O.U.R. Voices Exclusive Interview Interview on the Role of Legislation in Upholding Democracy in Nigeria -By Olasunkanmi Usman Rational

Olasunkanmi Usman Rational

HOST: Good Afternoon Ladies And Gentlemen…..

Welcome To Another Episode Of OUR Voices 😊👍🏼.

Today with me, is Hon. Gbenga Paul aka PaulBlack – The ChiefWhip, UI SRC 5th Assembly.

And my co host on this programme is Hon. Barak Opayne …

GUEST: Good Afternoon Honourables,The Host and the co-host….

Q: Before moving on sir…

Can we meet u sir?

A: My Name is Oyegunle Gbenga Paul a.k.a Paulblack, I come from remo-ikenne area of Ogun state, currently residing in Lagos..

From the Department of Political Science 300lv.. Kenneth Mellanby constituency..

Q: The topic to be treated today is “Role of legislation in upholding democracy in Nigeria”.

This is a no joke topic and not for beginner, can u share some of ur legislation experience

A: Taklking BT my legislative experience, woow.. Where do I begin…

Av been prividged to be a part of BT 5 difference legislative assembly, and av served in a principal post BT 3 times….

Most times pple see me and ask what is the usefulness of being in the legislative house as little or no impact is usually felt directly….

Which is quite true…but tru the help of d media that can bridge d gap to some extent… To sum this so far its be adventurous and worthwhile

Q: This implies that you started your legislative career early… that’s really cool.

Let’s move straight to business…

From ur own view, do u really think “Democracy is well practised in Nigeria”?

A: Thank u for that qstn sire.

To begin with diff scholars have come to posit ideas as regards what democracy entails…

The common phenomenon accruing to them all is the expression of “Collective will”, “consent” and “Representation”

Democracy has been in existence for a very long time now in this part of their world.. But sadly there has been a deviation..

Q: Deviation in what sense, Hon. Paul??

A: Thank you… Deviation in the sense that now there’s a big problem with the concept of “Representation” which connotes interest, “consent” and even the collective will making head ways..

Our leaders beg us for votes , promising the sky, but upon ascension into various offices, the coin changes, most pple do not even get to know their reps, it’s that bad, take a survey here and ask people who there reps from their home town are, den ud see what we are saying…..

Legislation that doesn’t represent the peoples will has soon become the order of the day. Especially with the National Assembly

Q: The tenets of democracy as it were can they ever have its stand in Nigeria comparatively with other developed(ing) nations of the world practicing democracy…knwing full well that we have a dilapidated and rotten “systems”

A: Total Equality

The rule of law

Popular sovereignty

Periodic and free and fair elections.

Protection of fundamental human rights

Majority votes…
These are part of the core tenents of Democracy, my discussion will be around these..

Giving these foregoing…let us now delve into the main dish…

Looking at the issue of rule of law… You and I know that Nigeria is far from it. Our Judicial system is crumbling day by day.

Take a case study of developed countries of the world such as the US and UK… The rule of law and equality before the law is supreme to a greater extent… And do you know why….its bcoz theres d existence of an independent and well services Judicial sys…
In Nigeria our judicial personnel’s aren’t independent, and well serviced, how then can The rule of law and equality of law be ascertained

Case study…
According to the vanguard it was reported that on the 14th of Oct 2014, an osun state high court sentence d to robbers to a death penalty for stealing some skinny looking fowls. And as at today…so many of high profile Nigerian leaders who have turned the National Treasury to their personal treasure are walking freely on d streets…

Our democracy isn’t and cannot be compared to advanced countries…at least for now.

Talking BT Majority votes… During the 2015 elections…
Tho people voted, but according to the survey.. .a greater deal of franchise enabled Nigerians dint vote due to one reason or the order….which may b due to voluntary or involuntary reasons..

These qstns the tenets of Majority vote…which bothers on “consent”
In developed counties, ICT has been helping in bringing out the best …tru effective online platforms and d rest, which draws the gov closer. To d masses

But here its still d old fashion order that we are still experiencing.. How then is the definition of democracy holding water here…

The issue of Protection of Human Rights…
Since the inception of the universal declaration of human rights by the UN, and the Au’s Banjul charter which seeks to create equality in law and in social situation…

Since we have a weakened judicial system..what do you expect…rights can hardly be protected….

Let me say…that giving the analysis above as it stand we are no where when it comes to democratic comparison.. But tumao may bring forth a new story.

