Nigerian democracy still work in progress – Sen. Umeh

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Senator representing Anambra Central on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, has said that Nigerian democracy remains a work in progress, which requires all political stakeholders to keep playing their roles dispassionately to enable the country attain maturity.
Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly, Umeh, who was assessing the performance of the 8th Senate, pointed out that the most important thing in nation building is sustenance of actions and programmes that will improve the wellbeing of the people.
He observed that the 8th National Assembly has had its challenges at the takeoff stage because the leadership was not desired by the party, which he said negatively affected the relationship between the executive and the parliament.
However, he warned that the executive should not be imposing leadership on the parliament, arguing that the National Assembly is an arm of government established by the Constitution with a clear cut responsibilities and independence and separation powers.
According to him, every arm of government has to deliver on its own mandate to the people, and deserves no interference, adding that the turbulence witnessed in the 8th senate was because of the level of Nigeria’s democracy.
He said also the setting up of a support group for the President in the senate was never done in any parliament in the world, saying in sane democracy, such is an offence, because it hampered the peace in the parliament, including the invasion of the parliament by armed thugs who took away Senate mace.
Meanwhile, he charged the 9th Senate to make good lawa, and do things that will develop the country by providing effective oversight duties on the executive, which he said was lacking in the 8th senate because of the frosty relationship it had with the executive.
While charging the 9th session to preserve the sanctity and integrity of the parliament, but standing firm on the powers which the constitution confers on the national assembly, adding that they must be mindful of the enormous responsibility which they owe Nigerians.