Presidency is encouraging impunity in state assemblies – Ugolor

David-UgolorRev. David Ugolor is the Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ). In this interview , the renowned activist bares his mind on the gale of impeachment across the country, the 2015 presidential election and warns of the trailing danger to the election year. PATRICK AHANOR reports

Appraising Edo House of Assembly crisis
What is happening in Edo Assembly is not a crisis between APC and PDP because we have not heard that there is any issue of leadership and dictatorship. In fact, to a large extent; there was a consensus by all the lawmakers that APC has done creditably well and must be commended.
However, it’s unfortunate that this is happening and all these are obviously a pre-presidential election problem going on across the country; especially in areas where the ruling party at the centre may probably not win. I give you a few example… what is going on in Edo state is also happening in Rivers , pre-election events in Ekiti and then Adamawa state.
Every right thinking person will know that the presidency is aiding impunity in state assemblies by encouraging a minority group to create chaos in the Houses. A situation where the police would allow a minority group to make it impossible for a majority group to have their way is not good for democracy and transparency.
Before now, Edo state had enjoyed relative peace and to a large extent; there has been development in the last six years. If you put all these together, you will agree with me that the recent logjam in the State House of Assembly has a relationship with the presidential election. And don’t forget that this Assembly crisis is a fight as part of build up to who becomes the President next year. So, everyone wants to show to his masters by whatever means that they are in control. This trend is worrisome to the CSOs because the nation have not been able to deal with Boko Haram problem and now government is also extending political crisis to other part of the country on one hand and also talking about going for election in 2015.

Disobedient of court order by suspended Edo lawmakers
This is a country where the rule of law is no longer a basis to operate good governance. That is how the judiciary was messed up in Rivers state because the governor who is constitutionally empowered to nominate and recommend the Chief Judge of the state is not allowed to do that. When we talk about separation of power in Nigeria, it is just in theory, in practical term, the executive arms make it impossible to access funds; be it PDP or APC.
So, this kind of governance is not good for the system. The members of the house fighting today are not fighting for the people or value but for their primary interest. So, what am appealing to them is to wait for the elections.
The president must ensure the Police and other security agents enforce the rule of law. But if the government now choose to undermine the process I can assure you that the resultant effect will be dangerous for everybody because of the danger it poses to democratic process. I want to commend the Oba of Benin for his intervention, the civil societies and other groups because Edo state belongs to all of us.

CSOs intervention stalemate
I am speaking now as the Executive Director of ANEEJ. We work for development and partner with government. The first thing we did was to initiate the process and we met few of our colleagues like Olu Martins, Austin Osakwe and Comrade Eboigbodin because in time past, we have provided support and capacity building for civil society groups in Edo state in order to raise awareness.
So, when this crisis started, we intervened under the platform of Development Alliance Platform (DAP) during which we addressed all parties to sheath their sword because we believe that without peace we cannot be talking about development and good governance knowing very well that the capacity of these people (legislators) can create problem.
Nobody funded us. In fact, it was ANEEJ that brought the resources for all we did and the message was widely reported and again, we commend the media for that. We didn’t stop at that, we went further to engage both parties. At the forum, CSOs raised both technical and political issues and encourage them to come together. But they could not come to terms because we realized that there were external interests working against moves to settle their differences.
As CSOs, we are encouraged to speak the truth to those who are in power; otherwise at my individual level the crisis has absolutely nothing to do with the ordinary people. But since it’s a pre-presidential election crisis and capable of damaging the whole political environment. Otherwise, I don’t see the reason why the suspension of some four lawmakers should snowball into crisis because this is not the first time parliamentarians are being suspended.
Again, the initial role of the police was well commended but you know when the ‘oga’ at the top has a different interest, it is difficult for the ‘oga’ at the below to be able to act appropriately and this to me, raises a fundamental question as to the role the police in the crisis.

Parallel plenary and pay for minority lawmakers
The rule in democracy is very clear and it is sufficient to know that the minority cannot legislate for the majority. What is happening is really unfortunate. The earlier we arrest it the better for all of us. it is not just an Edo issue alone but it has a potential to engulf the entire country.
The issue of receiving salary is neither here or there, there is a contract existing between Edo people and the members of House of Assembly by virtue of their election and I am not aware that any of them have been recalled back by their constituency. So, I don’t see any reason why their salary has to stop. Crisis happens all over the world. As we speak today, the legitimate speaker is Uyi Igbe and even the deputy speaker addressed him as such when we engaged both sides and naturally who do police take instruction from? If Uyi Igbe was a PDP speaker, will this be happening?