By Igbotako Nowinta
The Federal House of Representatives Special Committee on Public Petitions is seen by many Nigerians as the ‘last hope or bus stop’ for obtaining justice in a Federal Republic of Nigeria where corruption has been institutionalized as norms.
The ‘last bus stop’ so to say in a society where people do all sorts of terrible things and get away with it, in a country where rules and regulations are bent without qualms; where black markets judgments by some corrupt judges are handed down to innocent law abiding citizens because they are poor.
The Reps Committee on Public Petitions is indeed viewed by many citizens whose rights, privileges, entitlements have been brazenly and maliciously trampled upon, as the ‘last bus stop’.
Yes! The Reps Special Committee on Public Petitions is regarded as the ‘last bus stop’ for people who had gone to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), obtained positive results there, but could not be compensated because some Chief Executive Officers (CEO), Executive Directors (ED) or Vice-Chancellors have decided to play God by refusing to implement the verdict of the body statutory set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
One can go on several situations on instances where citizens of the Federal Republic are being cruelly undermined and dealt with by fellow Nigerians.
As a Conflict Resolution Consultant and a Veteran Human Rights activist, I am privileged to narrate a particular heart wrenching case which I witnessed during one of the proceedings of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Public Petitions in November 2013 during its committee sitting room in Abuja.
This is the pathetic case: an Air-force officer who had put in several meritorious years in the service of his father land was viciously maltreated by his superiors, with just few years to retirement.
What was his perceived offence? A junior officer pleaded to use the signal room, which he was in-charge of in Dodan Barrack (the nation’s former seat of Government), the Air-force officer (name withheld) graciously allowed the said officer access to the key to the Signal Room.
That singular innocent action by the said Air-force officer was to cost him not only his job but eventual dismissal from the service of the Nigerian Air-force, along with the junior officer he assisted.
One thing led to the other according to the testimony of the said dismissed Air-force officer, he was bundled out mercilessly and thrown out of service just like that, even after he had exhausted all avenues within the Nigerian Air-force to seek justice to no avail.
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions happened to be his last bus stop for justice.
My heart sank as I watched and listened to the testimony of a man whose brilliant career was cut off without any error on his part just because he assisted a junior officer to download some information pertaining to his career advancement.
I wept within my soul as I looked at the man (dismissed Air-force officer) narrating his ordeal in the hands of people who were supposed to be his friends and colleagues.
Looking at the man, the last twenty years of his sudden disengagement had really messed him up physically and emotionally.
For me he was a finished man. Only if the House of Representatives Special Committee on Public Petitions can hurriedly put smiles on his sunken face.
There are thousands of citizens like the above mentioned Air-force officer who are going through harrowing and humiliating situation today and whose petitions are presently with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.
Giving my privileged position of assisting a petitioner to the committee for most of the last quarter of 2013, I know absolutely that there are many cases (including the one I assisted to the place) that have been thoroughly investigated and waiting to be taken to the floor of the Federal House of Representatives for urgent consideration and adoption.
I know the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions is a practical, sensitive, thorough and progressive personality who will never trade his reputation and integrity for a pot of porridge.
I have seen him in action; I am confident he will expedite action on those cases that have been investigated by bringing the reports to the floor of the Green Chamber without delay.
In doing so, those whose rights have been vandalized and brutalized will have the immense benefit of getting justice and respite before the present House of Representatives winds up its last session of the year 2014.
I am hopeful that the expectations of those who have taken their petitions to the body will never be caught short.
I know that the gold which the Committee on Public Petitions represents today in our democracy will never be allowed to rust.
Those who have been alleged in certain quarters to have collected financial inducement because they are working with the committee (so that the committee report will favor a particular party) to subvert justice and bastardize the sanctity of the committee should not be allowed to have their way.
Nigerians are waiting and watching impatiently. Gold must not rust in that committee!
Nowinta is an author and a conflict resolution practitioner based in Benin City
