The New Telegraph on June 16 broke the news of three Nigerian lawmakers, Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom), and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) that were allegedly involved in sex scandal while on the International Visitor Leadership Program in Cleveland, Ohio, United States held between April 7 and 13, 2016.
In the June 9, 2016 letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, alleged that the three lawmakers “brought disrepute to the parliament by soliciting for sex from prostitutes and grabbing hotel housekeeper in a bid to rape.” While “Mohammed Garba Gololo allegedly grabbed a housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited for sex” Mark Gbillah and Samuel Ikon allegedly requested hotel parking attendants assist them solicit prostitutes.”
While the affected lawmakers have denied the allegation and threatened to sue the US government, the US government has withdrawn the visas of the affected lawmakers and warned that such conduct could affect some participants’ ability to travel to the US in the future. The leadership of the Lower House has referred the matter to the Committees on Ethics, Privileges and Foreign Affairs  for full investigation. The committees should be dispassionate in their investigation because the image of the House and the nation is at stake. There should be no cover up or ‘paddy paddy’ probe on this matter.
Since the scandal became public knowledge, other media and public commentators have feasted on the highly salacious sex news to the extent that it has eclipsed other news items. It has overshadowed the news of students in Osun State going to school in hijab, cassock and egungun clothes, representing the Muslim, Christian and African Traditional religious groups in the state simply because those in charge are playing the ostrich, while the state is set on looming sectarian fire and brimstone.
Not even the freezing of the personal account of Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an action many critics perceive as the federal government’s method of fighting back at Fayose for his relentless attacks on the APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, could postpone it. The news of the intended trial of Senate President Bukola Sakari and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu over alleged forgery of House Rules cannot extinguish the running sex scandal story.
Not even the request for immunity and pension by the leadership of the National Assembly, the Red and Green Chambers, in line with the executive and judicial arms of government, which will be treated in the course of this article, could remove attention from the ‘body nobi wood’ story. The sad story of the sack of striking resident doctors by the federal government and their replacement with new ones, an act that undermines the healthcare of Nigerians and promotes medical tourism, could not stop the sex scandal story. The ugly story of workers that grounded the Ministry of Finance over unpaid allowances could not stop it either.
So much has been written about the sex scandal that little seems to be left unsaid. Before the House Ethics, Privileges and Foreign Affairs  Committees come out with its findings on the matter, it is good that the accused legislators be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. They can sue the US government as they have threatened if they are convinced of their innocence. There are many lawyers, including SANS, that can defend them. When they sue the US government, it will be left for it to prove what it is alleging. It’s gonna be a big rumble in the hallowed temple of justice in the US where the alleged acts took place. He, who alleges must prove. Surely, this matter is not going to die so soon.
But before I rest my case, it is important to ponder on the lessons from the allegation. The first lesson is that our politicians should be careful of their private and official conduct both in the country and offshore, especially how they relate with members of the opposite sex. Something that does not pose a problem (illicit relationship with the opposite sex) in Naija can land one in trouble in the US or any European country. The second lesson is that they should control their libido or carry handbags (mistresses) when next they travel overseas.
Third, our politicians should be conversant with the celebrated Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky’s case and other such sex scandals involving highly placed individuals in US and other places. As public figures visiting US for government sponsored programme, they are under their radar for the period the programme lasts.
Fourth, our politicians should use the power of their office to better the lives of their people. They should think less of their girl friends euphemistically called spare tyres, hand bag, cover cloth or extra luggage. Power can be abused hence there is restraint to its usage. Our politicians have immense power to the extent that they tend to play God.
While the sex scandal story is still developing, the members of the National Assembly did the unthinkable and demanded life pension and immunity for the leadership of both chambers of the House. Their demand is irrational and absurd. Those the lawmakers want to enjoy the life pension and immunity are President of the Senate, and his deputy, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy. They want these officers to enjoy immunity simply because the executive and the judiciary enjoy such unnecessary privilege that most Nigerians want to be expunged from our 1999 Constitution because of its obvious abuse.
Our lawmakers should not take Nigerians for a ride. Our legislators should stop shadow-chasing and be serious in making laws that will improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
The job they do for, which they are among the highest paid legislators in the world, does not require life pension and immunity for its principal officers as being demanded. The legislators should be worried that over 70 per cent of Nigerians live below poverty line at less than one US dollar per day. They should be worried about the rising graduate unemployment in the country as well as hyper inflation and job losses, especially in banks. They should be worried that the nation’s economy is on its knees begging for life-support.
The legislative duty should be a part-time job and those involved should only be paid sitting allowance. We do not need bi-cameral legislature to make good laws for Nigeria at the national level. We should stop spending about 25 per cent of our national budget to maintain members of the National Assembly (an insignificant per cent of the population) and yet they are still asking for more like Oliver Twist. The lawmakers should think of ways of redeeming their seeming battered image before the international community over alleged sex scandal and stop demanding so much from the Nigerian people. Their latest request for life pension and immunity for their principal officers is self-serving, elitist and anti-people. They should consign such requests to the dustbin where they rightly belong. Lawmaking is a serious business. They should spare us the needless comic drama.

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