Monday, 9 October 2017

THE EXECUTIVE SHOULD NOT STIFLE OTHER ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT. THIS IS DEMOCRACY.

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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