August 7, 2018
Press Release
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LOCKDOWN: CACOL CALLS FOR STRONGER SYNERGY BETWEEN THE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT THAN RIVALRY
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has urged the various Arms of the Nigerian Government to set aside their differences and try to work together in ensuring the progressive development of the nation.
The Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran in a release issued on Tuesday by the Center’s Media and Publications officer, Ikenna Aghagbobi, stated this call on behalf of the Centre while reacting to the incident at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, in the early hours of the morning where members of the House of Assembly were prevented of from entering the complex premises.
Mr. Adeniran pointed out that: “On reports that some members of the House of Reps. and Senators were prohibited from entering the premises by security agents with ‘Orders from above’, I think the real questions we should be asking is who is/are these elusive ‘above’ persons making these orders? What are their intentions? Because with the recent ‘power-show’ in the country, where the Executive is accused of using security agencies against other arms to achieve whatever aim and the NASS refusing to pass into law, bills presented by the Executive Arm in order to arm-twist the latter to play its bidding is not healthy for the development of our democratic experiment.
The CACOL Chairman further stated that, “to redeem our already stifling image and return to sanity, the dilapidating state of the Nation’s acts of governance, it is imperative that the three Arms of Government work in synergy to; recognize and understand the import of the principles of Separation of Powers and allow it to guide their actions at all times. The Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary should understand their various duties and responsibilities while also having in mind the limits of their connection to one another as this goes hand-in-hand in ensuring that no arm of the government usurps the core functions of another, and also to the achieve the ultimate objectives of good and effective governance in the interest of the citizenry.
CACOL advised that while the present administration roots firmly in its tri-podal promises of security of lives and property, economic recovery and stemming corruption by bringing corrupt public officials to justice; it needs allow the Doctrine of Checks and Balances hold sway so that each arm of government checks the power of the other arms to be sure that every branch has complementary powers with a view to avoiding impunity and arbitrariness. This would, to a very large extent not only minimize to the barest minimum the ongoing intra-government rivalry, but engender their cooperation.
The Centre also urged that any Arm of the Government desiring a change of leadership to any other arm should effect such change by persuasions and convincing through lobbying those in the position to effect such change on the need and purpose for the change in a democratic manner, rather than do so by barbaric ‘show of force’ through blackmail, violence or coercion.
Aghagbobi Ikenna
Ag. Media Officer, CACOL
08141121208
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.com
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.com
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