A Fada in the Senate

A Fada in the Senate

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Distinguished Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, recently addressed the Senate, pointing out the significance of their roles. “Today, you are number 3 in the country, meaning all of us, the 109 Senators, are number 3 with you,” he said to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
A man of few words, his words are usually pregnant, requiring the hearing and processing skill of the hearer to take delivery of what his words are pregnant with. It’s worse when you are with him on the phone, a restless soul and work inflicted mind. The only man I have met with the capacity to engage with 3 persons on different lines at the same time, it’s up to the processing ability of the hearers at the other ends to determine the lines of his speech meant for each.

His recent intervention in the controversy surrounding Natasha and Akpabio on the floor of the Senate is reminiscent of the wisdom of a Chinua Achebe; indeed, words are like yams, and parables are the oil with which they are eaten. Fadahunsi served the yams of words and palm oil of proverbs, not just to the senate but to Nigerians who will watch the clips of his moment later.

In Fadahunsi’s speech was the philosophy of Number 3, an office held in trust for 109 “classmates” but secured by the number of people it represents; 250 million. In that figure, resides the integrity of the Senate! I doubt if the Senate or Nigerians understand him.

Let’s take a look at Senator Fadahunsi’s background and his potential approach to conflict resolution. A retired customs officer and a senator since 2019, Fadahunsi has been vocal on various national issues, including his opposition to the hate speech bill. While he supports the need to hold people responsible for their speeches and actions, he frowns at any attempt to gag people from free speech and freedom inspired actions at sustaining human liberty.

Given his experience and stance on sensitive topics, Fadahunsi’s intervention is aimed at promoting dialogue, understanding, and peaceful resolution.

On the floor of the senate, he emphasized the importance of respecting differing opinions, fostering inclusivity, and addressing the root causes of conflicts, while stressing the primary duties of the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The possible impact of Fadahunsi’s speech could be multifaceted:

• Promoting Dialogue: By encouraging open discussion, Fadahunsi’s intervention might help to clarify misconceptions, address grievances, and build bridges between the parties involved. This however will be determined by the skills of an individual at hearing, processing and acting on the information he provided.

• Fostering National Unity: As a senator, Fadahunsi’s words carry weight. His emphasis on peaceful coexistence and respect for diversity could contribute to a more harmonious national environment.

• Informing Policy Decisions: Fadahunsi’s speech was focused on the need to get off the mundaneness  of a jester’s room that the senate has been reduced to. There is work to be done. The 250 million people seated in the chamber of the Senate are, sick, poor and hurting and uninterested in the drama the senate was serving the nation. There are many mouths to feed through improved tax reforms and the earlier the senate got busy to deliver that, the better.

To further analyze the impact of Fadahunsi’s intervention, it’s essential to understand the specifics of the controversy and his exact statements.

“We don’t know where we are and who we are”. It addresses the power of the senate as the authority of democracy and the representatives of 250 million people, through a “classmate concept” of a senate where all members are equal.

The needless labour of Senators in the media, wasn’t what Fada described as  undercurrents. The struggle to redeem its image was the preoccupation of the senate, but there was an undercurrent away from the struggle for seats or sexual harassment that Natasha limited it to, for which she couldn’t garner the support of her colleagues.  Reason being that the politics of the senate had benefitted her, to the dismay and embarrassment of those who were her senior; two terms and three terms Senators with no committee to Chair. What should have been better kept out of the knowledge of a hungry public, was what she chose as the point of her engagement. “Ebi ki wo inu ki oro mi wo” which means; an hungry man is an angry man. However, the real undercurrent was the removal of Natasha from the local content committee.

The senate however in the last two weeks had sought to feed hungry Nigerians with laughter on an empty stomach, and were about to reap the anger of the people before Fada’s intervention. The chance of survival of the less than 5000 political elites of Nigeria against the hungry multitude of 250 million was what he saved his class from. During the life of the 9th Assembly, Fada was removed as acting Chairman of a committee a few weeks to budget by the then SP, Lawan, his seat was changed, he was not given the opportunity to talk in the Chamber. There was no need to raise the dust. Senators are elected to represent their constituents, whatever privilege that comes with being a member of the senate is what it is; a privilege, and its denial should be handled with maturity.

In Fadahunsi’s words to the SP; “this has taught you a lesson that you should look at things critically before action is taken. He inferred that the SP was pushed by one of the Senators that is from Kogi, the other been referred to is the Deputy Senate President. Not even the Senators from Kogi who got the protocol of seniority in the senate broken to secure the chairmanship of the senate committee on local content for their compatriot from Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, could stand up for her.

Fadahunsi didn’t leave the floor without reminding all in the senate that their wives as the case may be and their children are people whose friendship they must cultivate, secure and sustain, because to them, they will return after their sojourn in the senate.

A Yoruba adage says; “agba ki wa loja ki ori Omo tuntun wo” meaning the presence of an elder in the market should help straighten the head of a baby strapped on the mother’s back.

Fadahunsi is the shortened form of “Ifa da hunsi” meaning the Ifa oracle has answered a matter.

Whichever way you look at it, the speech of Fadahunsi in the senate is like that of Ifa which requires a priest to interpret.
As for FADA, a coinage from Fadahunsi Development Agenda by Masterbuilder Communications in his first outing which has become his political brand. Fada!
Interestingly the same sound as “father”.

Indeed, there is a Fada in the senate playing the role of a father.

Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, is absolutely a commendable brand in Apostolic and Nation Building efforts towards a changed nation and a renewed and revived church, within the Nigeria Church and political ecosystem.

The Bold, Inspiring and Dynamic Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi is a man worthy of all encouragement to see him do more for the salvation of humanity and liberation of Africa and the black race.

The pen of this exceptional Scribe should not lack ink.

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Thank you.