The President-General of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, has suggested that too much powers in the hands of
the executive is the reason for the disregard of the legislative arm of
government by some public officials.
The Nigeria political
system which saddles exorbitant powers in the hands of the executive could be
blamed for the situation, he added.
Mr Nwodo spoke on behalf of
a delegation of leaders of the South and Middlebelt who visited the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday.
Sanni Onogu, Chief Press
Secretary to the Senate President provided details of the meeting.
Mr Nwodo said the recent
invasion of the Senate by thugs that forcefully snatched the mace and the
refusal of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to honour the
summons of the Senate were clear examples of the Executive’s disregard for the
National Assembly.
He said the visit was vital
as the National Assembly is the ‘conscience of the people.’
“We have come to you at a
very difficult time in the history of our country,” Mr Nwodo said. “We are
visiting the National Assembly because of its unique position in our
constitution. The democratic system we run in our country rests on the three
organs of government.
“For these three arms, the
other two function in accordance with laws made by this arm. This arm
characterises democracy because in a military government you will have both the
judiciary and the executive.
The leader of Ohaneze
Ndigbo, John Nwodo
“But it is only in a
democratic government that you have the parliament. The parliament is a
microcosm of the people because every section of the country has by adult
suffrage delegated its voice to this parliament.
“So we believe that by
visiting you today, we are coming to speak to the conscience of the country. We
ask that these discussions today be as frank as possible because in situations
like this, unless the National Assembly rises like one man, with a conscience,
commitment and patriotism, to unveil the facade of partisan politics, partisan
advantages, and face the real issues, we stand of the edge of a precipice.
“We have watched the
helplessness of the National Assembly where members of the executive even
refuse your invitations to come and make explanations contrary to provisions of
the constitution.
“We have found the
helplessness of the Senate when you can be invaded in spite of the security
adornment in this place controlled by the executive and the seat of the Senate
President is almost invaded but for the personal security of the aides of its
leadership.”
Mr Nwodo blamed the
Nigerian political system for the continued disrespect for the National
Assembly.
For him, governance and
economy has failed in Nigeria.
“This is because our system
makes the tail wag the dog rather than the dog wag the tail. This cannot be in
a fountain of legislative authority for executive implementation, and yet they
toy with the system.
“We have come to tell you
that it is in our view that it is because we have this over-concentration of
powers in the Federal Government contrary to the agreement that our forefathers
entered into for the nation called Nigeria. That governance has failed in our
country. That economic development has failed,” he said.
To ameliorate the
situation, he called for the revisit of the power devolution clause that was
rejected in ongoing constitution amendment process as promised by the National
Assembly.
“We believe that many of
the problems that we have in our country emanate from the constitution of our
country. We know that the National Assembly has had debate on devolution of
powers and we know, Mr President, that you did promise the nation that you will
have a revisit to this issue.
“We have come to ask you to
bring up the revisit. We consider it urgent and inevitable because we believe
that all problems we have today in Nigeria emanate from the fact that our
constitution is not right for a country constituted by people of diverse
culture, diverse religion, diverse political persuasions as our country,” he
said.
Mr Saraki said the National
Assembly is ready to play its role to ensure that the country continues on the
path of democracy and growth.
On the call to revisit
clauses that were rejected during the ongoing constitution review process, he
said the National Assembly is ready to reconsider the clauses and that it would
do so after the passage of the 2018 budget.
Other members of the
delegation were Olu Falae, Irangate Idongesit, Victor Attah, Stella Omu, Banjo
Akintoye, Ayo Adebanjo, Yinka Odumakin, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chigozie Ogbu, Ihechukwuma
Maduke, Basset Henshaw, Dan Suleiman, Alfred Mulade, Anaba Saraigbe and Maryam
Yunusa.
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