Politics
Govt Should Be Solving Problems, Not Creating More – Dr Allen
The Prime Minister of Britain has resigned because Britons have voted to leave the EU. That is credibility. It’s not about self. It’s not about you. It’s about what the people want. So, even if you disagree with them, you still have a responsibility to respect the opinion of the people and the desire of the people. That is what politics should be. It’s not about self. It’s not about lining up your pocket with public funds.
Dr Fidelis Allen is an
associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Port Harcourt and the Secretary of the Local Organising Committee of the 30th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association kicking off in Port Harcourt today. He spoke on the essence of the conference and other burning political issues in Nigeria in this interview with Opaka Dokubo.
Excerpts:
What is the take home for Nigerians for the conference?
Political Scientists will be gathering to discuss the problem of elections, the security challenges that Nigeria has faced. Nigerians should expect to hear from political scientists in this country regarding the political processes, regarding elections, regarding the security challenges in different dimensions, regarding the state of democracy in Africa. There must be a way out of this situation and that is what political scientists, as we gather, will be interested to do.
Is politics just an academic discipline or a vocation?
Well, we call some people politicians because they’re actively involved in seeking power in order for them to be able to convert their intentions to reality in terms of what they have to offer. But really, politics is everybody’s business.
In our clime, people see politics as a vocation. You see a youngman and you ask him what are you doing and he says “I’m a politicians.” It’s something that you don’t welcome. You don’t admire. You give the impression that it’s a vocation, it’s a profession but I know that in some other climes, people can be in politics on part time basis just to be able to offer something to society, just to be able to contribute. But now you see people who want to be in political office, maybe as law makers for four years and they want to have person. For me its so ridiculous.
But for those who call themselves as politicians, what do you do as a politicians? Do you govern the people in the interest of the people or you do that in your own interest? We see politics as a means of survival and it is this impression that we have that has created problems of governance, corruption and the rest of them. People just see politics as a means of lining up their pockets and helping their families. I don’t think that that is the right approach to politics.
Politics is about representing the people and doing for the people what they desire, solving the problems in society and any of us should be able to do that. But I think that there’s a problem some where when it comes to our own clime where people see themselves as professional politicians.
This morning, the Prime Minister of Britain has resigned because Britons have voted to leave the EU. That is credibility. It’s not about self. It’s not about you. It’s about what the people want. So, even if you disagree with them, you still have a responsibility to respect the opinion of the people and the desire of the people. That is what politics should be. It’s not about self. It’s not about lining up your pocket with public funds. So I think we need to properly conceptualise politics. We haven’t done that well with those who are in positions of power.
What quality of individuals should be in politics in your opinion?
I have said that everybody should be interested in politics but if you talk about the individuals who seek power or political position, anyone with appreciable academic qualification with moral status, with integrity with desire to help solve society’s problems can be in politics. This should not be limited to those who have no employment. I mean you can be and I as an academic should have the opportunity to serve this country without losing my job. But there are laws that hinder those in public service like us. In some climes, even lawmaking is part time so you don’t have to see yourself as a professional politician who has gone to the National or State House of Assembly to make money through making laws.
So, we need to adopt a system that will offer the best and not restricting them to contribute to the political development of this country. The essence of governance is to address problems in society. Those in government have a responsibility to solve problems, not to create more problems. We need to see a situation where government is solving problems but I see a situation where the politicians themselves are creating so much problems.
Do you think that restructuring this country will solve our problems?
Well, Nigeria is in principle actually a federal state. But most federal systems approaches are completely different from our own approach. We, for example, have a centralised federal system. Though federal, we have vestiges of a unitary system. For example we have a centralised security system which means that even though we’re a federal state, the component units don’t have the constitutional power to provide security agencies that are available.
So, a governor is the chief security officer of the state, in our own federal system, he has to depend on the federal authority to be able to utilize services provided by the security agencies. That for me is some kind of contradiction.
Well, many are actually saying that this is not good enough for this country because Nigeria is highly heterogeneous and it’s difficult to operate a federal system that has this posture or orientation.
In the area of revenue generation, that is also a problem for many who are saying that the centre should not come to control certain revenues coming from the extractive sector. They are saying it is wrong for the centre to collect-revenues coming from the extractive sector only to distribute.
So, if you give responsibilities to the states and say well we will collect the money and share, for some scholars that is a contradiction. There must be some kind of fiscal federal component when it comes to revenues in certain areas like the extractive sector.
We are seeing a lot of agitations, a lot of arguments against the kind of federal system that we operate. So, I think that there might be need to look at these issues very critically and see what is workable but I believe in a united country- Nigeria. But we need to do that in a way that is very responsive to the different ethnological units that we have in this country so that no group really feels excluded from the political process, no group feels excluded from access to basic amenities and opportunities in this country and every one can have a sense of fairness and a sense of justice. That is crucial.
What do you think of the relationship between the legislature and the executive at the national level and how that may affect the general well being of the country?
Politics is about interest, we all know that but our own politics has been fundamentally about interest. There’s nothing wrong about the legislature disagreeing with the executive and there’s nothing wrong with the executive disagreeing with the legislature. In a normal democracy, there should be checks and balances. In a normal democracy, these conflicts should be there, especially if they are on the grounds of public interest. There’s nothing wrong with that. Where you find the legislature and the executive working so smoothly without any disagreement, I think there’s a problem. So, that the legislature and the executive have issues, for me, that shouldn’t be a problem. I think that we should allow the political process to play out and people can be in conflict. We should just watch and allow things to happen. If people have done the right thing, what they have done will speak for them.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a vote of confidence in Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The lawmakers expressed their confidence in her leadership at the plenary, which Rt Hon. Meranda presided over amidst tight security.
