Recently, the Presidential Adviser on the National Assembly, Senator Joy Emordi, organized a programme aimed at enhancing the relationship between the executive arm of government and the legislature. What do you think are the core issues in their current relationship?
First, you must understand that the legislature is an arm of government just like the executive and the judiciary, which means we have our terms of duties and responsibility. We are not subservient to any of the other two arms and the reverse is also true. The executive and legislature are
not in any rancour but on the contrary, both are working to ensure the entrenchment of democratic values and delivery of dividends of democracy. However, we must arm ourselves with the knowledge that the focal reference is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not individuals. Given this understanding, what is being seen as rancour, dispute or even termed competition between the executive and legislature is just difference in perspectives and outlook, which is not unexpected in democracy, so far as it will bring greater good to a greater number of the citizens of the country.
While we may not rule out vested interest from some quarters on issues of national importance, I can say categorically that this seventh National Assembly is resolute at following the Constitution to the letter on issues that pass through its chambers. For example, look at the issue of Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), the House of Representatives made a resolution and passed it across to the executive. We are all aware of how the decision of the House was treated with kid gloves. I think there is need to re-echo the fact that this is democracy because some people are still in leadership with military hangover mentality. This is the 14th year of democracy; we need to open our minds and adopt the tenets of democratic rule and values if we really want to get the type of results and benefits other nations have.
Is such attitude responsible for the frequent confrontation between the two arms?
Let me say that for us in the National Assembly, the dictate of the Nigerian Constitution is what is guiding us and there is no other factor that drives us outside this. We seek to ensure that things are done appropriately following the rule of law for the betterment of the nation. As unambiguous as you may define the 1999 Constitution, it has carried us thus far and given the outcry from the public that there is need for its amendment, a constitution review process was held throughout the federation and the input from citizens was staggering. You see, as the representatives of the people, all issues are important and we must treat them according to the laws of the land.
Why do you think most Nigerians believe that there is a serious disconnect between them and their leaders, including members of the National Assembly in terms of the generally perceived precarious living condition confronting the people?
Let me give this analogy from the Bible. When the children of Israel left Egypt which was a land of slavery, their mentality was still tuned to where they were coming from. Even when Moses, their leader, came up with any proactive measures, they easily deflated them, bringing their past to the present-thereby making their journey to the promise land to be elongated. Similarly, the long years of military rule in this country has had a strong negative effect on our psyche such that we find it hard to decipher between the duties of the executive and legislature. Our people just believe that so far you are in government; you should just be giving out money at will. We need to start asking for responsive leadership and eschew a give-me-fish mentality.
There are allegations that the ACN administration and other ACN chieftains like you are promoting political intolerance lately in Osun State. Why is this so?
That is quite amazing to hear! I believe it’s one of the usual smear campaign and a crude attempt to intimidate and distract the good works progressives in Osun State, led by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola are doing. The people of Osun know those that are violence-prone, as their years of gross bad governance, which was laced with uncountable orgy of violence, is still fresh in our memories. In Osun State now, there is peace everywhere and that is the forerunner of the massive performance being put up by the governor. Is it me, a responsible public figure and a theatre ambassador that spent over 20 years in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] before I voluntarily retired that will take to violence or our peace- loving chief executive? They are only trying to garner public sympathy where there is none because they know that they are not welcome again.
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