Politics | 2023: THE BEAUTY OF RETURNING OUR LEGISLATORS BACK TO IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
2023: THE BEAUTY OF RETURNING OUR LEGISLATORS BACK TO IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
Humans have always appreciated the benefits of wine aging since the days of old, especially, of the ancient Greeks. Also, the Holy Book, the Bible, even mentions the superiority of aged wine in St Luke's Gospel Chapter 5 Verse 39, which says, "And no one after drinking Old wine desire New wine, for he says, "old is good".
Wine tastes better with age because of a complex chemical reaction occuring among sugar, acids and substances known as " Phenolic Components". In time, this chemical reaction affects the taste of wine in such a way that gives it a pleasing flavour. Again, the chemical reaction can also change the colour and aroma of the spirit, in addition to altering the way the wine feels in the mouth.
Conversely, the Beauty Of Returning Our Legislators cannot be over-emphasized . Without mincingwords, the legislature occupies a central and pivotal role in any democratic setting. The Legislative Arm Of Government is the Fulcrum through which Democracy rotates. Moving further, the legislature is that Dot in a Circle by which the same circle rotates or moves about. Without the dot, the circle is stagnant. Of course, a Government may exist without the Legislative Arm, but without the Legislature, Democracy ceases to exist. This goes further to mean that the existence of a Parliament or Legislative Arm may not be synonymous with Democracy, but Democracy cannot exist without a the Legislative Arm.
Democracy is just all about insistence and ensuring popular participation and control of the process of government. Since all the people in a given environment cannot take part and/or individually control a given government at the same time, it is a given that they entrust their Rights, Duties and Responsibilities to elected few among them, who are known as egislators.
These legislators are Accredited Representativeso f the people and have the duty of promoting National Development, both at the Federal and State Level, through its chain of activities. The legislature has the authority, mandate and obligation to initiate debate and indeed, show concern on matters affecting our people. Expectedly, these activities should be directed towards reversing declining economy, stabilizing the polity and integrating our society with overall aim and objective of enhancing development, statewide and nationwide.
FUNCTIONS OF THE LEGISLATOR
As stated earlier, the legislature is the place where the public sees Democracy in action, in form of Debates, and Consideration of Motions, Resolutions and of course, Bills.There is no gainsaying the fact that the legislator is the Closest Politician to the voter, in his Constituency. Functions of the legislature are as follows
1. Lawmaking.
2. Appropriation and Control over the Budget.
3. Oversight and Control over the Executive.
4. Amendment of the Constitution.
5. Judicial.
6. Electoral.
7. A Minor of Public Opinion.
8. And so on and so forth.
An Effective and Efficient legislator is a legislator that understands the needs of the people they are representing, and communicates that through legislative process.
Let me now open the minds of the reading public : As 2023 election is almost at the doorstep, all manner of political intrigues have started playing up and indeed, playing out. In Imo State, certain elements have indicated interest to have a shot at the Legislative Arm Of Government. This is a legitimate desire and aspiration. These new Aspirants can be likened to the New Wine which I mentioned earlier. A New Wine Aspirant in the Imo Political Equation of today will find it difficult to completely fit into the bracket. This is because, with due respect to them, they lack the following....
* Experience * Exposure * in-house Power Sharing * Ranking Position
At the Imo State House Of Assembly, a legislative template is already in place, which the present Assembly leadership pragmatically, ebulliently and vibrantly led by Rt Honourable Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh is graciously applying, in synergy with the Executive Arm Of Government. The output of this collaborative effort is what the people of Imo State and indeed, Nigerians are witnessing currently, which is the massive Infrastructural Development going on. Today, the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma has been rated as the BEST GOVERNOR IN NIGERIA.
We want this collaborative effort to continue, with the Old Wine still Manning the "legislative Gate" of Government. If a New Wine is allowed to Man the Gate, issues of Experience, Exposure, In-house Power Sharing and Ranking, which they lack, comes in play. They Resultant Effect will be a "Badly Damaged Gate", due to the following...
*Legislative Incompetence.
* Lackadaisical Attitude to Legislative Matters.
* Absenteeism.
*And so on and so forth.
