ON COALITION OF SOUTH-EAST AND SOUTH-SOUTH LEGISLATORS
The last time I checked, the overall
members of the Houses of Assembly in both the South-East and South-South
geo-political zones of Nigeria could strongly boast of a formidable association
among them. Having thought it wise to exercise a single voice, the members of
the aforesaid legislative chambers came up with a ‘Coalition of South-East and
South-South Legislators’.
As a matter of fact, the members of the
new union ably led by the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Rt. Hon
Acho Ihim premiered their Parliamentary Conference few weeks ago, precisely on
15th July 2016, with the theme ‘Alternatives to militancy and the
harmonization of South-East/South-South grazing reserve proposals’. During the
conference, which was hosted in Imo State by the Imo House of Assembly, the
astute lawmakers unanimously opposed the Grazing Reserves Bill presently lying
on the floor of the National Assembly (NASS).
The epochal parliamentary sitting, which
was presided over by all the speakers of the Houses of Assembly in the two
zones, equally reached other resolutions regarding the ongoing militant attacks
in the Niger-Delta region to include, to urge the Federal Government (FG) to
reassess and revisit the performance of the Amnesty Programme, the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration
Project (HYPREP).
Furthermore, to urge: the NASS to ensure
the accelerated passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the FG to enter
into peaceful dialogue with the critical stakeholders in the region as well as review
the ownership of Oil Blocks in the country towards giving at least 65%
ownership to the Niger-Delta people as against the present situation where the
people in question control barely about 10%.
In
his address, Rt. Hon Ihim who doubles as the Vice-President of the African
Commonwealth Parliament (ACP), having disclosed how elated he was to be
honoured as the leader of the body, categorically stated that the coalition
among the legislators was targeted toward bringing dividend of democracy to the
entire citizens of the region and Nigeria at large. According to him, the
members of the region had something in common, thus needed to operate as one
body.
However, this critique was necessitated by
the fact that there are some fundamental and rudimentary factors these
lawmakers need to acknowledge if truly they are out for business, but not
business as usual. No doubt, any right thinking or sane individual would boldly
attest to the fact that these state legislators had succeeded in making a
history by coming up with this amalgamation. But it’s pertinent to note that it
isn’t all about making history; rather, sustaining it. Most people invariably
strive towards making history, forgetting that it is better not to make a
history than to make one that wouldn’t stand the test of time.
What’s the essence of history if your
unborn children cum grandchildren wouldn’t live to celebrate it? A good history
made, is meant to be discussed by all and sundry many years after the eternal
departure of the person(s) who made it. To this end, we’re expected to be more
concerned with what becomes the fate of the awaited history rather than what we
stand to gain on that very day the history would be made or be recorded in the
Guinness Book of Record.
It
was the great Irish Philosopher in the person of Edmund Burke that said ‘Those
who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.’ In his words, Thomas
Jefferson equally said ‘I like the dreams of the future better than the history
of the past.’ And on a very succinct note, Plato hinted ‘Poetry is nearer to
vital truth than history.’ All these, summarily indicate that the beauty of
life never lies in making history, but ensuring that the history made lives to
withstand the future.
It’s not anymore news that Nigerian
leaders, particularly politicians, are very good and talented in coming up with
laudable initiatives or policies, but usually encounter series of crises while
implementing them or in the process of their sustenance. For instance, if
absolute care isn’t taken, the resolutions made by the lawmakers during their
first outing might end up being swept under the carpet. Such tradition, which
is not peculiar to the said legislators, has so far caused enormous harm to our
polity in its entirety.
As a people, we are not bound to do
something in order to receive thunderous praises from the onlookers; rather, we
ought to vigorously strive to bring a positive change that would surely attract
unending applauses contrary to the anticipated temporary applause. Thus, it’s
about being real and endeavouring to face reality at all times. So, inasmuch as
I appreciate these impeccable lawmakers for coming up with this commendable
historic coalition, I as well enjoin them to concentrate on the future as long
as the coalition lasts.
I equally appeal to them to extend hands
of fellowship to their counterparts in the South-West geo-political zone with a
view to boasting of a coalition of southern legislators, which undoubtedly will
go a very long way to ensure that the politicians in the region deliberate with
one voice, just as it’s the case in the north. Against this backdrop, they
ought to borrow a leave from the wives of the governors in the southern region
who currently can boast of a formidable association among them.
At this juncture, I urge our esteemed
lawmakers to take into cognizance that everyone, including myself, is earnestly
watching to see what their next line of action would entail, thus they shouldn’t
let us down in any way. They ought to acknowledge that there’s no time for
recess if truly they mean business, not business as usual though. Think about
it!
Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador)
-Researcher, Blogger,
Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-
Executive
Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
&
Career Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter:
@mediambassador
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