By Hon. (Dr) Onujabe Nasir.
In an uncoordinated and judiciary comatose country, so many things happen for selfish purpose to the detriment of collective interest.
Section 84 (12) of the electoral bill as amended by the National Assembly and signed by the President attracts public interest and criticism from the executive to the point that the president was cajoled to send executive letter to the National Assembly to expunge the clause from the whole.
The legislatures, who for once in this administration, wish to work for the people rejected the presidential letter on the expungement of the clause.
However, the content of the clause is nothing but resignation from office by everyone who wants to contest an elective position in any political party. The clause did not discriminate against anyone but a clear statements for equal level playing ground to all citizens of Nigeria, but some of our greedy and overreaching politicians who always wanted to subterfuge, sabotage and subvert justice and transparency became offended because they wanted to eat their cake and at the same time have it. where does it happened ?
In the past before the amendments, the clause only applicable to the innocent public servants, who wanted to vie for elective offices and everybody including the politicians sees it as normal but now that the clause was amended to include all categories of service personnel, the hornets bee was suddenly stung.
If i may ask, was it a discrimination against the public servants then or preventive measure to keep them at bay?.
What is good for the gander is also good for the geese.
On the electoral bill brouhaha, a competent High Court in Abuja had already passed judgement stopping the National Assembly from further amendment of the clause despite the presidential letter after his assent, meaning that everything is in order, suitable for our democracy.
But to my ultimate dismay, another judge from South East equally passed a judgement ordering the removal of the clause from the electoral act, what a shame of the judiciary system and incoherence in judgment !!!
With all indications, the act that sets up the National Assembly provided it with immunity to perform its duties without interference by either the judiciary or executive, which by extension indicates that whatever bill passed and assented to by the President becomes law.
In the history of Nigeria’s democracy, some persons from the eastern part of the country were known for scriptwriter player, willing to do the hatchet work of some unscrupulous elements in politics for self purpose hence the procurement of the black market judgement.
How on earth a judge is passing judgement against an institution (National Assembly) that was not sued in a matter that involves it, the body wasn’t represented in the court, no defense and of course not joined as defender in the suit.
The black market judgement was so excited to the chief law keeper in the country threatening to delete and gazette it with all alacrity.
Thanks to the speech of the Spokesperson of the National Assembly, who voided the judgment and the action of Attorney General of the Federation as nullity, mere academic exercise and murder of fair hearing in a judicial system.
Nigeria is never a banana republic, there are still laws guided by due process as emphasized by our Mr. integrity.
No personal interest shall override the general interest of the people as far as democracy is concerned.
May God help Nigeria.
Dr Onujabe Nasir writes from Abuja.
