ON NIGERIA’S COMPLICIT LAWMAKERS IN THE FAILURE OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI – IT IS HIGH TIME THEY WAKE UP!
March 18, 2021 | News
We cannot have a 9th National Assembly that is best known for only barking and barking, without biting and making their impact felt, and they expect Nigerians to applaud them. I have reiterated that, one of the major problems I have with members of the National Assembly, is that often times, they are more consumed on seeing through issues that affect their welfare,
ON NIGERIA’S COMPLICIT LAWMAKERS IN THE FAILURE OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI – IT IS HIGH TIME THEY WAKE UP!
We cannot have a 9th National Assembly that is best known for only barking and barking, without biting and making their impact felt, and they expect Nigerians to applaud them. I have reiterated that, one of the major problems I have with members of the National Assembly, is that often times, they are more consumed on seeing through issues that affect their welfare, and what they would benefit from the system. But when it comes to issues adversely affecting the general masses of the Nigerian people, all we see them do is to talk and talk, and also complain and complain. And after that, it is business as usual. As they have refused, and have not been willing to issue a stern query, or even a Vote of No Confidence to President Muhammadu Buhari for his dictatorial tendencies and not being able to address the insecurity situation in the country, and the increasingly harsh economic realities. In fact, many Nigerians have concluded that we do not have a National Assembly of supposedly elected legislators meant to checkmate the excesses and inefficiencies of the Federal Executive Government.
This again were my thoughts, when I saw a short video online of Senator Mohammed Ndume (APC), blowing hot to his colleagues reminding them of the consequences of their inactions towards President Buhari’s disposition to the National Assembly. In his words: “Everyone here, whether you’re a Christian or a Muslim; we have a responsibility as leaders. God will ask us, one after the other, what did you do as a Senator? I am not a Pastor or an Imam, but am just reminding us of what we know, and may be that will touch our conscience. You can’t start hiding under party or anything. We are leaders, that are entrusted by our people to come and speak on their behalf. Not only speaking on their behalf but to do anything constitutional. And we know while government is there, the security and welfare of its citizens should be priority… We cannot continue like this. We have to tell ourselves the truth… People will start thinking we are just grandstanding. We should seat down within ourselves and say it as it is. And take appropriate actions. Mr. President, if you have any problem with that, then allow the Senate to do it… Enough is enough! Of what need of us coming here and talk and talk, even the one I’m saying now, it will not matter. But it can. This is not the end. The constitution is clear; it did not limit what we can do. We have not reached the limit. Let us consider it, to see if we have to go further. But you must lead, because that is what you swore to do; to protect the lives of Nigerians.”
This was how some few months ago, a similar video went viral online, showing the members of the Senate debating on what they need to do to checkmate the excesses of President Buhari, and I was encouraged for one thing. And that is the fact that they were now feeling the sort of frustrations majority of Nigerians have been feeling towards the dictatorial tendencies of President Buhari. The question again is, what exactly are they going to do about our Dictator of a President? Are they just going to talk and complain and it ends there? The members of the Senate, in the said short video, reiterated the fact that Mr. President has no respect for the National Assembly, as their Resolutions don't mean anything to him. Their Bills, which are passed, are not assented to. And the more this is being said, the more annoying it is.
One of the lawmakers noted the fact that they need to have a look at Section 1(3) on the removal of Mr. President, and other powers available to them to act on. According to the said lawmaker, not that he is asking for the removal of Mr. President, as that would be premature, but that there is need for them to consider having a Resolution by Two-Third members of the National Assembly, and send to Mr. President. To compel him to act accordingly. Another Senator asked, is Mr. President waiting for them to bring a formal motion from the Floor of the Senate to say they pass a Vote of No Confidence on him? And inundate him about the disturbing insecurity situation in the country. And the fact that they need to sit down as lawmakers - say it as it is, and take appropriate actions.
According to another Senator, he noted how they, as lawmakers and the Government, are failing consistently in their Constitutional responsibilities, which they all swore to uphold as enshrined in the Constitution. The one that struck a cord, was noted by another Senator who said the Title of Mr. President is not an Award. But a Call To Duty. And when a man is called to duty, he should be dutiful enough to know when the bulk stops at his table. And as far as the current security situation in the country is concerned, the bulk stops at the table of Mr. President.
