On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly interred the remains of Democracy in a shallow grave dung at the desecrated floor of the House, when President Tinubu presented the national budget proposal for 2024 fiscal year to a joint session of the parliaments. The ritual of interment was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and ratified by all the Senators and Honorable Members of the House of Representatives, when they ushered the President to the rostrum with a song of subservient allegiance, chanting “on your mandate we stand.” Such act of extreme sycophancy raises concerns about the independence and effectiveness of the legislative branch in upholding its responsibilities as the voice of the people.
This incident, devoid of integrity and constitutional fidelity, further showcased the erosion of Nigeria’s democratic values. The opposition parliamentarians, especially of the Labour Party (LP) clothed in the image of Peter Obi, once regarded as the voice of scrutiny and accountability, shamefully abandoned their role and assumed the role of loyalists, pledging allegiance to the President instead of the Constitution.
If there was any song worthy of being chorused at that event, it’s the national anthem. That would spell patriotism, which according to the 26th U.S President — Theodore Roosevelt: “means to stand by the country, not the President.” But our national Lawmakers thought otherwise.
The last time we saw a deliberate collosal surrender of State institution to the lure of executive inordinacy was during the time of Ibrahim Magu as acting EFCC Boss. He was meddling with partisan politics to the extent he forgot he was a public servant, loyal only to our constitution and the Act establishing the agency. On May 15, 2018 he boldly showed up on national TV adorning President Buhari’s re-election campaign lapel. The incident set the social media spaces buzzing with criticism. The social media critics of the time never knew that in five years from then, certain Sen. Akpabio and Hon. Abbas would lead the subservient surrender of the National Assembly (the hub of democracy) in ‘solemn’ to the most integrity-challenged President in history.
While such annual meeting between the President and the parliamentarians may have, as usual, strangely symbolized the “harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government,” (in the voice of former Senate President, Ahmed Lawal-led 9th Assembly), last Wednesday’s edition, instead showcased an alarming display of radical sycophancy by the legislators: including those of opposition parties.
This unfortunate act not only undermines the principles of separation of powers but also reveals a disturbing level of compromise within the 10th National Assembly. It is crucial to condemn the delinquent actions of the Legislators who prioritize loyalty to the President over their duty to uphold their Constitutional duties.
It is important to remember that Nigeria functions under a coequal three arms of government, each with its distinct roles and responsibilities. The Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are meant to operate independently to maintain a system of checks and balances. The legislators’ disloyalty to this fundamental principle is a severe blow to the promise of a vibrant democracy.
The 10th National Assembly must be held accountable for failing to fulfill its obligations as a representative body. Rather than providing robust oversight, they have descended into the role of mere “hypemongers” for the President. This rubber-stamp mentality undermines the very purpose of the Legislature, reducing it to a mere echo chamber for the President’s policies. The gravity of the situation becomes even more apparent when opposition parties, whose primary duty is to hold the government accountable, align themselves with the ruling party.
Democracy’s strength lies in its ability to foster healthy debate and robust discussion, which ultimately shapes sound policies and decisions. By singing a song of pliant concordance to the President, instead of the Constitution, opposition members have weakened the democratic norms and institutions that ensure accountability and safeguard citizens’ rights. This betrayal compromises the public’s trust and diminishes their confidence in the political system as a whole.
Opposition parties typically offer an alternate viewpoint and challenge the ruling party’s policies, thus ensuring a balanced and diverse representation of citizens’ interests. However, in this case, it appears that members of the opposition have abandoned their roles and responsibilities, aligning themselves with the ruling party’s agenda.
The implications of this betrayal are far-reaching. The absence of a strong opposition denies citizens the chance to engage in healthy political discourse and curtails their ability to hold the government accountable. Consequently, it erodes the foundation of a democratic society, which thrives on open dialogue and the exchange of diverse perspectives.
To salvage Nigeria’s democracy, it is imperative to raise awareness about this undermining behavior within the National Assembly. Citizens must be reminded of their power in holding elected officials accountable for their actions. The media, civil society organizations, and public intellectuals all have a critical role to play in this regard.
It is crucial for opposition parties to realize that their purpose goes beyond merely pleasing the ruling party. They must reclaim their roles as advocates for the interests of their constituents and challenge the government when necessary. This will necessitate the reassertion and reinforcement of democratic values within political parties and the overall governance structure.
I wanted to conclude this discourse by advising that Nigerians must demand accountability and recommit to the preservation of democratic values, but I hate to sound like a broken record. Who doesn’t know that Nigerians are the most docile civilian population in the world? They hardly protest against government policy, no matter how antihuman it may be. Whatever the ruling class threw at them, they absorb; if not, I would have suggested that It is high time both the ruling and opposition parties fulfilled their duties of governance with integrity, rationality, and a genuine submission to the welfare of the people they represent. Until this is consciously done, Nigeria cannot reclaim the true essence of democracy and build a brighter future for all.
The LP parliamentarians on whom Nigerians hoped to provide the needed resistance against executive rascality, have joined the establishment. For instance, Senator Ireti Kingibe of LP who, through popular votes, upsetted Senator Philip Aduda of PDP to win the lone FCT seat in the Senate was the first to defend Senate President Akpabio’s “prayers” of two million Naira, sent in their mail boxes four moths ago. They have all blended, enjoying the largesse Mr. Tinubu keeps pushing to them as incentives to buy them off.
However, anyone who never saw this day coming may have been living in fool’s paradise. Think of it this way: what was in your mind when Legislators accepted the much criticized 165 million Naira bulletproof SUV official cars at a time over 180 million Nigerians live below the poverty line? Is that not enough proof that they have mortgaged their right to freedom of thought and speech? How could such greedy mendicants constitute robust opposition, and fit into the gallery of checks and balances against the party in power?
May daylight spare us!
 Jude Eze.+2348099062006
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