The Tide’s source reports that there was a growing tension at the assembly as legislative workers protested against the alleged plans to remove Rt Hon. Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The legislative workers also clashed with the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) who, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the assembly and sealed Rt Hon. Meranda’s office alongside that of her Deputy and the Clerk.
Our source had reported how armed security personnel took over the complex at Alausa, Ikeja, leading to palpable tension among the lawmakers and workers of the assembly.
There are indications that the ongoing imbroglio at the assembly following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker on January 13 has not abated.
The Monday’s drama came a few days after Mr Obasa, who was removed for alleged abuse of office and corruption, dragged the state lawmakers to court, challenging his removal as the Speaker of the Assembly.
There are alleged plans to return Mr Obasa as the Speaker, a development which has further heightened tension at the assembly.
The Tide’s source reports that when Meranda arrived the assembly complex amidst tight security around 11:15 am on Monday, many legislative workers showed solidarity with the first female Speaker over alleged plans to remove her.
“Meranda we want”, “Meranda We want”, the workers were chanting in a short video clip.
Rt Hon. Meranda visibly overwhelmed by emotion was surrounded by her security details amid the chaotic atmosphere.
Inside the chamber, officials of the DSS clashed with the legislative workers, leading to commotion.
The DSS officials, dressed in black jackets and helmets and armed with weapons, struggled with the workers at the door.
The Tide’s source gathered that, with support from the legislative workers, lawmakers had earlier forced their way into the chamber around 12:30 pm.
It was further gathered that Rt Hon Meranda and about 32 members were present at the plenary.
A short video clip of the plenary showed that all the lawmakers in attendance had passed a vote of confidence on Rt Hon Meranda.
“Madam Speaker, all members standing before you, I move a motion to say that we do pass the vote of confidence on Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda”, a lawmaker said.
The motion was supported by all members in attendance.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, on Monday, traded words over the alleged killing of three persons.
Members of both parties were locked in battle for the control of some local government secretariats. While two persons were killed in Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, another was killed in Irewole Local Government Area.
There had been tension across the state over the Court of Appeal judgment in respect of the sacked APC council chairmen and councillors.
While the PDP claimed that the Feb. 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, APC insisted on their return.
Speaking with journalists in Iragbiji, Korede Ajeigbe, the commissioner for government affairs and protocol, claimed that two PDP members were killed while trying to prevent APC members from taking over a secretariat.
Mr Ajeigbe also said that six PDP members were seriously injured and were currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
APC, however, alleged that PDP members attacked its members while trying to enforce the Court of Appeal judgment.
Addressing a news conference in Osogbo, Bayo Adeleke, a chieftain of the APC, claimed that one of the party’s prominent members was killed during the crisis.
He also alleged that another member of the party, Remi Omowaye, escaped an assassination attempt in Ilesa.
Mr Adeleke, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, urged the state government to allow peace to reign by allowing the APC chairmen and councillors to return to office.
Another chieftain of the party, Jamiu Olawumi, claimed that APC chairmen had resumed in 15 local governments of the state.
This claim, however, could not be immediately verified.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, CSP Yemisi Opalola, said she was yet to be briefed on the alleged killings.
Ms Opalola, however, said police officers had been deployed to all the local government secretariats in the state to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ademola Adeleke has directed workers as well as politicians to stay away from local government secretariats to avoid further bloodshed.
Mr Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said only security agents would be allowed to keep watch at the secretariats.
He condoled with families of victims of the crisis.
Leader of the 8th Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Assembly, Barrister Samuel Nengia, has passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the LGA, Dr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, as he marked his first one hundred days in his second term in office.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port-Harcourt on Dr Cookey-Gam and the celebration of his first one hundred days in office, among other people-oriented development projects and programmes, Nengia argued that the Chairman and his team have recorded unprecedented developmental strides, which includes infrastructure transformation, empowerment, security, human capital development, payment of the approved N85,000. 00 minimum wage to Opobo/Nkoro workers’, among others.
He pointed out that his commendation was apt as the activities of the Chairman had been monitored and discovered to reflect the expectations and yearnings of the people, especially, the promotion of council staff, the refurbishment of the Assembly Complex to standard, the construction of Corpers’ Lodge, the provision of effective transportation system for the well-being of the people in the area.
Hon. Nengia, representing Opobo/Nkoro Ward 6, averred that the people of the LGA could now sleep with their eyes closed owing to Dr Cookey-Gam’s achievements in in the security sector.
He added that the vote of confidence the Council’s number one citizen would strengthen him to deliver more democratic dividends to Opobo/Nkoro people.
He admonished Opobo/Nkoro people to rally support for the Chairman to perform creditably well for the well-being of the electorate in the area.
Meanwhile, Barr. Samuel Nengia, has thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for appointing three illustrious sons of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area into positions of trust vis former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, as Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission; former Secretary of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Engr. Edward Namiesimagha, as Chairman, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and Surveyor Peter Ogolo, as Surveyor-, General of the state.
Hon. Nengia, who described the appointments as well deserved, however, enjoined the appointees to bring their leadership wealth of experience to bear in the herculean tasks of reviving their various areas of jurisdiction.
Bethel Toby