By ( Alara) Pst Ben Ayo Abereoran
Our Presidential democracy has three arms: the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. Each arm is autonomous and has its functions clearly stated in the Constitution.
The Legislature is unique because all those who constitute it are elected directly by the people to represent the interest of the people or their constituents. In the case of the Executive, it is only the heads either as President or Governor that is elected by the people. Other members of the Executive are appointed by the head of that arm of Government( sometimes in consultation or with the approval of Legislature). Our Judiciary is not elected by the people as it’s leaders and officers are appointed from among their ranks, some of who may require legislative confirmation.
This situation shows us the importance of the Legislature as the representative of the people.
We know that the primary duty of the Legislature is to make laws for the good order and governance of the society to which it has jurisdiction. In addition, the Legislature is to oversee the activities of the Executive and hold the officers to account for their stewardship.
My focus in this piece is on the Legislature as we have it in Kogi State. With the situation of things in Kogi State, it appears that the Legislature exists only in name as representatives. They cannot be regarded as a people’s Assembly. By their acts of omission and commission, they have allowed Governor Yahaya Bello to operate as a Sole Administrator.
Why do the Kogi State House of Assembly delights themselves in passing budgets and approve requests for loans without asking critical questions on the implementation of the budgets and the impacts on the people. The people are suffering with little or no impact of governance on their lives and in the communities yet they are supposedly represented by some people who reside in Lokoja.
These representatives cannot conveniently access their constituencies because there are no access roads whether Federal or State. This is unfortunate but may not be surprising. Even the road that leads to the Kogi State House of Assembly in Lokoja is terribly in a deplorable state.
In Kogi State, we have a legislature that is more comfortable with going round other States of the Federation with tax payers money to canvass support for the Presidential ambition of their Governor. In some States, the Governors are inviting their colleagues or other distinguished citizens to commission projects.
However, in Kogi state there is nothing to commission, yet the House of Assembly approves budgets and applauds the Governor to high Heavens. For doing what ? is the most reasonable question.
We are familiar with the controversies about bail out funds for Kogi. Why is it difficult for the Assembly to investigate the matter? Or if they did, what are their findings? Some of them have become lamentators and not legislators.
I still remember the old Kwara State House of Assembly when we had legislators who know their onions.
We remember people like Joe Funsho Obasaju, Elias Adebayo and Olumide Fayomi.They were the torn in the flesh of the National Party of Nigeria ( NPN) led Government of old Kwara State at the time.We had virile opposition.The Governor fear and respect them
How many of our Kogi legislators attend sittings regularly? How many say anything in the hallowed chambers talk less of raising motions or sponsoring bills.
We sure need a peoples Assembly in Kogi State. You can imagine that it is taking an APC Senator Na Allah from Kebbi State, in a trending video, to raise the alarm in the Senate in Abuja about the absence of governance in Kogi State. Yet we have sons of Kogi state in the Kogi State House of Assembly. It’s the tragedy of a people.
We may not be able to salvage the image of the current Kogi State House of Assembly. But in the next dispensation, Kogi people deserve men and women who will truly represent them. People who can really connect with their constituents and hold the occupiers of Lugard House to account for their stewardship. This is the time to start mobilising, consulting and conscientising our people for a change that can usher in a People’s Assembly.
By ( Alara) Pst Ben Ayo Abereoran