Ali Should Do The Right Thing
The refusal of the Comptroller General of Customs to appear before the Senate, especially adorned in uniform, has been on the public discourse, for some time now, generating diverse opinions. It is to add to the debate that I write.
My view is that far away from the issue, Col. Hamed Ali ought not to have been appointed as the Comptroller Generally of Customs in the first instance. He has not been a carrier officer, hence his appointment is an error and a huge, rather denigrating, statement to the many officers of the Nigerian Customs, who should have fitted reliably into this role. That's a clear insult to their psyche and competence to assume the leadership of the organization they've, for long served and ought to know better.
The above, I think is the basis for the attitudes being now played out by the CG. Because he is alien, doesn't understand the principles of operation of the agency he heads, he presents himself as a misfit; a clear case of a round peg inside a square hole. And because the man is misfit, he chooses to run his office the way he deems fit, even against laid out principles. We got it all wrong, in the first place, by appointing Col. Ali, a retired army officer, to head a paramilitary like the Customs.
However, to state my view on the issue, I want to direct it specifically towards those who question the rationale of the Senate demand for Hameed Ali to appear before it in uniform. Even as most of the comments have hinged on the lack of an existing LAW that compels such demand, no other reason has so far being cited. The law has seem to be the wine that wants to intoxicate the people that share this view out of REASON; they seem overtaken by the law as to look at EVERY issue solely from that prism.
But should that be the case? Anyway, I wouldn't want to overstretch the issue than to ask if it is that all that is right to do should be made law? In other words, should every right thing be lawful or legal (whatever is the term)? If so, the inability of the acting president to sit on the president's seat while he is away, should, in order not to be seen as act of respect, be made a law.
The fact being that there are so many right, noble and conscionable things, perceived as REASONABLE, done around, which necessarily do not prove any law but are done because they are right and reasonable to do. Come on, should we not stand up for the president at his presence just simply because it is no where in the Constitution?
You, know what, aside from arrogance, I see no reason a man should not be proud of where he works- where he feels as serving the nation from. Ali feels the Nigerian Customs is inferior to his class, he feels the Senate is below his kind. The reasons he has refused to identify with the Customs-even when amongst them, and the reasons he has failed to respect the Senate.
The man, Ali, feels he's only answerable to only the president. But that is sordid. In any case, I think the president should call this man to order; a call I feel is just necessary for the call. I say this because I fear of the same institution with whose effrontery Ali is brandishing could call the chips here.
The act which Ali is asked to do and for which I feel appalled at his refusal to honour is one so suggested by the Nigerian Senate. His refusal to do so, as such, clearly shows his disrespect of the House; a clear scenario of disdain and blithering arrogance.
Come to think of it, prior to his appointment as the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Ali should have known the agency for which he has been nominated to head. It is believed he knew the responsibilities, the rights and privileges attached to his new office. And to this knowledge, he accepted and took over, exercising responsibilities, enjoying privileges but refusing to be identified with his new role.
I wonder why a head of an agency, after gladly accepting the offer to serve in such organization, should not be proud to be identified with the agency he heads? Personally, it is a show of disdain of how cheaply, totally cut away from his flare and so demeaning of his personality he regarded or has rather suddenly realized the organization to be.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, should humbly respect the Nigerian people or be asked to resign for he has shown disdain and outright disrespect to the Senate. If Ali is allowed to go scot free, as is feared would be the case, then the precedence has been set for unflaggering impunity to be expected from others appointees, who ordinarily ought to be answerable to the Nigerian people.
My view is that far away from the issue, Col. Hamed Ali ought not to have been appointed as the Comptroller Generally of Customs in the first instance. He has not been a carrier officer, hence his appointment is an error and a huge, rather denigrating, statement to the many officers of the Nigerian Customs, who should have fitted reliably into this role. That's a clear insult to their psyche and competence to assume the leadership of the organization they've, for long served and ought to know better.
The above, I think is the basis for the attitudes being now played out by the CG. Because he is alien, doesn't understand the principles of operation of the agency he heads, he presents himself as a misfit; a clear case of a round peg inside a square hole. And because the man is misfit, he chooses to run his office the way he deems fit, even against laid out principles. We got it all wrong, in the first place, by appointing Col. Ali, a retired army officer, to head a paramilitary like the Customs.
However, to state my view on the issue, I want to direct it specifically towards those who question the rationale of the Senate demand for Hameed Ali to appear before it in uniform. Even as most of the comments have hinged on the lack of an existing LAW that compels such demand, no other reason has so far being cited. The law has seem to be the wine that wants to intoxicate the people that share this view out of REASON; they seem overtaken by the law as to look at EVERY issue solely from that prism.
But should that be the case? Anyway, I wouldn't want to overstretch the issue than to ask if it is that all that is right to do should be made law? In other words, should every right thing be lawful or legal (whatever is the term)? If so, the inability of the acting president to sit on the president's seat while he is away, should, in order not to be seen as act of respect, be made a law.
The fact being that there are so many right, noble and conscionable things, perceived as REASONABLE, done around, which necessarily do not prove any law but are done because they are right and reasonable to do. Come on, should we not stand up for the president at his presence just simply because it is no where in the Constitution?
You, know what, aside from arrogance, I see no reason a man should not be proud of where he works- where he feels as serving the nation from. Ali feels the Nigerian Customs is inferior to his class, he feels the Senate is below his kind. The reasons he has refused to identify with the Customs-even when amongst them, and the reasons he has failed to respect the Senate.
The man, Ali, feels he's only answerable to only the president. But that is sordid. In any case, I think the president should call this man to order; a call I feel is just necessary for the call. I say this because I fear of the same institution with whose effrontery Ali is brandishing could call the chips here.
The act which Ali is asked to do and for which I feel appalled at his refusal to honour is one so suggested by the Nigerian Senate. His refusal to do so, as such, clearly shows his disrespect of the House; a clear scenario of disdain and blithering arrogance.
Come to think of it, prior to his appointment as the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Ali should have known the agency for which he has been nominated to head. It is believed he knew the responsibilities, the rights and privileges attached to his new office. And to this knowledge, he accepted and took over, exercising responsibilities, enjoying privileges but refusing to be identified with his new role.
I wonder why a head of an agency, after gladly accepting the offer to serve in such organization, should not be proud to be identified with the agency he heads? Personally, it is a show of disdain of how cheaply, totally cut away from his flare and so demeaning of his personality he regarded or has rather suddenly realized the organization to be.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, should humbly respect the Nigerian people or be asked to resign for he has shown disdain and outright disrespect to the Senate. If Ali is allowed to go scot free, as is feared would be the case, then the precedence has been set for unflaggering impunity to be expected from others appointees, who ordinarily ought to be answerable to the Nigerian people.
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