THE BEAUTY AND BEAST OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA | J.F. DABO

The Beauty and Beast of Democracy | J.F. Dabo
This is not in anyway a campaign against the APC or the 9th Assembly. It is not a judgment on the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. In fact it is not about the journey from 2015-2019 and by the grace of God 2019-2023 political years. Far from it, this is about the Nigerian democracy. Normally we as public analysts have had to deal with the issue of people challenging us that our analysis are useless as the government will simply do what she have decided to do, this piece also should be understood as not written for the government but for the upcoming generation and the present generation upon whose shoulders lay the responsibility of sustaining democracy. My followers would have realized that in the recent past, I have tried as much as possible to stand in the gap, with the hope of speaking for Nigeria and Nigerians only and not for APC, PDP, SDP or our dear YPP. My desire is to be very objective and constructive always which does not negate telling the bitter truth no the appealing praises but include both.

It is hoped that the reader will bear in mind the fact the today, with the presence of the starring eyes of the Oshomoles and the Yahaya Bellos among others, the Senators who have sold their consciences have no escape than to write the name that brought the last credits to their accounts prior to the elections today and indicate their serial numbers (their only peaceful survival and fence from EFCC, DSS, ICPC …) side-ward. The intention here is that at the end of it all, we should see the consequences of greed and selfishness, the plight of our growing democracy and take a position even before it is our turn to take those leadership roles in the near future that I am sure is soon to come. Note that I am not a wailer nor am I a hailer, I am just being a concerned Nigerian.

STATING THE MATTER
It was the Jurist cum philosopher, Baron De Montesquieu who while commenting on the issue of separation of power said: “political liberty is to be found only when there is no abuse of power. To prevent this abuse, it is necessary from the nature of things that one power should check on another…. When the legislative, executive and judicial powers are united in the same person or body… there can be no liberty…. Again there is no liberty if the judicial power is not separated from the legislative and executive…. There would be an end of everything if the same person or body, whether of nobles or of the people, were to exercise all three powers.” This submission establishes the legitimacy of separation of power as it x-rays the bases for it.

Clearly then, the issue of separation of powers comes to check the excesses associated with the exercise of powers by person saddled with the responsibility of administering in the nations leadership hierarchy at whatever arm. The expectation is that, the executive and judicial arm will be a watch dog against what comes with exercising legislative roles and same with the two.

Over time we have seen members of the executive arm playing a greater role in the elections of the legislators at different constituencies, and at the national level we still see heads of the executive arm almost deciding who leads the legislative arm. Let me be fast in noting that among all the three arms of government, the most sensitive as it deals with representing the minds of the people is the legislative arm and so deserves the best.

THE RAPE OF DEMOCRACY
It is reported in https://punchng.com/apc-endorses-omo-agege-as-deputy-senate-president on June 10th (just yesterday) that the APC endorsed Omo Agges as deputy Senate President. also on 10th June, 2019 Senator Ajayi B. in a statement made by Mr. Kayode Fakuyi, his press secretary is quoted as saying that president Buhari made him withdraw from the race to the position of the 9th Assembly’s Presidency as reported in http://saharareporters.com/2019/06/10/president-buhari-made-me-withdraw-senate-deputy-president-race-boroffice. The statement reads in part “The intention to contest was anchored on the deep conviction that with his excellent public service record, rich legislative experience and personality, he has the best credentials for the position…. Consequently, he embarked on extensive consultations with party leaders, senators-elect and political groups. Indeed, everybody that was consulted agreed that he is eminently qualified to seek the office…. Instructively, majority of senators-elect have assured Boroffice of their support and the prospect of victory is high.” If the claim made in this press statement is anything to go by; the implication then is that it took only one President Muhammadu Buhari to discredit the candidacy of Sen. Ajayi. Another is the report of The Nations News Paper, by Yusuf Alli on March 27, 2019 (https://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-apc-chiefs-endorse-lawan-for-senate-president/) where it is reported that: “Buhari, APC chiefs endorse Lawan for Senate President”, a statement to this regard reads in part; “The leaders were said to have considered Lawal’s “qualifications, prudence, accountability, loyalty and rich legislative experience” which will assist the APC government to have a robust Executive-Legislative relationship to fast-track development.”

