Executive/Legislature Faceoff: CSOs Warn against Subversion
of National Assembly
A coalition of large Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs) has condemned in strong terms the ongoing attempt by the
executive and their agents to subvert the authority and undermine the legislature,
describing such move as an unnecessary distraction and a potent threat to democracy.
The CSOs reason that this latest
rivalry has pushed the more important issues of governance to the background as
evidenced by the “inaction of government in frontally addressing the emergency
issue of meningitis that has claimed over 300 lives of Nigerians while the
executive/legislature bickering lasted”.
Consequently, the coalition has vowed
to stage a protest to drive home their message that the independence of the
legislature must be respected and the democratic principles of separation of
powers and checks and balances must be adhered to by all arms of government.
This was contained in a statement
signed by Ariyo-Dare Atoye, The Co-Convener of Coalition in Defence of Nigerian
Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC), Jude Ndukwe, Convener, Movement for the
Advancement of National Transformation (MANTRA), and Deji Adeyanju, Convener of
Concerned Nigerians.
The statement read thus: “As we join
other CSOs to march against the attempt to kill the legislature and undermine
democracy, on Thursday, April 6, 2017, commencing at Eagle Square by 9am, it
has become highly imperative for us to be vigilant about the relentless
insistence by anti-democratic forces to bring our highly cherished freedom and
democracy to their knees.
“While we also insist on National
Assembly (NASS) opening its books for public scrutiny and ensure transparency
in all its activities, make laws that would improve the lives of the people
they represent and repeal any law that serves only the interest of a few highly
placed citizens to the detriment of a majority of the people, we call on the
executive and its agents to respect the rule of law guiding its working relationship
with the NASS.
“It's ours and the responsibility of
every patriotic and democracy loving Nigerian to protect and defend our hard
earned democracy against those trying to return us to the very dark days of the
military era.
“We wish to state that Nigerians are
very much aware that the current onslaught against NASS is nothing but just a
puerile battle for 2019, and nothing based on good governance or interest of
the people!
“We can no longer afford the luxury of
these unnecessary distractions. The unholy attempt to kill NASS must stop now!
“Instead of killing NASS, let us merge
Aso Rock with NASS with a view to returning the country to the more
cost-effective Parliamentary System of government which we once practiced as a
nation at independence and which would also still better serve the interest of
the people.
“Kindly join us!!!” The statement
concluded
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