Who is Usman?

Another lawmaker? A minister? A government official?

Usman is none of any of the options listed. Usman is a political observer and a writer, he’s genuinely concerned about the state of political affairs in the country. More importantly, Usman is upset about how the budget padding scandal has been handled (or not), since the anti-corruption government is showing absolutely no interest in investigating the matter.

Yesterday, conflicting news about Hon Jibrin filing a N1bn suit against the House of Reps challenging his suspension almost a month ago, pervaded the news sites. Some other sites reported that he had withdrawn the suit against the House, so we got a bit confused. Either the news stories were conflicting or they were badly reported.

In August, Hon AbdulMumin Jibrin sought a court injunction to prevent the House from suspending him and to avert a possible arrest by the police. He had also previously filed a suit against Speaker Hon Yakubu Dogara and the four principal officers who he has accused of padding the 2016 budget.

For a man who has sworn not to back down on this issue till justice is served, we are not too surprised he makes it to news headlines at least once every week. This time though, Usman our friend, has had it up to his neck. He thinks Hon Dogara has lost his political relevance and has become desperate to earn it back. To be fair, 180 legislative days is a long time to stay off legislative duties and it has probably just dawned on Hon Jibrin that by next year, we just won’t want to hear him rant about all that is wrong with the House anymore.

No arrests have been made, he is the only who has been invited for questioning by the EFCC, other lawmakers have blatantly told him to shut up and suck it all in, so we get how it feels when you’re blowing a “whistle” so loud but no one is listening.

Here’s Hon Jibrin who wasn’t fazed about getting suspended a month ago now making these demands of the court:

To declare his suspension as a violation of his right to freedom of expression.

To declare that his suspension is in breach of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

To restrain the House from preventing his access into the legislative chamber and from performing his legislative duties.

Hon Jibrin wants to return to that corrupt House of Reps he has so soiled but we get that he has a duty to the Kiru/Bebeji constituency of Kano state, so maybe this is beyond his dwindling relevance.

Or maybe Usman is right…

Tolu

Your pop culture/entertainment go-to. Music head. Wallflower. I do not like to write. On a mission to decipher covfefe.