- Ohaneze Ndigbo president insisted on the restructuring of the country
- He told Senator Bukola Saraki that too much power was in the hands if the executives
- He said governance and economy have failed in the country
The president-general of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo has said that too much power in concentrated in the hands of the executive which he claimed is responsible for the disrespect of the legislature.
Premium Times reports that Nwodo spoke on behalf of a delegation of leaders of the South and Middlebelt who visited the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Thursday, May 3.
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Nwodo said the recent invasion of the Senate by thugs and the refusal of the inspector-general of police, Ibrahim Idris, to appear was a sign of disregard for the National Asssembly.
He said: “We have come to you at a very difficult time in the history of our country.
“We are visiting the National Assembly because of its unique position in our constitution. The democratic system we run in our country rests on the three organs of government.
“For these three arms, the other two function in accordance with laws made by this arm. This arm characterises democracy because in a military government you will have both the judiciary and the executive.
“But it is only in a democratic government that you have the parliament. The parliament is a microcosm of the people because every section of the country has by adult suffrage delegated its voice to this parliament.
“So we believe that by visiting you today, we are coming to speak to the conscience of the country. We ask that these discussions today be as frank as possible because in situations like this, unless the National Assembly rises like one man, with a conscience, commitment and patriotism, to unveil the facade of partisan politics, partisan advantages, and face the real issues, we stand of the edge of a precipice.
“We have watched the helplessness of the National Assembly where members of the executive even refuse your invitations to come and make explanations contrary to provisions of the constitution.
“We have found the helplessness of the Senate when you can be invaded in spite of the security adornment in this place controlled by the executive and the seat of the Senate President is almost invaded but for the personal security of the aides of its leadership.”
Nwodo said governance and the economy are two critical things that have failed in the country.
He said: “This is because our system makes the tail wag the dog rather than the dog wag the tail. This cannot be in a fountain of legislative authority for executive implementation, and yet they toy with the system.
“We have come to tell you that it is in our view that it is because we have this over-concentration of powers in the Federal Government contrary to the agreement that our forefathers entered into for the nation called Nigeria. That governance has failed in our country. That economic development has failed.
“We believe that many of the problems that we have in our country emanate from the constitution of our country. We know that the National Assembly has had debate on devolution of powers and we know, Mr President, that you did promise the nation that you will have a revisit to this issue.
“We have come to ask you to bring up the revisit. We consider it urgent and inevitable because we believe that all problems we have today in Nigeria emanate from the fact that our constitution is not right for a country constituted by people of diverse culture, diverse religion, diverse political persuasions as our country.
Saraki in his response said the National Assembly was ready to do its path and maintaining Nigeria’s path to democracy.
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NAIJ.com had reported that Saraki and the principal officers of the Senate met with leaders from the southern and middle belt parts of the country.
Officers in attendance include Chiefs Ayo Adebanjo, Edwin Clark, Obong Victor Attah, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, John Nwodo, and Mr. Yinka Odumakin
Receiving them were president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, and several other senators.
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Source: Naija.ng