Q: What’s do you think are the defiency of democracy in contemporary nigeria 1999-date

A Nice…

Lack of credibility …our don’t make credibility as their watch word…take example…u join a party based on the ideologies the party puts forward… Only to enter office then we hear of cross carpeting issues…just some few days ago two members of the house of reps lawmakers who won thier election ridding in the shoulders of the PDP, defected to the APc, it doesn’t happen this way out there in developed countries of the world you know…

Corruption and Nepotism…

Here in our beloved land, our only remarkable constant development wev been able to achieved is the devoplemnt of underdevloment …caused and triggered by corrupt practise…
The FG just posted the amount of looted funds rocovered in just one year..I count even count the figure…

If this continues imagine how much of recovered looted funds will be gotten by the end of the next four years…

Later they will say we are poor…of course we are…

Lack of adequate infratructural structural erecrion.. This affects continuity…

From the emergence of established Nigeria’s Civilian rule in 1999… Diff Gov has come and gone…with little or next to nothing left for the incoming ones… The image is disturbing….
No continuity, we keep starting all over again…how do we now match up with developed countries such as China and the likes who were once in d same category with Nigeria in the 1960s as underdeveloped countries.but today have left us in that sphere?

Lack of Proper sensitization Education and enlightenment on the part of the masses..has been affecting our democracy and growth as a country…. Leading to Apathy and you and I know the implications of that.

Lack of innovation and creativity…These arent encouraged..

Our system isn’t flexible enough , its to rigid that it doesn’t accommodate the changes occurring in our ever changing society.

Q: Sir, u mentioned rule of law earlier…

For about a year ago, don’t u think that has be reinstated back to Nigeria…

The strenghten of EFCC and all other agencies like that..

A: The EFCC and other agencies I must say have been trying to some extent..

But the truth still needs being told they aren’t there yet..

Q: What do u think are the solution to the predominant loopholes to nigeria’s democracy.

A: Plausible solutions are:

Granting the judiciary the freehand to interpret the law and perform other duties maximaly..by doing this, transparency will set in, and our leaders will be put always on d spot

Adoption of flexible administrative Policies to suit our Nigerian atmosphere..

The Media:
Giving them the freehand to work…just some days ago, sahara reports and The Senate president were engaged in exchange of allegations..saying that. Saraki kept 300 million in his home in kwara and it went missing.

Ensuring preiodic,free and fair election…it goes a long way in boosting democracy or the other way round..

It was debuked by him,, after sahara reporters still stood on thier ground s, he admitted to in 12 million missing..
The power of the media is great..

Q: These are general solutions sir…

In which possible ways can the legislators have a direct effect in making these solutions come to reality??

A: That is our area of concentration..

Legislators or better still the legislative arm can inject and fast track these solutions via these under listed ways:

Q: In one message each, state the role of legislation in solving these challenges

Oyo Privatisation
Niger delta Avengers

A: The issue of The Niger Delta Avengers…
The National assembly is fully abreasted with it… The president’s position is clear it..

The legislative arm can adopt flexible policies or if they have make provision for more in order to create a leverage…coz they cry of being marginalized..

They can approve more funds to be disburt to that area, such as the cleaning up we are having there…

It is important that the president is expected to consult with the legislative arm…

These are sensitive cases

Down to The Oyo state Privatization…

First of all the Government is saying it is a partnership thing… I don’t want to fully pitch tent with that…

The state house has a vital role cos just like IUD say, these decisions aren’t taken in isolation of the state house..

This is what I think can be done..
The state house can partner with the gov to set up a committees to look into the pros and cons…so that hasty decisions will not be made…

The major problem is funding..which is a Nation wide Phenomenum.. Let me say this..it is high time the state house started looking at approval of policies and empowering other sectors that can help in revenue…

The house should look inward at how to avvert this… By cutting down on gov spendings, cutting down of uncesalssary allowances…all these and many more in a bid to making the state bouyant enof not to venture into that idea.

He that’s wears the shoe know where it pinches..
Nigeria is facing hard times now..The masses are agitating. Patience is running out..

My advice is for the president to keep digging deep, he should try as much as possible to fufil items on his manifesto…coz that is the yard stick for assessment on the part of the masses irrespective of emerging situation..
The senate and all other required bodies should be duly carried along at all times….

Democracy is BT carrying people along and reflecting thier wishes…most importantly.

I take this time out to call on every Nigerian not to throw in the towel and loose hope on this country, we will get there.. Just a little more push perhaps…

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

I thank all Honourables that took thier time out to follow up on this interview, and those that cud not due to some reasons…

To the organisers I say thank you..

Godbless Nigeria..
Onenaija
Helpbuildniger
Beatoolofchange..

Paulblack Signing out…

My Shout out goes to everyone here,
My colleagues, coursemates, friends, and The Family of the 6th Assembly ..onelove.

This Brought Us To The End Of This Episode Of OUR VOICES,

Till We Come Your Way Next Time, #You_Matter!! 😊👍🏼

© OLASUNKANMI USMAN RATIONAL
© (O.U.R. VOICES)