The other side of Delta State House of Assembly’s 7th conclave

By Chukwudi Abiandu

The months of May and June of every year have become unique in Nigeria’s democratic history since the fiasco that was the 1993 elections. It is the time that Nigerians regard as when the citizens truly expressed their democratic franchise in free and fair elections in which, although a winner emerged in the person of late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, but their votes were subverted by a conscienceless military dictatorship that shamelessly annulled the people’s mandate that was freely given to Abiola.

Many will recall also that June 12, i993 was when Nigerians sincerely showcased their sense of nationalism, throwing away religious, ethnic bigotry and other forms of primordial sentiments to decide on, and for who they believe is their choice to lead them in a democracy. But the forces of reaction drew a wedge into this and frustrated the effort of the people to rightly decide their democratic fate.

With events finally culminating in the return to democratic rule, May 29 and June 12 of every year have become notorious for elected officials to try to highlight their deeds. It is indeed, the very reason that the 7th conclave of the Delta State House of Assembly came up to try to make fanfare of its so-called achievements.

For observers, the 7^th Assembly’s press briefing, with a select media, which it thinks it is comfortable with was nothing but a sham; an attempt to white wash itself from a negative public perception of an assembly that has been docile, uneventful, lukewarm, timid and compliant; one that does not care about the cries of insecurity that those they represent have stridently made across the state. 

A visit to witness plenary proceedings from the gallery reveals an assembly of lawmakers with very low quality of debate. Even when school children come to visit, they have in all cases left with no good impression of the legislators because of the horrible quality of debates. Nothing to excite; the plenary is drab, lackluster and without erudition.

What most visitors take away is flamboyance and the culture to impress displayed by the lawmakers when given the floor to speak. It has become customary to hear the lucky one that won the floor to make contributions, introducing himself or herself as: “I am Honourable, Chief, Evangelist, doctor so and so, representing the good people of so and so constituency.” After that, it is sweet nothing.

The 7^th conclave of the Delta House of Assembly wants people to believe that it is vibrant; nothing can be farther from the truth. Often times, what is witnessed at plenary beats the imagination; that a House with members elected to represent the interest of the people on sundry matters, including security and other issues of importance affecting constituents, will shy away from discussing matters relating to the siege of insecurity in which their constituents across the state have been subjected to by gangs of rampaging cattle herders, who have taken over the bushes of their constituents.

The obviously tamed legislators lacked the courage to bring up motions and pass same to call the attention of relevant federal authorities to the plight of their constituents whose farms are devastated, women raped; persons kidnapped and in extreme cases killed by the band of territory expansionists predators. They have left everything to the governor to do without given him their much needed support.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has many times cried out, and in his frustration, called on Aso Rock to make a statement on the problem created by these invaders of the bushes of Delta State. Even to support the governor by bringing up motions to reiterate his call on the Federal Government to make a pronouncement became a no-go area to the legislators. In their faint-heartedness they remained mute, while their constituents pined away helplessly.

 

Recently, the monarchs of Delta North Senatorial District in their exasperation had to summon their subjects who are legislators representing their various constituencies to come and brief them on what they are doing about the problem of insecurity in the district. This alone speaks volumes about the perception of the people about the quality of representation of members of the 7^th conclave of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Truth is that this conclave lacks inspiring leadership; of course, a House that operates the senior prefect kind of leadership with a swashbuckling swag cannot provoke debates on national issues and pass motions for the benefit of the people of the state. When legislators of other houses of assembly out of a sense of indignation take on issues and engage in lively debates on such issues of national and state or constituency importance in the interest of their constituents, it doesn’t happen in the Delta State House of Assembly.

The 7^th conclave of the Delta State House of Assembly is not the journalist and other stakeholders’ delight. They will never respond to questionnaires sent to them for response even though the Freedom of Information Act as amended has been domesticated in the state. They are averse to speaking to journalists. No matter how well you try, they will put up a disposition with so much arrogance that tells the journalist that they are not interested in talking to him. Even when the journalist, as a member of the Fourth Estate of the Realm seeks to speak to them about events happening in their constituencies, no, they are never willing to grant audience. These legislators don’t want to be seen to be held accountable. It is a conclave that pays lip service to serving the cause of the people, and therefore, not media friendly.

Even the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, having observed them from close quarters, once called the attention of the legislators to the fact that they have not lived up to the people’s expectation. The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sylvester Imonina in a statement recently lampooned the legislators for their docility, and expressed worries “over the state of affairs of our beloved state as it concerns the seeming toothlessness of the Delta State House of Assembly.”
"We call on members of the House of Assembly to wake up from their political somnambulism and do what the electorates voted them for: Good and quality representation, not appendages,” the APC stated.

 The social media is also abuzz with statements expressing disappointment at the lifeless and undistinguished work of members the 7^th assembly so far. For instance, Wong Box on social media asked rather derisively: “Is Delta State House of Assembly a ‘rubber stamp?” What have they achieved? They celebrated one year in office.”

Another statement from the same Wong Box reads: “Delta State House of Assembly was supposed to be watch dogs…, but they failed in their duty and are ‘yes men.”

Go to the streets and ask the opinion of Deltans about how well those they elected as law makers have fared, the response is always one of a hiss and an attitude that they are a bunch of docile, unimpressive elements whose legislative output is nothing to write home about.

It was Dovi, a political scientist who posited that “A good democratic representative will be the unbridled advocate of her own constituents.”  Judged against this, the 7^th conclave of the Delta State house of Assembly is a far cry. And like the APC said: They must wake up and live up to expectation.

Being responsible is a basic quality of good leadership. What the leadership of the 7^th conclave of the Delta State house of Assembly should do is not to make excuses for its lapses. It must take personal responsibility for failure.

·        Chukwudi Abiandu, a journalist sent in this contribution from Asaba, Delta State.