By Nnabugwu Chizoba (Development
Practitioner)
The Presidential system of
government, which Nigeria is practicing presently, flourishes on the sharing of
power among the three established pillars and instruments of governance
recognized as the:
Legislature
Executive and
Judiciary
The listing or presentation of
the three organs of government, above, does not have anything to do with ranking
of the organs, or in any way seeks to confer supremacy on any.
The Presidential system of
government is built on the core principles of "balance of power", referred to as
checks and balances. The powers of each of the organs, in Nigeria is derived
from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which in my thinking
presupposes that none of the organs exists at the mercy of the other, for
indeed none is created by the other. The 1999 Constitution, which the country
is using is very clear about this.
Similarly, the role of each of
the organs is clearly enunciated in the 1999 Constitution. The implication, I
should think, thereof, is that none of the organs shall lord it over the order,
otherwise, the core principles of checks and balances, which the Presidential
system is built, may be lost. The effect of the loss of checks and balances, in
any environment, including ours, is better imagined.
The Constitution in Part 11:
Powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 4 (1), through 9 recognized
the legislative arm of government and vested in the National and State
assemblies the power to make laws and also declared in the various schedules
other roles vested on it. Similarly, the same Part 11, in Section 5 (1) through
5, established the executive powers as vested in the President and the
Governors. The same Part 11, in Section 6 (1), through 6, vested the Judiciary
powers in the Courts.
That the framers of the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, did not hide their intention about the
supremacy of the Constitution, is a clear indication of the direction that
every citizen must follow, notwithstanding the status of any individual. It is
also a call to order and submission by all citizens.
A quick reference to that portion
of the Constitution, Chapter 1, Part 1, Section 1 (1), reads:
1.
(1) This Constitution is supreme and its
provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The above preamble is necessary
to educate those, who by commission or omission tend to treat one organ of
government as superior and the other, as a mere appendage of another. Such attitude,
apart from being myopic, speaks volume and exposes the level of ignorance, the
opinion holders with regard to the Constitution, are contending with. I do not
mean any insult or in any way intend to disparage anybody.
My further take, is in particular
on the frosty and unhealthy relationship that exists, between the Executive and
the other organs of government. My concern bothers much on the persistent over-orchestrated
approach of the executive to bring the other organs of government into
disrepute and in most cases into loggerhead with the masses, more often than
not through misleading information. This action is out rightly condemnable and
inimical to Nigeria’s development.
Democratic governance under the
Presidential system, envisions that only the very rich upstairs, in terms of ideas,
are best favoured to take a shot at it. Instead of a command regime, where
every Dick, Tom and Harry can hold sway, the Democratic system is expected, to
be driven by debates. This entails the ability to raise issues, connect intentions
and desires and subject them to very rigorous processes. Sometimes, it is easy,
at other times, it is difficult. All in all, I think it is frustrating,
especially to them that lack the skills. It is an energy sapping and
debilitating experience to them whose IQ (intelligent Quotient), is not high
enough to context issues. The inability, in the case of Nigeria’s present
government, to comprehend the democratic processes makes it excruciatingly
difficult for the President to manage the challenges.
Surprisingly, too, Democratic
processes is a very interesting, motivating and inspiring experience, to them
that have the knack for it. The rigors, challenges, difficulties and stumbling
blocks that arise as a result of the various levels of intercourse that exists
between opposing minds, bring out the best in them. The opposing ideas,
perspectives and different shades of opinions, are allowed to bear on the
prevailing issues. This developments, more often than not, and in no small way
impact positively on the quality of the final output.
This healthy intercourse is
unfortunately missing in Nigeria’s democratic governance process today. The
frustration is visible everywhere. The effect is huge. The masses are
suffering. The leadership is confused and a section of the masses are agitated.
Pretentiously, the ruling class claims it is searching everywhere, but nowhere
for answers. War without end!
The President who should give
clear direction, is heavily incapacitated and frustrated by his inability to
cope and harness the obvious benefits of democratic governance. Instead of
exploring the glaring savaging opportunities that abound through massive
citizens engagement, closing ranks, reaching out and lobbying those he is
unable to suppress or intimidate, and most importantly, bringing on board,
capable hands and revisiting his appointments that produced some capable hands
as square begs in round holes, he and his die hard supporters, have turned
their venom on the other organs of government and indirectly mobilizing and
blind folding the masses, to see those organs as clog in the wheel of progress.
How did we get here?
Ordinarily, one would think that
the masses who are the worst hit, would be firm, coordinated and focused as is
always the case in most games, where it has been proven, that the spectators as
observers usually identify the flaws and loopholes in any game, easier than the
key actors in the game.
From all indication, the masses
are the most confused. The masses, on whose shoulders rest the hope of pulling
the chestnut out of the fire, are heavily divided by the ruling class. Instead
of the masses in most cases demanding from the leadership, what rightly belongs
to them: justice, equity, social welfare, security, inclusive governance, job
creation and employment generation, food on the common man’s table, unity and result
oriented issues, they are instead divided along political parties, religious
and ethnic affiliations.
As disheartening as the situation
is, the masses are very busy listening to fairy tales and watching shenanigan
behaviours, designed to hide governments’ lack of capacity to deliver the
suffering masses from what is evidently, leadership imposed poor living
conditions. Who will bell the cat?
The lesson from our present
democratic experience and leadership style is awful. If not quickly checked, it
will very soon, metamorphose into a belief system that gives credence to the already
held erroneous impression in some quarters, that leadership is whatever the
President does. Already the Nigerian society, is at a loss, watching a
situation where the fight against corruption, is being narrowed, to whatever
the President says corruption is. This development calls for a rethink by
Nigerians, especially on the concept of Democracy and the Presidential system
of governance, with reference to the Constitutional role of the other organs of
government.
In conclusion, I urge Nigerians
to pause for a while to review all the organs of government presently to
see which among them really possess genuine qualities of leadership. The answer
may surprise many.
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