Again Rivers State has been in the news recently, this time because of the working arrangement between a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) (loyal to the the governor, Chibuke Amaechi) and the executive arm of the Rivers State Government which saw the ‘passage’ of 2014 appropriation act. According to information available to the public, the RSHA relocated to government house mainly to pass the 2014 budget and this was passed the same day the governor presented it. The session was transmitted live on television – Amaechi and his team must be commended for their ability to use the media to maximum advantage to sway public opinion positively. To say that Rivers state has been engrossed in needless controversies is to say the least – most of these controversies are purely self-inflicted based on political permutations. To my mind, it’s everything else but the interest of Rivers people. While the governor approach governance as if he is leading a group of student union (with respect), of course one cannot exonerate Abuja interest in perpetuating the conflict. I opined that Rivers people would need to collectively rise in condemnation of the current political actors to ensure theirs cease to be a theatre of absurdity and instability.
I have read and listened to commentaries on this issue, clearly most public commentators appear to favour this approach, some have gone to the extent of commending the initiative and declared it ‘novel’ and innovative from a master planner. I am forced to ask whether those favourably disposed to this school of thought have taken time to critically assess the situation – the laws, precedents, judicial pronouncements and perhaps the implications of such an action. Is the action of these legislators a case of illegality but moral? If we want to deepen our democratic experience, we must be prepared to abide by the rule of law and separation of power, being the foundation and cardinal principles of any liberal democracy. Consequently, well meaning people should condemn in strong terms the collusion between a faction of the RSHA and the Executive arm of Rivers State to subvert the rule of law and democratic ethos.
The Rivers State PDP which condemned this approach must do nothing to aggravate anarchy and breach of peace in Rivers. They and others opposed to the action of this faction of the Assemble should seek redress in the court of law and not recourse to self-help. One thing that is instructive though is the denial a day beforehand issued by the aides of Amaechi that the Assembly has no plan to relocate to government house, this notwithstanding the evidence that they’re feeding the public with lies.
A critical analysis of the happenings in Rivers State reveals amazing lack of objectivity in our political discourse even amongst independent minded people and the civil society. How would one explain a situation where some public commentators deliberately refused to condemn actions that impugn the rule of law and separation of powers as demonstrated by this RSHA faction on this occasion. There is need for objectivity in our political debates to further the tenets of democracy. No Nation that disposes of objective reasoning will attend meaningful development and aspire to have good people in-charge of governance.
The Nigerian constitution provide for enough structures, systems and rules meant to equip the RSHA with independence needed for them to perform their legislative functions without compromise. Relocating to government house and conducting legislative activities under the watch of the governor place them in a position of compromise. Could it then explain the speed of the passage of this bill into law in just one legislative session? The siting of a building for a particular activity is crucial – an example is when the UK change the status of the House of Lords to Supreme Court, the court which was initially located at the House of Lords was relocated to emphasise the independence of the Law Lords and increase the transparency between Parliament and the courts. This in-turn gives the citizens greater assurance that the Law Lords will perform their roles without undue interference from parliament. The events in Rivers State is anything but. Sometimes we hear the assemble issuing statements on behalf of the executives and vice versa. This is not healthy for checks and balances, and oversight – it is collusion to deprive the ordinary Rivers citizens of accountability and the benefits of democracy. The physical location of the House of Assembly is important for their image and proper exercise of their legislative roles. The house is an independent arm of government and not an appendage of Amaechi led executive. The picture we get is contrary to norms. It has become difficult in Rivers to different between a statement from the House of Assembly and that of the executives, such situation portent danger to our nascent democracy as checks and balances are thrown out of the window for personal survival. Even though on the face of it, the action of the state Assembly appears innocuous and benign because of its presumed victim status relative to the mighty powers from Abuja, it is anathema to fundamental principles of democracy.
All well meaning Nigerians must condemn impunity no matter the character involved. Supporting unconstitutionality means granting a blank check to supposedly democratic institutions resorting to self help through any means whatsoever, it is not to be encouraged.
I would hate to see a situation in Rivers State or anywhere In the country in which the Judiciary relocates to government house using frivolous excuse, to adjudicate on matters under the watch of a governor. You may think of this as an impossibility or extreme, but going by recent events here, it will not surprise me. The Rivers state governor has succeeded through combination of manipulation of the media, weeping sentiments and assuming a victim posturing to curry sympathy with Nigerians, as a result deflecting any form of critical attention and scrutiny. Otherwise why wouldn’t the so-called conscience checkers of our nation care to query this governor when he suspended duly elected council officials on guise of corruption allegation for daring to oppose him; what about subverting court judgement by dissolving the same council after a favourable judicial decision; what of the impunity in the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the State; and his unconditional support for the dishonourable majority leader, Chidi Lloyd et.al. Unfortunately, many of us don’t see anything wrong with this anti democratic tendencies.
A poser to the faction of the RSHA, could you provide evidence to Nigerians that all thirty-one members of the house were privy to the planned relocation of the assembly chambers to government house as well as the sitting. Passing the budget at a lightening speed makes the whole process suspect – what happened to oversight and the need for crunching of the figures presented by the executive or was it a case of wholesale rubber stamping?
Suffice it to say that our judgement of the legitimacy of events in Rivers should not be clouded with the current anti-Jonathan frenzies permeating the country. These days, the cheap option to gain popularity and get the media behind one’s story is to appear critical of the Jonathan administration – doesn’t matter how unsound the argument. I write not unawares that some Abuja forces are bent at subverting the authority of the governor of Rivers State, this is condemnable. They should use institutions of democracy to challenge perceived injustices of Amaechi rather than resort to cheap means.
I hope this piece will challenge those with conscience to approach Rivers political debates and analysis with objectivity. Partisanship especially from those that should be independently minded will encourage political rascality and estrange behavioural change which is most desired of our current political actors. The object of our analysis should be Nigerian and the Nigerian citizen.