An example of a New Wine legislator was the deposed Member (Tochi Okereke) who represented Ngor-Okpala State Constituency. Ngor-Okpala State Constituency suffered the consequences of his legislative rascality. He didn't appreciate the enormous responsibility bestowed on him as a legislator, hence he absconded from his legislative responsibility. Nevertheless, that lacuna had since been filled up, when his Seat was, in obedience to the Constitution, declared vacant, a Bye-Election conducted, and a System-man (Hon Blyden Amajirionwu) elected to fill in the gap. Today, Ngor-Okpala State Constituency has Legislatively Bounced back. Thanks to the Old Wine leadership of the Imo State House Of Assembly.
Zoning arrangement in the Political Equation has caused more harm than good. Zoning breeds mediocrity, whereby the Progress and Development of the society may be distorted due to the election of a New Wine, who may not want to continue with an established legislative template. This leads to Mismanagement and Devaluation of Leadership, due to the fact that Mediocres, in the name of zoning, have been elected.
But an Old Wine Legislator tastes better because he has Experience and Exposure. Infact, His Ranking Credentials would enable him clinch any Principal Position in the House. Also, Constituents benefit more when their Representative is a Ranking Member, vis-avis
1. Provision of more employment opportunities.
2. Headship of Juicy House Committees.
3. Attraction of more Dividends Of Democracy (Infrastructural Development) to the Constituency.
4. And so on and so forth.
In Nigeria, examples abound of Old Wine Legislators who have brought Multiple Development to their Constituencies.
A. Senator James Manager, from Delta State. He has been a Senator since 2003. He has been holding Juicy Senate Committee Positions.
B. Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from Enugu State. He has been a lawmaker since 2003. He was a two term Deputy Senate President.
C. Senator Ahmad Lawan, from Yobe State. He has been a lawmaker since 1999, First as House Of Representatives Member for 8 Years (1999-2007), And Secondly, A Senator From 2007 till date. He became Senate President in 2019.
D. Senator David Mark was in the Senate from 1999 to 2019, and he was Senate President for Two terms.
E. Rt Honourable Olufemi Gbajabiamila, the current Speaker of House Of Representatives, has been in the Green Chamber since 2003.
F. Rt Honourable Nicholas Mutui, was in the House Of Representatives from 1999 to 2019, and he represented Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State. As House Committee Chairman On Niger Delta, He gave employment opportunities and Massive Empowerment to his people.
G. Rt Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, has been the Speaker Of Lagos State House Of Assembly, since June 8, 2015. But he was first elected and inaugurated as a Legislator in June 2007, and has remained a Legislator till date. He is contesting again in 2023.
H. Rt Honourable Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State was in the Green Chamber from 2003 to 2015. This earned him Three Principal Positions, namely
A. Chief Whip, from 2007 to 2011.
B. Deputy Speaker, from 2011 to 2015.
C. Speaker, from 29th May 2015 to 13th June 2015. Also, Emeka Ihedioha Headed Several Juicy House Committee Positions.
I. Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, the current Speaker of Kaduna State House Of Assembly has been serving his Constituency since June 2007.
J. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse Of Tafa Constituency Niger state has been a legislator, since 2007. He is also seeking for reelection.
K. Rt Honourable Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi, from Imo State, served Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, from 2003 to 2015, And Emerged as the President of African Parliament.
M. Rt Honourable Eteng Jonah William of Yakurr 2 constituency Cross- River State is serving his 3rd tenure, and also seeking for re-election.
N. Honourable Ibrahim Ingobere of Brass Constituency Bayelsa State is serving his 3rd term and has been endorsed by his Constituency for another term.
O. Outside the shores of this Country, Nigeria, We also have legislators who have been in the Parliament for over 40 Years, performing their Legislative Responsibilities. In the United States Of America, Nancy Pelosi is presently the Speaker Of House Of Representatives. She has been a Parliamentarian since 1987. That is a period of 35 years and still counting.
Agam Ekwu Ole Ma Hara Ole.
I have taken time to Educate the reading public on the Beauty Of Returning Our Imo Legislators Back To Imo State House Of Assembly In 2023, by giving Multiple Benefits it attracts. Since it is a given that Old Wine tastes better with age, it therefore means that legislators, like Old Wine, also perform better when reelected on a number of times. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as shown in St Luke's Gospel Chapter 5 Verse 39, supports it.
I therefore Hit my Gavel on this write-up. Ayes have it.
I rest my pen.