However, in spite of all the ‘noise’ they have been making, the same lawmakers were the ones who approved Buhari’s appointment of the nation’s former Security Chiefs, despite the atrocities recorded under their reign in Office, to represent Nigeria as Non-career Ambassador-Designate. The same people that will be compensated well to represent the Nigerian Government as Ambassadors, regardless of the fact that they called it Non-career Ambassadors Designate. What a shame? What a shame for all! That we have ended up with barking and noise-making lawmakers that have turned themselves to mere entertainers of their audiences.
If the President does not respect the Rule of Law, and he does not obey the laws of the country as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, then the members of the National Assembly have the statutory responsibility to have the President impeached without any further delay.
As long as the members of the National Assembly, especially President Muhammadu Buhari keeps acting irresponsibly towards their statutory duties as enshrined in the Constitution, they should be prepared to continue receive more criticisms and backlashes from concerned Nigerians. As noted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during an event to mark his 82nd Birthday, in his words: “That is what democracy is all about – criticism, saying the other side. So, if I say, anybody in government in Nigeria, or any government of that matter, is not doing well, let that government prove that it is doing well. It is not anything personal. So, Kabiyesi, your boss – Buhari, there’s nothing personal between me and him. Just as he’s your boss, I am his boss, with all due respect. The point is that, I have been in that position, longer than any Nigerian, will ever be there. That is true, because if any Nigerian comes in and serves two terms, he will not have almost four years of military rule. So, I have been there, longer than any Nigerian will ever be there. So, when I say something, I know what am talking about. Any time you say, leave my boss alone, but am also his boss, you might also talk to your boss, to leave his boss alone or do what is right…”
The bottom line is that, when a country's President deliberately disrespects and disregards that nation's Legislative Arm of Government, and has refused to listen to the people that supposedly elected him into Office, or even show empathy to the plight, sufferings, hardship and emotional trauma daily experienced by the country's citizenry due to the insecurity situation which he has failed to address; then one wonders what exactly is the essence of having such a person, who can best be described as a Dictator, as a supposed President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces? And if the members of the National Assembly as the legislature that is meant to checkmate the Executive President, are not doing what is expected of them, then indeed the country is doomed.
The truth is, if things should continue in its deplorable state in Nigeria, we greatly fear the worst in the near and far future of our nation Nigeria. I only hope and pray that our Nigerian Federal lawmakers, who were elected to Represent the general interests of the Nigerian people, and also check the excesses of the Executive Government, would rise above sentiments, party affiliations, ethnic and religious bias and expediently do what is right, regardless of who or what is involved, in addressing the insecurity and economic problems daily making life miserable for the masses.
Zik Gbemre.
March 18, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
We cannot have a 9th National Assembly that is best known for only barking and barking, without biting and making their impact felt, and they expect Nigerians to applaud them. I have reiterated that, one of the major problems I have with members of the National Assembly, is that often times, they are more consumed on seeing through issues that affect their welfare, and what they would benefit from the system. But when it comes to issues adversely affecting the general masses of the Nigerian people, all we see them do is to talk and talk, and also complain and complain. And after that, it is business as usual. As they have refused, and have not been willing to issue a stern query, or even a Vote of No Confidence to President Muhammadu Buhari for his dictatorial tendencies and not being able to address the insecurity situation in the country, and the increasingly harsh economic realities. In fact, many Nigerians have concluded that we do not have a National Assembly of supposedly elected legislators meant to checkmate the excesses and inefficiencies of the Federal Executive Government.
This again were my thoughts, when I saw a short video online of Senator Mohammed Ndume (APC), blowing hot to his colleagues reminding them of the consequences of their inactions towards President Buhari’s disposition to the National Assembly. In his words: “Everyone here, whether you’re a Christian or a Muslim; we have a responsibility as leaders. God will ask us, one after the other, what did you do as a Senator? I am not a Pastor or an Imam, but am just reminding us of what we know, and may be that will touch our conscience. You can’t start hiding under party or anything. We are leaders, that are entrusted by our people to come and speak on their behalf. Not only speaking on their behalf but to do anything constitutional. And we know while government is there, the security and welfare of its citizens should be priority… We cannot continue like this. We have to tell ourselves the truth… People will start thinking we are just grandstanding. We should seat down within ourselves and say it as it is. And take appropriate actions. Mr. President, if you have any problem with that, then allow the Senate to do it… Enough is enough! Of what need of us coming here and talk and talk, even the one I’m saying now, it will not matter. But it can. This is not the end. The constitution is clear; it did not limit what we can do. We have not reached the limit. Let us consider it, to see if we have to go further. But you must lead, because that is what you swore to do; to protect the lives of Nigerians.”
