From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Recently, a group of 35 members of the House of Representatives initiated moves for the further alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to provide for a single term of six years for the president and state governors, as well as provision for vice president and rotation of offices.
The proposed legislations, which have already passed the first reading in the House of Representatives and awaiting second reading, also includes a bill for the amendment of the Electoral Act to provide for the conduct of all elections on the same day. There is also the bill to make electoral officials, who declare fake results liable, among others.
One of the sponsors of the bills, Prof Paul Nnamchi, in this interview, told Sunday Sun, that the proposed legislation are geared towards promoting good governance in the country and reducing corruption in the political process.
Nnamchi, who represents Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, stated that the bills, which in his views are overdue, if passed, would also help to bring about inclusion in governance, among others. Excerpts:
You are one of the sponsors of constitution review bills for a single term of six years for the president and governors, rotational presidency, two vice presidents, among others, what informed these proposals?
They are bills, I could say, are long overdue. And they are also a bill aimed at curing some of the vices associated with electioneering. Let me start from the six years single tenure proposal. This is actually a bill that is mearnt to reduce electoral violence and corruption. When governors or any executive assume office, what they tend to do is that they use most of their tenure for campaign (for second term) and people blackmail them, into doing things they are not supposed to do or into leaving things they ought to have done, because of re-election. And because of re-election; they divert money, instead of using it to work. They just have like two years to work and they start campaigns for second term. The other two years become goodwill. They want to keep people’s goodwill. Do things for people to get good name. Not in terms of work. But to get people for re-election. Let me also say that that that will reduce corruption and also create legacy. People will now have need to create a legacy before leaving (office). The usual deja vu now is that a state governor will construct one road, before eight years the road is gone. Another one will start from the same road again. Nobody thinks of industry. Nobody thinks about how to create more employments or jobs. The only thing they do is cosmetics effect to make you get re-elected one way or the other. They intend to intimidate others, just to make sure they get re-election.So, if we cure this, the person will now come and work and also create room for diversified leadership, as well as reducing corruption and nepotism. I also want to say that even US is introducing such rule for the people. We can’t learn everytime. Some time we have to take the bull by the horn and even introduce things before other people. We are also hearing that in the US Congress they are also considering such bill.
How prepared are those of you sponsoring these bills to push them through? How far can you go?
I think it is a popular bill. I can tell you that five persons (Reps members) have come to me to say they are in favour of the bill. That they will like to join as co-sponsors. That means it is getting traction. And we also have to talk to other people. Because the parliament is about lobbying, relationship. We have to build bridges to ensure that our colleagues buy into it. But also to explain to our constituents that it isn’t about our personal interest. It is about the wellbeing of the country. We want a country with stability. And that is what we are striving for.
What informed the bill on rotation of elective offices at the federal, state and local government levels?
Where you have unity that is where you have progress. And in the case where a lot of people continue to cry about marginalization, power has not moved to their place, this or that; also people suffer from neglect in terms of infrastructure. Neglect in terms of employment. We want to cure those things, so that power will always go to other places. Because in cases when somebody has power, they tend to influence it towards their place and all that. But when a rotation is in place, people will benefit. The person has no choice. His hands are tied by the law. There are indications that some persons are not opportune to have a shot at the presidency, the governorship seats based on where they come from or based on their region or their ethnicity. These are things that we don’t want. We want a stable country. We want a country where people are happy. And where everybody feels accommodated.
These are Constitution Review bills, meaning that even if they scale through in the National Assembly you need to get 24 states Houses of Assembly to support them. What is the level of engagement with the states?
Times are different now. Maybe previously, it was difficult to get some things passed, because there is always rancour between the legislators and the executive. What you see now is that both the legislature and the executive have seen that they are partners. And by that I also feel that when you engage the governors, you will also see that most of them are progressive minded. And that also makes it easier for them to see through the prism that this actually is what they need. That this actually is what the country needs. It is no longer about personal interest. It is about the country’s interest and the nation is greater than any other person. After all, what is the difference, instead of doing eight years, you will now do six years. The two years is not something you should bother much about. But you have come to create a legacy. You have come to do things that people will notice; no longer giving in to praise-singing. What you see is that people start praise-singing you, people start to misbehave. At the end of it, they are only looking for second tenure and others.
Tell us about the the proposal for the amendment of the Electoral Act for all the elections to be held the same day. What informed it?
Yes, it is not just about election holding the same day, but also transmission (of election results) at real time. And transmission of both the accreditation as well as the results. If we want to get it right, we must actually move well and get it right. And getting it right means that our people must know and see that elections are transparent. It is not just telling somebody that election is transparent. He has to see it. He has to feel it. And that is what you need to do to make people come out to vote. That is what you do to cure apathy among the people. Because when the people feel, perceive; because it is about perception. When the people perceive that their votes don’t count, why are they coming out to vote? And they will never see anything done by people in government as done in their interest. Because they will also see it that there is other reasons for doing that, other than what it is meant to be. So, these are some of the reasons we want to ensure that elections are not just free and fair, but also transparent.
The 10th Assembly is one year already. What is your report card as member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency?
In any given place, report cards defer by individuals; though there is a collective responsibility. But I can also tell you that what someone like myself has come here to look for is something that will benefit my constituents. And I am doing a lot of things to make sure that I speak their words and also talk their talks in this place, in terms of bills. In terms of motion. And I draw attention to what they need to look at. That is what I am doing. I have done a lot of empowerment. I have also done a lot of infrastructure bills that will give rooms for schools to be built and also to draw attention to ills happening in the society. I have also done motions and bills, including accountability of the Federal Character Commission, on need for a dry port in Emene. I have also drawn attention to the fact that we have need for road construction. We have need for pipe-borne water. These are things that I have also articulated; that my people should be taken into consideration when the national cake is being shared.
What is your take on the agitation for creation of more states. A school of thought argued that there is no need for new states as some of the existing ones are not viable. But some of your colleagues are still bringing bills for state creation. Where do you stand?
You can create states based on equity. There is political reasons for creation of states. Most times, people just focus on the economic reasons. People from my state are also agitating for Adada State, which I am of the proponents of that bill. Adada State is to correct certain ills. I must tell you that Enugu North, which is clamoring for Adada State is far more bigger than Nasarawa State. These are people who are clamoring for equitable distribution of resources. Because when you don’t have what others have; balancing in state creation is also important. The economy has to trickle down. Provision of infrastructure and all that.
Your party, LP, has been experiencing some turbulence…?
(Cuts in) I don’t think so. I don’t think there is turbulence. It is just storm in a teacup. These are things we are managing within ourselves. There is no political party without one thing or the other at any particular time. And that is what we call politicking.