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Daud Olatunji
A chief of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and the former aspirant to the Governor in the State of Ogun, Segun Showunmi, asked for the demolition of the electoral projects assigned to legislators, describing them as an abuse of legislative privileges that undermine the main responsibility of the National Assembly.
Speaking during an exclusive session with Abeokuta journalists, Showunmi denounced the current structure of the legislative supervision, insisting on the fact that it eroded the independence of the legislature and has reduced its effectiveness in taking into account the manager.
“We have reached the point where we must remove those absurdities from the privileges that the national assembly obtain”, said Showunmi. “The electoral projects had to bring legislators closer to their people, but the process has now been too abuse.
According to him, the notion of legislators who engage in the execution of the project – an executive function – compromises their supervision duties and promotes unhealthy alliances with government agencies.
“Should you inspect them, don’t depend on them. If you need it for your connected projects, how do you actually supervise them?” He asked. “It is part of the reason why the legislator is not doing as he should.”
He complained about the dynamics of power within the national assembly, indicating fingers in what he described as “legislative aristocracy” in which some legislators emerge disproportionately richer and more influential than their colleagues, breeding resentment and further undermining democracy.
“A person returns home with more money and becomes bigger than all the others. This generates lobbying of the useless committee, ego battles and distraction from the real government. Each futuristic nation must wonder: how can we end?”
While praised the tenth national assembly for its legislative productivity in terms of passage of Bill, Showunmi warned that their current domain and alignment with the executive should be channeled towards significant reforms.
“They have a unique opportunity. For once, the party in power controls the executive, the national assembly and most of the state assemblies. The opposition also seems to be an accomplice. If they waste this possibility, the next elections could produce a suspended parliament and progress will be difficult.”
He compared the current political landscape to a “civil dictatorship”, but which, if well used, could accelerate the legal and institutional reforms that are so necessary.
“Democracy is hard work, bogged down by procedures and debates. But with the type of legislative domain we have now, the national assembly must overcome the selfishness and think of the sustainability and size of Nigeria.”
On the growing threat of false news and deliberate disinformation, Showunmi asked for more severe regulatory actions, warning that uncontrolled propaganda could immerse itself in the nation in a perpetual crisis.
“I do not accept that people should have the freedom to instigate society against the government with false news. He must come with consequences. Every right granted to citizens must be balanced by responsibility.”
Reflecting on the failures of democratic governance compared to authoritarian regimes in providing important infrastructure projects, he mentioned the rapid execution of projects such as the third continental bridge and the development of Abuja under military domain as proof.
“If the Democrats were those to build Abuja, we would not have left the drawing table. Even a coastal road is now causing disorders. Military regimes, although not democratic, have reached more in the execution because the decisions were faster.”
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