This was how some few months ago, a similar video went viral online, showing the members of the Senate debating on what they need to do to checkmate the excesses of President Buhari, and I was encouraged for one thing. And that is the fact that they were now feeling the sort of frustrations majority of Nigerians have been feeling towards the dictatorial tendencies of President Buhari. The question again is, what exactly are they going to do about our Dictator of a President? Are they just going to talk and complain and it ends there? The members of the Senate, in the said short video, reiterated the fact that Mr. President has no respect for the National Assembly, as their Resolutions don't mean anything to him. Their Bills, which are passed, are not assented to. And the more this is being said, the more annoying it is.
One of the lawmakers noted the fact that they need to have a look at Section 1(3) on the removal of Mr. President, and other powers available to them to act on. According to the said lawmaker, not that he is asking for the removal of Mr. President, as that would be premature, but that there is need for them to consider having a Resolution by Two-Third members of the National Assembly, and send to Mr. President. To compel him to act accordingly. Another Senator asked, is Mr. President waiting for them to bring a formal motion from the Floor of the Senate to say they pass a Vote of No Confidence on him? And inundate him about the disturbing insecurity situation in the country. And the fact that they need to sit down as lawmakers - say it as it is, and take appropriate actions.
According to another Senator, he noted how they, as lawmakers and the Government, are failing consistently in their Constitutional responsibilities, which they all swore to uphold as enshrined in the Constitution. The one that struck a cord, was noted by another Senator who said the Title of Mr. President is not an Award. But a Call To Duty. And when a man is called to duty, he should be dutiful enough to know when the bulk stops at his table. And as far as the current security situation in the country is concerned, the bulk stops at the table of Mr. President.
However, in spite of all the ‘noise’ they have been making, the same lawmakers were the ones who approved Buhari’s appointment of the nation’s former Security Chiefs, despite the atrocities recorded under their reign in Office, to represent Nigeria as Non-career Ambassador-Designate. The same people that will be compensated well to represent the Nigerian Government as Ambassadors, regardless of the fact that they called it Non-career Ambassadors Designate. What a shame? What a shame for all! That we have ended up with barking and noise-making lawmakers that have turned themselves to mere entertainers of their audiences.
If the President does not respect the Rule of Law, and he does not obey the laws of the country as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, then the members of the National Assembly have the statutory responsibility to have the President impeached without any further delay.
As long as the members of the National Assembly, especially President Muhammadu Buhari keeps acting irresponsibly towards their statutory duties as enshrined in the Constitution, they should be prepared to continue receive more criticisms and backlashes from concerned Nigerians. As noted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during an event to mark his 82nd Birthday, in his words: “That is what democracy is all about – criticism, saying the other side. So, if I say, anybody in government in Nigeria, or any government of that matter, is not doing well, let that government prove that it is doing well. It is not anything personal. So, Kabiyesi, your boss – Buhari, there’s nothing personal between me and him. Just as he’s your boss, I am his boss, with all due respect. The point is that, I have been in that position, longer than any Nigerian, will ever be there. That is true, because if any Nigerian comes in and serves two terms, he will not have almost four years of military rule. So, I have been there, longer than any Nigerian will ever be there. So, when I say something, I know what am talking about. Any time you say, leave my boss alone, but am also his boss, you might also talk to your boss, to leave his boss alone or do what is right…”
The bottom line is that, when a country's President deliberately disrespects and disregards that nation's Legislative Arm of Government, and has refused to listen to the people that supposedly elected him into Office, or even show empathy to the plight, sufferings, hardship and emotional trauma daily experienced by the country's citizenry due to the insecurity situation which he has failed to address; then one wonders what exactly is the essence of having such a person, who can best be described as a Dictator, as a supposed President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces? And if the members of the National Assembly as the legislature that is meant to checkmate the Executive President, are not doing what is expected of them, then indeed the country is doomed.
The truth is, if things should continue in its deplorable state in Nigeria, we greatly fear the worst in the near and far future of our nation Nigeria. I only hope and pray that our Nigerian Federal lawmakers, who were elected to Represent the general interests of the Nigerian people, and also check the excesses of the Executive Government, would rise above sentiments, party affiliations, ethnic and religious bias and expediently do what is right, regardless of who or what is involved, in addressing the insecurity and economic problems daily making life miserable for the masses.
Zik Gbemre.
March 18, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes