Date Published: 03/13/10

Sir,

Is Present Nigeria Better Than Military Era?

It is important to understand why one is thinking that the present Nigeria looks worse than the military era. Taking it from the point of the election where people are imposed on the masses is undemocratic.  The present situation is the outcome of that. Yar’Adua was forced on the masses and the matter created the present situation.

Presently we have money guzzling legislature (National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly) all sitting down without doing the wishes of the electorate. Otherwise, can one explain that while the government is supposed to be constitutional (democratic), it still lacks the will to go according to the constitution. We have been wasting time talking about clauses 144 and 145, etc all in effort to finding a lasting solution that is necessary; the national assembly is there but could not do what duties that were conferred on it by the constitution. We are all talking grammar.

During the military, there was never a way the wife of the head of state would hold the nation to ransom. Even when IBB went for medical check-up during his regime as military president, the wife did not stay at the Dodan Barracks insisting that she must dictate to us. IBB’s second in command was in control.

What are we really trying to show to the world? We are very timid. Our nation should be governed properly. Even though I do not subscribe to Chief Arthur Nzeribe’s call that the military should intervene, the government in power (the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary) must not remain as if they are being caged.

Chief Barnabass Osuanlele

189 Ikpoba Road

Benin City

barnabasosuanlele@yahoo.com