ON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND MATTERS ARISING
By Taiye Olaniyi
I shall not but continue to raise issues on truth in nation building. Solon an Athenian Philosopher (640-558BC) reverberated in my reflection during my quiet time this morning. "O Solon, one must not approach Kings unless one tells them what is agreeable to them."
Solon, "On the contrary, one must never approach them unless one gives them always the best possible counsel and tells them only the truth."
The nation's National Assembly is an assemblage of humans entrusted with legitimate power to represent the generality of Nigerians on legislative matters according to dictates of the nation's "Constitution."
Their representative and legislative powers usually arose from their previous thrusts, tilts, offering to serve members of the communities from which and where they derive such powers mostly through the ballot boxes during the elections.
In democratic governance which stipulates "Government of the people, by the people and for the people," representative governance is not only a dictum but a "sine qua non" because not everybody could and can be in such an assemblage.
The characteristics that should form the characters of such an assemblage of human representatives must be borne out of excellence and honour in nobility of service to God, to law of nature as well as to fellowmen through the rule of law.
Still, the entire society from which such individuals were and are drawn lack the required lawfulness, decency and promotion of peace and tranquility to be ready to serve in such capacity at such a centripetal and centrifugal nodal points remains a good honour with great reward from God and fellowman.
The main distinguishing factor is being more sane amidst a mad society.
Here in Nigeria we currently behave like lawless people with destructive, uncontrollable and inhuman tendencies to one another thus jeopardising the remaining relics of our togetherness as a country.
Yes, this is a country of diversified humankind brought together by God to occupy this geographic part of the world not minding our possibilities of "Brotherhood" though with varying and differing tribes and tongues, and how we all speak in tongues differently.
Basically, we are a mixed grill of humans habiting our various geo-cultural, political and socio-economic constituencies we voted, and, or rigged votes for those representing us at the National Assembly, the States, Local Government Areas, Wards and what have you.
Matters arising now are the revelations that our votes whether or not they counted have brought us to what and where we are today as we now daily groan under the excruciating burden of politics without conscience, worship without working, siphoning the economy without service to the people, looting and hoarding beyond age differentials.
The #EndSARS protests by Nigerian youths rather than abate, daily compounds sadness, woes and miseries.
The youths are still protesting and agitating for "Power Must Change Hand" because of downward trends in the national economy, unity and progress.
In my opinion, can and will members of the National Assembly agree to expediently call for a public discourse and discussions on how to make political participation and representation less enriching to personal and group pockets as we today are stupidly experiencing?
Could members of National Assembly convene an assemblage of Revenue Mobilization, Accountant-General, Auditor-General, National Planning, Bureau of Public Enterprise, Debt Management Office, Private Financial Experts, Human Rights Organizations, the ASUU, Labour Unions, Pensioners and Youths Association on how to reduce what goes into remunerations of politicians in Nigeria?
Think About It.
The National Bar Association, Religious Bodies, the Customs Service, the Police, and the Military including renowned political analysts should also be involved in this great debate and appropriate laws to back the fallouts.
A comparative analysis of what obtains in other economies be worked out with emphasis on building and promoting entrepreneurs, investment opportunities and jobs creation against thuggery, arson and wanton killings amongst our youths.
We deserve politics-without-bitterness and economic brigandage, the rule of law but not ruin of law, people-oriented politics and politicians but not personal pockets serving ones that seem to have made Nigeria political terrains full of debacles for both young and old schools like Son of Man.
All in all, "The present generation of Nigeria including the upcoming ones have no other country to call their home. Nigeria belongs to all and we must all remain here to salvage it together."
God Bless Nigeria.
Taiye Olaniyi, a retired Postman of theNigeria Postal Service, is based in Lagos