With the above and if our sources are right; it is evident that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; President Muhammadu Buhari played a greater role with regards Sen. Lawal’s Presidency of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. One may wish to wonder; why should the head of the executive be so interested in who becomes the senate president and what was the joy so expressed by Oshomole at the red chambers during the elections about? How independent will the 9th senate be and where is our confidence. It would have been understandable if president Buhari was in support of a candidate from his party against that from another party, but no; even among his party members contesting for the seat, he did not as reported ask them to go and reach an understanding, he out-rightly had a choice and asked the other(s) to drop. What is the affiliation between president Buhari and Sen. Lawal as it relates to the 9th Senate and the 2nd tenure of the APC because clearly it is far from the issue of protecting the party.

Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the 1999 constitution establishes the separation of powers among the three arms of government in Nigeria. Section 142 and (b) of the same 1999 constitution as amended clear explains that sovereign power belongs to the people of Nigeria and the government through the constitutions derives all its powers and authority from the people. With what played out at the elections of the 9th senate that brought in Lawal and Agege as Senate President and Deputy Senate President where shall we say is the will of the people and where is the independence of the legislative arm? Until we can find useful and convincing answers to these and other related questions, our confidence in the 9th senate may be dancing as democracy may be in danger.

THE IMPLICATION OF THE PROBLEM
Clearly the camera men at the Senate Chambers yesterday did a good job by capturing the non-senators elect faces that matter; present at the red chambers during the senate elections. One wonders what these faces were there for given the fact that they were non-eligible voters in the day’s dealings. Well, if you have a problem with their being there, no one stopped you from going… (may be someone will comment that…) The presence of those faces there suggested that they where there to say like in the writer’s boldly written words: WHATEVER YOU DO; BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU. Let us supposed that some senators have gone the Esau (Genesis chapter 25) way, by selling their right to vote who they truly wanted. The implication is that these fellows are likely to do worst in more serious matters to come. If our senators necessarily have to depend on members of the executive to decide who to vote for as senate president, what will happen should the executive be tempted to sponsor an anti-people policy and law? Simply put; if the unverified opinion that suggests that some senators where bought over is true, the implication is that we will have a national assembly that is representing the executive arm of government rather than the people. This would amount to a conspiracy against the nation and people and THE RAPE OF DEMOCRACY.

THE BEAUTY OF THE RAPE
In the past, the Buhari administration has times without number complained about how the 8th senate under the leadership of Sen. Bukola Saraki frustrated her efforts to deliver quality leadership in the just concluded tenure. The beauty of the elections of the 9th senate is that it brought in only those endorsed by the president and the APC party leadership as our sources suggests. The implication is that, the earlier claims of the frustration that the executive received from the 8th senate now stands on trial. By the end of the present tenure, we should see a rapid growth in the nation’s economy. We should see more employment and the dead of poverty, we should reap the fruits that democracy ought to bring, at the end, corruption should be given an eternal blow.

We should see all of the campaign promises made since 2015 come to fruition, we should see a justification of the clueless tag given the past administration by both Mr. Lai Muhammed and the president in different fora at the past. We should see a more better cabinate devoid of the cables, we should here more of ascent to bills by the president. we should have more laws, more gains than lawlessness and blames. The beauty of the rape is that there is no more Saraki or Saraki boy, No more PDP or PDP power in the cycle that matters.

Where these and more comes, the claims by the Buhari administration would have been justified otherwise, it would be just an unrealistic wailing that would discredit the Buhari administration in its entirety.

CONCLUSION
With feelings like this, the 9th senate in her first outing has caused the people to give room for distrust and lack of confidence in her. In the near future, the 9th Assembly as a whole will have to focus on building a trust that will bring about trust and confidence in her from Nigeria and Nigerians. Let it be on record that we remind the members of the 9th assembly today that when in doubt about the will of the people over whatever matter in the future, a constituency briefing will be the most appropriate option and not a close door meeting with some colloquies or members of other arms of government. At the end, you were sent to represent the people and not transact a business against the will of the people, nor are you to serve the will of the members of other arms. DO NOT CONSPIRE AGAINST THE PEOPLE FOR 2023 IS JUST TOMORROW.
Congratulations to the 9th Assembly;

THE BEAUTY AND BEAST OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA | J.F. DABO

God bless Nigeria.
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