Executive, legislative faceoff: Another call for military intervention in politics

The relationship among the Nigerian arms of government is currently a major source of worry and concern by genuine Nigerians who not only want the continuous sustenance of the unity of the country, but want also the protection of the nation’s democracy.

History has shown that most military intervention in politics resulted from executive, legislative and judicial recklessness. Since inception of Nigeria as an amalgamated entity, the country has continued to experience extreme recklessness of the various institutions that formed centre.

At every point in the nation’s political history, even during the indirect rule system introduced by Lord Lugard, institutional recklessness was a major headache to the runnings of the government.

This problem has been carried over from one constitutional era to another.

It would be recalled that at different points in the history of the country, the military had intervened in the political arrangement and had ruled the nation through decree and edict.

Their explanations were either that politicians were too corrupt or they anchored their reason on the recklessness of the three arms of government. In that regard, they justified their action of an immediate suspension of the nation’s constitution.

But the return to democracy in May, 1999, after several years in ‘limbo’ appears not to have changed anything. It appears the several years under the stronghold of the military dictatorship has not equally taught the current crop of the nation’s leaders any lesson.

Right from 1999 till date, it’s either the relationship between the three arms is too cordial that there is no checks and balances or it’s strained to the level that threatens the nation’s democracy.

This development has now become a major threat to the nation’s nascent democracy. The current standoff between the nation’s lawmakers and the executive arm of government is a classic example that has put the judiciary in the centre of the crisis, as they are constantly forced to align with one arm or the other.

The battle between the executive arm of government which started since the emergence of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President has got complicated along the line as different criminal charges have been constantly levelled against Saraki and other lawmakers.

The most recent is the one that directly links the senate president to the infamous Offa bank robbery where over 30 persons were killed. While many believe that the linking of both the Senate President and Dino Melaye to different crimes was a witch hunt, others believe it’s part of the Buhari’s effort in fighting corruption and crimes from the echelon.

According to Mr Samuel Adedeji, a political analyst and a lecturer with the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Buhari has established by touching the highly place that no one is in the real sense of the word untouchable. He said, ‘’ I do not believe anybody is being witch hunt. I think there is a new order. The fact is that those who feel they are untouchable are being questioned. This is exactly what’s obtainable in modern society. If we want change, then it must be holistic,’’ he said.

According to Jennifer Udeh, ‘’ Whether what is happening is a witch hunt or not, I’m happy because they are now exposing themselves. If they can witch hunt themselves and expose themselves, then we are addressing corruption from the top,’’ she said.

‘’As for me, everything is just fake. It’s just a common strategy for APC to win again is 2019,’’ Matthew Anthony said.

‘’ Saraki and Dino Melaye didn’t do anything. Everything is a setup. You are in this country. I assure you, the truth will be out. It’s a strategy to weaken the power of the Senate so they can be ruling unchecked, ‘’ Mary Adejo said.

Mary-Jane Anthony has this to say, ‘’ Quite frankly, our leaders are very funny. How can you be attacking your critics. Buhari is not a democrat. He should resign from politics. He should leave politics to those who know how to play it.’’