Nigerians on how to give life to legislature, deepen our democracyBy Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South; Sam Oyadongha; Jimitota Onoyume; Egufe Yafugborhi; Emma Una; Aliu Ozioruva; Dan Abia; Ike Uchechukwu; Chioma Onuegbu; Davies Iheamnachor; Ochuko Akuopha; Steve Oko & Laolu Elijah
The election process of the leadership of the parliaments should be by open secret ballot as applied in the historic I993 presidential elections. The powers of the Nigerian President are absolute, the Constitution which was fashioned by the military created this anomaly. ”The solution to the problem is not insurmountable but frightening in height. Low literacy and generically low political understanding are keeping things the way they are. These areas must be tackled but by who? The lawmakers ought to be positioned in a manner that they could generally demand probity from the executive and to show their readiness to remove dishonest persons, be it president or governors from office.
In addition, the lawmakers enacted most of the laws for their own benefits, not for posterity. With respect to members of the state House of Assembly, our laws have made them willing tools because in choosing our political leadership, the party gives power to individuals with funds, and governors fund the party.
“We have to amend our relevant laws to guide against interloping or meddling into legislative affairs. Yes, both the executive and legislature should synergize for good governance, but they should not sacrifice democracy on the altar of political rascality.”Lawyer and former Commissioner for Transport and Aviation, Rivers State, Dr.
Actually, they have failed the masses they claimed to represent. They are there to do the bidding of their masters, who handpicked them. One of the reasons for this absurdity is the country’s institutional weakness, and failure. There is a litany of examples of how they have failed and continued to fail, and there is no redemption. You can see how their leadership under the present administration was constituted. The issue is that you must have one albatross, you must have one comma according to Obasanjo so that they will use it to drag you around like a goat because you can no longer assert your own independence, it is very shameful, and society is paying for it.