY is the last cry of the goat that finds knife at its neck.
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!