Power they say corrupts, while absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is a popular refrain among political sciece students.This is the main reason that in a democratic setting, there are three arms of government that operate on an equal status and serve as a check on one another. The result of this is an effective checks and balances in the activities and opeartions of government agents.
That Nigeria has spent ten uninterrupted years of civilian rule is not in question. The argument had been whether these years of civilian rule can be equated to ten years of democratic dispensation. Many commentaries had been made on this; while some argue that we had had democracy these ten years, others believe we had only had the change of uniform as the same clique of undemocratic forces had been in control of the national affairs all these years.
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That was why when in 2007, when a so-called unblemished, true civilian and a university graduate - "Umaru Musa Yar'Adua" was 'selected' by the PDP and later imposed on the 'nation' as a civilian president, not few were optimistic that things may no longer be the same, hoping that we are in for better times.
With recent events since his inauguration as president, Yar'Adua had proved the optimists wrong while the sceptics had been proved right. Not a few had been taken aback with the level of corruption in all segments of national life, exhibition of ineptitude, lack of direction, unwillingness to change the status quo especially with recent events in Ekiti and commitment to the Northernization of Nigeria.
However, my anger goes to the National Assembly, the so-called representatives of the people. These people are supposed to guage the feelings of the 'electorate' (though many of them were not elected in the first place) and make laws to assuage these feelings and fears. These so-called 'distinguished' senators and 'honourable' representatives are expected to serve as a check on the excesses of the executives and defend the constitution of the 'Federal Rebublic'. They are to remind the executive of any actions that serve as a breach to the constitution and ensure that the interest of the generality of the masses is defended, at least let there be a semblance. They are supposed to scrutinize the actions of the executive and various parastatals to ensure that they are in consonance to the dictates of the constitution.
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However, what we observe now is a legislature that had become an extended arm of the presidency, not even the executive. Actions of the executive are now approved without recourse to constitutional requirements. They are only interested in their allowance and had abandoned the responsibility bestowed on them to 'at least' show were have separation of powers. I am persuaded to concur with those who term them 'rubber stamp' legialature.
The recent appointment of the presidency and so-called screening and approval by the Senate of Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is appauling and negates every sense of decorum and legislative responsibility. Mr. Sanusi just assumed office as the GMD of First bank of Nigeria in January this year. From all indications, Mr. Sanusi is not qualified to head the nations apex bank. His educational background completely disqualifies him. This is a man that should formulate policies that is supposed to drive this national economy in this period of global economic recession and lead us to the so-called Vision 20:2020. From all indications, he has been a local champion, even with his masters degree in a course that has nothing to do with Economics, banking or even Political-economics. He lacks the� international clout or exposure to lead the nations banking sector to the desired el-dorado. If the North desires to appropriate the CBN governorship position now, my question is ' Is Sanusi the most qualified candidate the whole of the North can produce?' If that is true, then they have a fundamental problem because they are and will remain decades far behind. During the so-called Senate screening, this incompetence wasnt dictated or commented on by any so-called Senator. What a shame.
Mr. Sanusi comes from a region, North Western Nigeria that already has appropriated the positions of the President, Economic Adviser to the President, Minister of Finance, Minister of National Planning, Minister of Energy, GMD NNPC etc. This completely negates the principles of the constitution of the 'Federal Republic' of Nigeria. During the jamboree called screening, the so-called senators were busy listening to a fable prepared to deceive the gullible men that they are that the question of federal character was no longer an issue in federal appointments. The worst case is that even the affirmation of his clearance should be done by voice vote; in which clime are we operating here?
I recently read a babbling by one Northerner that the reason for not giving Prof. Chukwuma Soludo a second term was to pave way for a Northern who has a primary responsibility to reshape the policy of the operations of the Bureau De Change. They complain that the policy of Soludo affected the Northerns negatively without considering the effect on the national economy. It goes to show how myopic, sentimental and tribalistic that Yar'adua is. Such person has completely demonstrated his incompetence to be president of any country in this clime. No wonder some of his former associates had complained that he has no national agenda, had no friends outside his locality and thus his mentality is completely local.� I am afraid for Nigeria especially with recent calls for a so-called second term.
What we have got from the so-called National Assembly had been probes that got nowhere. Noises were made, emotions evoked and all of such nonsense. The conclusion is the enmeshing in corrupt practices by those who are supposed to perform oversight functions. Nicholas Ugbane, Ndudi Elumelu et al will tell better. Many others abound in both chambers with their atrocities covered by the EFCC and their presidency collaborators. We wish Elumelu will open up and squeal the beans in his case as it concersn the so-called young turk, Mr. Speaker. We all know about it and are waiting for the details.
The National Assembly, during Obasanjo's regime made some noise about impeachment. However, in the name of executive-legislative collaboration and political stability, the interest of the masses is constantly subsumed to the wishes of a cabal. In the so-called hallowed chambers, rot, disappointments, shame, election riggers and thugs, criminals, 419ers, fake contractors, ritualists, womanisers, sponsors of kidnappings and all sorts of evil abound. It shows that this nation is doomed. Our democracy is doomed. The future of our youths is doomed. They are a National Disgrace.
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