Sign in
Sign in
Recover your password.
A password will be e-mailed to you.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA
A group of former and serving federal lawmakers under the aegis of the
Faculty Board of the Initiatives, has joined calls for members of the
National Assembly to be allowed to choose their leaders without
interference from political parties especially the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC).
The faculty while making the call yesterday during a media briefing in
Abuja, noted that Nigeria can only be seen as truly a democratic
nation only if the legislature is allowed its independence.
Dean of the Facultym Eseme Eyiboh, a former chairman, House Committee
on Media and Public Affairs, stressed the need for the legislature as
an arm of government to assert its independence in the current
democratic system of government.
”This country can only be great if we allow the independence of the
Legislature, the stability of the Legislature and of course the
separation of powers.
“We all belong to one political party or the other and each of our
political parties have their manifestoes and each of our party
associates with their sentiments but on our own part, we are saying
where politics ends, governance starts.”
Eyiboh who argued that the previous and current leadership of the
House has been able to draw a line between politics and governance,
stressed the need to set parameters for the leadership recruitment
system, adding that the leaders “must emerge free of democratic
deceits.
He maintained that if the three arms must stand in a tripod
arrangement, other arms particularly the Executive must desist from
meddling in the affairs of the Legislature.
“History, from N’Abba up to Dogara is very consistent” he added,
pointing that the general interest of a particular candidate and the
independence of the Legislature have often being uppermost in the
heart of the lawmakers in choosing their leaders. Interest of members,
separation of powers and independence of legislature are something
very consistent,” he stressed.
Other lawmakers who spoke on the crisis trailing the contest for the
office of the Speaker, observed that anyone interested in the race for
speakership, or any leadership position in the National Assembly must
be acceptable, be able to galvanise interest of members as all
political parties are stakeholders in choosing the presiding officer
as opposed to the whims and caprice of one political party.
BADEJO ADEMUYIWA has 23 years experience as a Finance Writer, specialising in Insurance and Investigative Reporting.
Comments are closed.