In presidential democracy, minority parties in parliament are expected to play the role of opposition. However, in the 10th National Assembly, going by the manner its leadership emerged last week, this may not necessarily be the case. TAIYE ODEWALE reports
Presidential democracy
As adopted since the second republic (October 1979 -December 1983), Nigeria like the United States of America (USA) and some other democracies across the globe, has been running presidential democracy which has no room for official opposition as obtainable in parliamentary democracy bequeathed to it by the British colonialists and practised in the first republic (October 1960 – January 1966).
However, since opposition in whatever form, is needed in democratic governance, the coinage of minority party or parties and by extension, Minority Leader, came up in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for constructive parliamentary engagements with elected lawmakers on the platform of the ruling or party with majority number of Senators or Reps.
Impact of minority leadership in Senate, Reps over the years
Like the saying that in democracy, minorities at all times, have their say while the majority have its way; minorities at both chambers of the National Assembly since 1999, have not only been having their say but in some instances, influenced the majority to have its way.
Such instances abound in the Senate from the 4th to the recently ended 9th Senate. But in all of those sessions of the Senate, none had emergence of its leadership influenced by the ruling party directly or indirectly as it is, with the minority leadership of the 10th Senate.
Face saving assurance
Apparently aware of the negative perception Nigerians have about them, the Minority Caucus of the 10th Senate, quickly addressed the press on Wednesday last week, 24 hours after the emergence of its leadership which had no inputs from national leadership of their various political parties.
The press conference addressed by the Minority Leader, Senator Simon Devou Nwadkwon (PDP Plateau North) who was flanked by the Deputy Minority Leader, Oyewumi Kamorudeen Olarere (PDP Osun West), the Minority Whip, Darlington Nwokeocha (LP, Abia Central) and Deputy Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga (NNPP Kano Central), the minority caucus gave Nigerians the impression of being ready to offer a virile and constructive opposition in the Senate despite largely seen as a pocketed minority.
A seemingly image laundering speech read at the press conference by Senator Nwadkwon said: “The 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unique in several ways.
“First, it reckons as the most diverse Senate in the history of Nigeria’s political development composed of Senators from seven political parties including the APC with 59 members and the opposition parties of PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, APGA. SDP, YPP producing 50 Members of the Senate.
“Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the Senate to make rules to regulate its procedures.
“Premised on the constitutional mandate, and by the authority of the Nigerian Senate, the Senate Standing Orders 2022 (As amended) issued as the rule book to guide the conduct of legislative businesses including the appointment of principal officers by the Senate.
“Consequently, the Senate Standing Orders (2022) in Chapter Six (6), pages 21 to 22, Senate Rules Nos 27, 28, 29, and 30 provided for the Minority Leadership positions including the Minority Leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Leader, and Deputy Minority Whip “Who shall be Senators, nominated from the Minority Parties in the Senate.”
“The critical emphasis here is that the Officers must be (1) Serving Senators of the Federal of Nigeria, who are (2) Members of the Minorities Parties in the Senate and the word nominate in the Oxford language dictionary means to “Propose”.
“When a proposal is made, it is usually to an authority that has the confirming powers, in this case, the President of the Senate. Accordingly, the President of the Senate received the proposal, announced it, and publicly gavelled the Minority Leadership nominees into confirmation in line with the Senate Standing Orders.
“It is also important to inform Nigerians at this point that, in line with relevant laws, practices, procedures and conventions, and traditions, the Principal Officers of a Legislative Assembly are not balloted.
“It is not competitive elections moderated by INEC or any other umpire, but a matter that is rooted in age- long and well-established legislative practices and procedures.
“Despite the fact that whenever issues of political leadership are raised, you cannot discountenance the emergence of contentious voices, especially in a situation involving six political parties. This is expected because that in itself is the beauty and natural character of democracy whereby we disagree without being disagreeable.
“For us this democracy at its best and parliamentary politics at its finest wheel for democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
“However, rather than dwell on issues of parliamentary politics we should now focus on putting machinery in
place to unite all opposition parties and outline our Opposition Leadership Agenda to the Nigerian people that will ensure a virile opposition assertiveness in the Senate to keep the ruling majority on their toes.”
Though at the press conference, the minority caucus rolled out its legislative agenda that would be pursued in keeping the majority on their toes but the question being asked by most Nigerians is “can a minority caucus with a very feeble start, keep the majority on their toes?”
The answer to the question will be given by actions and inactions of the 50 Senators on the platforms of the six minority political parties in the 10th Senate in months and years to come.
