IN SPITE of his high position in the Senate, he has never really managed to convince me that he has the qualities of a leader to match. Before the military intervened and created undeserved shortcuts for the many flotsams and bobtails that have now populated the commanding heights of our political leadership, a person occupying the post of Deputy Senate President had to be a man/woman of great intellectual and mental substance.

When such a person spoke, you would hear the words of learning, wisdom and penetrating academic or local or even street intelligence coming through. The wounds inflicted upon our body polity by the incidence of military rule and civil war cannot really be quantified. It is because of the rapid depreciation of quality at the top that Nigeria finds herself at the bottom of every index of advancement.

About this time last year, the Abuja-based Igbo political groups proposed a summit at Enugu to take a common stand on whom to support for president. The choice was between President Jonathan and northern candidates.

The Igbo nation had voluntarily withdrawn from the race for President and Vice President. Information had it that Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was the main facilitator of the summit. However, some fellow Abuja-based politicians dragged their feet about attending the summit because, according to them, Ekweremadu had never attended any meeting called for the advancement of Igbo interests.

Right to contest

Come Wednesday, October 11, 2010, many delegates had arrived Enugu. I was in the same hotel with Chief Mbazulike Amechi, the chief convener. News came that Senator Ekweremadu had issued a statement saying the summit would no longer hold. Earlier that day, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had revalidated its zoning policy, yet confirming President Jonathan’s right to contest.

Ekweremadu’s purported call-off of the summit when Jonathan was cleared to contest angered many, who felt it was an insult for anyone to tie an Igbo summit to the ambition of any individual.

It turned out that it was the pro-Jonathan wing of the so-called Igbo political elite that called the summit. His candidacy was rubberstamped. Ekweremadu did not turn up. Rather, he sent an aide; a sweaty young man, to represent him.

This incident left me hollowed out over the mentality that rules those who purport to be our political leaders. It did not stop Ekweremadu from contesting election for a return to the Senate and re-emerging as the Deputy President of the Senate. Just like during the last term, he is set to chair the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment, which will swing into work early next year.

Senator Ekweremadu, again on Tuesday, October 4th 2011, stunned many of his colleagues on the floor of the Senate (and the nation at large) when he contributed to a motion on the scourge of human trafficking in Nigeria.

According to him: “we need to regulate prostitution in this country so that if anyone wants to indulge in prostitution, the person should be registered and issued with a licence. If we say we want to stop it, it will be difficult. It is done in other countries; let us regulate it by issuing licence”.

A preposterous call

The senator has been whipped red and black since he made that controversial and ill-advised submission.

I don’t think anybody seeks to abolish prostitution. That is a quixotic pursuit. After all, it is called “the oldest profession”. But it is also preposterous to call for its legalisation here in Nigeria. There is nothing in the socio-cultural setting of Nigeria that validates Ekweremadu’s call to legalise prostitution.

I am sure he never consulted with his constituents and got their approval to table this motion.And I am very certain that if he returns to his constituency to report to them what he has done, he will be severely admonished, the same way he is being scolded all over the internet.

In the first place, no one is denying that prostitution, like other social crimes,  is a growing menace in our society. Despite the fact that it is still a taboo across the various traditional and religious cultures of the country, it is a phenomenon that is on the rise. It is not on the rise because of its greater acceptability.

It is rising because of the worsening of economic conditions that predispose vulnerable groups to take to it as a last resort. Most of the youth taking to it intend it as a temporary slide. They hope something better will soon come along to enable them get out of it, go straight and live like normal, culturally acceptable individuals in society.

However, due to the unrelenting buffeting of these predisposing factors promoting greater impoverishment of vulnerable groups (especially the youth) many get trapped in prostitution until they are no longer patronised. Then, many of them relapse into lives of abject destitution. Some actually do succeed in switching into something more honourable and settling down.

Not fit for us

Either way, our culture is not like those of Europe, America and Asia where people go into the “trade” as a profession. In these places, prostitutes, gays and “transgender” creatures actually operate in the open. They even have “gay pride”, meaning they are openly defiant to those who say their lifestyle is a taboo. “Gay marriage” and licences for prostitution fit into these societies but not ours.

I doubt many would apply for prostitution licences. I do agree that prostitutes would be glad to be allowed “practise” with less harassment from law enforcement agents, whose mission is to exploit them monetarily.

A more sensible senator will understand that what the prostitutes in our society are asking for is not a legalisation or licencing. What they need is the amelioration of socio-economic situations that force people into the trade. They need greater employment opportunities.

Most of the prostitutes carry heavy financial burdens in their families. With a large opportunity for gainful employment being made available to citizens, more who are forced to criminal lifestyles will return to the narrow paths of our cultures and religions.

Most people want to live lies of dignity and social acceptability. No normal person will want to scare away people who want to marry from their family by inflicting social stigmas on themselves and family.

Condusive atmosphere for economic prosperity

The job of creating a condusive atmosphere for economic prosperity and greater opportunities for the upliftment of the dignity of the average citizen is the job of legislators and other elected officials. I am sure that when Ekweremadu went to campaign he promised to help make laws that would bring about life more abundant to the ordinary people in his constituency and by extension the country at large.

I am sure he never promised to pursue the legalisation of prostitution. I am sure even prostitutes would not have voted for him if he made such a promise because many of them frown on what they are doing.

Giving operating licences to our prostitutes is tantamount to consigning them permanently this demeaning menial job. I doubt that Ekweremadu will like to obtain the licences and set up such a “business” for any member of his family. I doubt they would thank him if he does. I doubt that Senator Ekweremadu took time to think through this “brilliant” motion of his or consulted anyone for a second opinion.

And yet, I will not be surprised when people like him jump into fray when the presidential or vice presidential slot favours their part of the country. Being an expert in getting himself into juicy positions, I will also not be surprised that he would emerge one of the front runners. This is a country where track record no longer matters.

Any surprise we found ourselves where we are, unable to fix our power supply problems, restore our collapsed educational system, rein in corruption and maintain basic infrastructure after 13 years of civilian rule? Any surprise a rag-tag Boko Haram gets our leaders rolling on the ground with apologies for killing its leader, which other countries do with pride and a sense of victory in the war on terror?

It is time we got more serious about the search for credible leaders.

Pa Tete Allen, this is for you!

I WATCHED a feature on Channels Television about the story of a 90 year-old man, Pa Tete Allen, who enrolled into Primary One to get educated in a school in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He was shown sitting among five to seven year-old tots, young enough to be his great grand children. He learned to count and read ABC proudly in front of television cameras.

Pa Allen said he had never sat in a classroom (or broken a chalk as my people would put it). He told the reporter that he was tired of thumb-printing and would be thrilled to be able to sign his own signature “before my dying day”. It was not only my spirit that was uplifted by this exemplary elder.

Many other uneducated grown-ups interviewed confirmed they had been inspired by Pa Allen to put aside shame and go to school.

Pa Allen is my own idea of a hero because already in his village and surrounding towns he is hailed wherever he goes. These are the kinds of small folks we want our national honours awarded to, not the highly educated vermin and parasites that ate down this country and consigned the vast majority of its ordinary people to destitution and economic refugees in foreign land.

Thank you, Pa Tete Allen!