To conclude that the quality of lives of Nigerians would have improved tremendously since inception of the Muhammadu Buhari led APC administration had the presidency and its agents channeled half of the energy and resources being used and dissipated engaging the National Assembly in needless power tussle and giving to the desperation of some APC chieftains who are hell bent at changing the leadership of the Senate into governance is merely admitting the obvious. Since inauguration of the 8th National Assembly it’s relationship with the executive has been characterized by unnecessary tension and needless bad blood between the two arms of government. The crisis that accompanied the 2016 appropriation bill, the ongoing prosecution of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and the current forgery case involving top leadership of the Senate points to the fact that the Buhari led administration has refused to come to terms with the fact that the only way his government can deliver good governance to Nigerians as horridly as possible is to maintain peace and allow an atmosphere of mutual respect with the other three arms of government.
The fact that the Minister of Justice and Anthony General have been directed to suspend governance despite the huge demands of his office and the urgent need to make necessary judicial requirements and frame work that would further enhance the delivery of dividends of democracy and restore the nation’s justice delivery system as the ‘last cope of the common man’ to put together a team of not less than 80 prosecutors involving SANs just to prosecute a few persons whose only sins was there emergence as leaders of the Nigerian senate. It’s becoming glaring that the Buhari led administration is clueless and lacked the needful ideas in tackling the economic challenges and militancy/ethnic uprising and unrest in different parts of the country by the governments diversionary tactics of choosing to rather spend valuable time and resources on things that has little or no impact on the well being of Nigerians who are already hard hit by the financial crunch and harsh economic consequences of some of the policies and programs of this government.
It’s been alleged by some persons that President Buhari may not really be the one dictating the direction and policy trust of his administration. Others have described the current APC government as a car with two drivers, each battling for control, pursuing different agendas and interests at the detriment of the collective and overall interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, and the need to urgently begin to make good the numerous campaigns promises of the APC led government. Mr. president may have good intentions at moving this country forward and ameliorating the suffering of Nigerians but the overbearing influence of some very powerful persons within his government and some APC chieftains who practically helped him into power is beginning to slow down the wheels of progress of the present administration, thereby portraying the current government as one with no vision and direction.
Like the immediate past PDP government led by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari appears to have been caged by a cabal whose influence is evidenced in the series of appointments made without due cognizance to geopolitical zone or national spread, so long as their interest is protected. This cabal is hell bent at relegating the image of the National Assembly to the background just because they failed to enthrone their cronies into leadership positions, using Presidential powers to engage red chamber in a cold war without due respect to the clear provisions of separation of power amongst the three arms of government. For the cabal, it doesn’t matter whether President Buhari succeeds or not, neither are they interested in him addressing the pitiful plight of Nigerians by a speedy fulfillment of the APCs campaign promises. Their ultimate achievement is having captured power, a feat they fraudulently orchestrated by making unrealistic and unrealizable campaign promises and hiding behind the perceived incorruptibility and integrity of Muhammadu Buhari at the time. Mr. president should stand with Nigerians at this moment and refuse to be cowed, manipulated or pushed around by some self serving enemies of Nigeria who are constantly bringing him at logger head with the National Assembly without consideration to national interest. No arm of government is inferior or subordinate to the others according to the constitution which is the law document of the country. In this regard, the presidency should be adequately guarded and educated that the only way it will be able to govern and deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians is to make peace with the other arms of government in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Time to make peace with the National Assembly in interest of Nigeria and Nigerians is now, there’s no way this administration will be able to bring the much craved succor to Nigerians without the full support of the National Assembly.
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Hussain Obaro…oseniobaro@yahoo.com…08065396694…Ilorin, kwara state
