WITH A PRESIDENT THAT DOESN'T LISTEN TO THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC, AND DOESN'T RESPECT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WHAT ARE THE LAWMAKERS GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
December 21, 2020 | News
I have always reiterated the fact that one of the problems I have with members of the National Assembly, is that often times, they are more consumed and focused on their welfare and what they would benefit from the system, than what they were elected to do as lawmakers.
WITH A PRESIDENT THAT DOESN'T LISTEN TO THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC, AND DOESN'T RESPECT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WHAT ARE THE LAWMAKERS GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
I have always reiterated the fact that one of the problems I have with members of the National Assembly, is that often times, they are more consumed and focused on their welfare and what they would benefit from the system, than what they were elected to do as lawmakers. So, we see them talk and talk, and also complain and complain, especially recently about President Muhammadu Buhari's disrespectful disposition towards the hallowed Chambers of the National Assembly. But 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 Buhari for his dictatorial tendencies and not being able to address the insecurity situation in the country.
So, when a video went viral recently online, showing the members of the Senate debating on what they need to do to checkmate the excesses of President Buhari, I was encouraged for one thing. And that is the fact that they are now feeling the sort of frustrations majority of Nigerians have been feeling towards the dictatorial tendencies of President Buhari. The question now 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?
Like most of the things that I have noted about President Buhari in my recent write ups. 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.
The lawmaker also reiterated the fact that this Buhari-led Government, has failed all of us, and there is no doubt about that. And if they should decide that the Government must do something before they would produce the budget, perhaps it will make them listen and do something as expected. Another Senator noted that we cannot have Security Authorities just collecting money and building big houses in Abuja, and doing little to nothing concrete to address the insecurity situation in the country. And how that they as lawmakers, are not representing the people as they should. And with the level at which people are being killed in the country, they need to rethink on the nation's security architectural response to the security challenges of today.
President Buhari might be the number one citizen of Nigeria and the elected leader of this country, but he is still under the National Assembly since the national legislature has the power to supervise the President and call him to order. The legislators also have the power to remove the President if he abuses his power and commit impeachable offences as a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He should therefore govern with civility, respect and willing to listen to the voice of the people that elected him as the President.
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? 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.
We simply cannot continue like this because it may lead to a state of anarchy and more chaos in the country. As noted by Smart Ofugara, a social affairs commentator and a Campaigner for social Justice: "When you have people governing a country without ideology, vision, or goal. Whose selfish desires are greed and not service, then each branch of government can be compromised. What you then have is WEAK CHECKS AND BALANCES, or it’s none Existence. Of course, the outcome is suffering, neglect and abject poverty all over the land. Sad state of affairs of a nation called Nigeria."
Zik Gbemre.
December 21, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
I have always reiterated the fact that one of the problems I have with members of the National Assembly, is that often times, they are more consumed and focused on their welfare and what they would benefit from the system, than what they were elected to do as lawmakers. So, we see them talk and talk, and also complain and complain, especially recently about President Muhammadu Buhari's disrespectful disposition towards the hallowed Chambers of the National Assembly. But 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 Buhari for his dictatorial tendencies and not being able to address the insecurity situation in the country.
So, when a video went viral recently online, showing the members of the Senate debating on what they need to do to checkmate the excesses of President Buhari, I was encouraged for one thing. And that is the fact that they are now feeling the sort of frustrations majority of Nigerians have been feeling towards the dictatorial tendencies of President Buhari. The question now 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?
Like most of the things that I have noted about President Buhari in my recent write ups. 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.
The lawmaker also reiterated the fact that this Buhari-led Government, has failed all of us, and there is no doubt about that. And if they should decide that the Government must do something before they would produce the budget, perhaps it will make them listen and do something as expected. Another Senator noted that we cannot have Security Authorities just collecting money and building big houses in Abuja, and doing little to nothing concrete to address the insecurity situation in the country. And how that they as lawmakers, are not representing the people as they should. And with the level at which people are being killed in the country, they need to rethink on the nation's security architectural response to the security challenges of today.
President Buhari might be the number one citizen of Nigeria and the elected leader of this country, but he is still under the National Assembly since the national legislature has the power to supervise the President and call him to order. The legislators also have the power to remove the President if he abuses his power and commit impeachable offences as a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He should therefore govern with civility, respect and willing to listen to the voice of the people that elected him as the President.
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? 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.
We simply cannot continue like this because it may lead to a state of anarchy and more chaos in the country. As noted by Smart Ofugara, a social affairs commentator and a Campaigner for social Justice: "When you have people governing a country without ideology, vision, or goal. Whose selfish desires are greed and not service, then each branch of government can be compromised. What you then have is WEAK CHECKS AND BALANCES, or it’s none Existence. Of course, the outcome is suffering, neglect and abject poverty all over the land. Sad state of affairs of a nation called Nigeria."
Zik Gbemre.
December 21, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes