OKOROCHA, AGBONAYIMA DISAGREE ON THE CAUSE OF HARDSHIP IN NIGERIA
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
The comment made recently during plenary at the Senate by the former
governor of Imo state, and now, the Senator representing Imo West at the
Senate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, that Nigeria should cut down on the
cost of governance, so as to make more funds available to enable the
country cater for priorities, has been generating ripples across the
country. While some that seem to be benefiting from the status quo are
condemning it, several others, especially the common men on the
streets are applauding Okorocha for his line of thought.
provide employment for the teeming youths, and also fix basic
infrastructures that will provide the enabling environment for the
economy to thrive, because of the huge cost of governance. Okorocha’s
opinion, is that, whatever three Senators from each state of the
federation is doing at the Senate, can be done by one from each state,
and the salaries paid to the other two, can be conserved and used to
cater for pressing needs in the economy.
In view of the above, during the programme, ‘Politics Today’, aired on
Channels television, on Friday, 5th October, an erstwhile House of
Representatives member, Hon. Johnson Agbonayima, condemned Okorocha’s
opinion, and insisted that, the high rate of corruption in the
country, is the root cause of the inability of the government to carry
out its responsibilities of providing basic amenities, hence poor
enabling environment that we are experiencing in the country today.
Agbonayima, therefore, suggested that, the government should rather
block all the loopholes that created financial leakages in the
economy.
Hon. Johnson Agbonayima, went further to ask Senator Okorocha to
resign in protest against the status quo, as section 48 and 49 of the
1999 constitution, as amended, supports the delineation of states into
three senatorial districts, and each senatorial district to be
represented by a Senator.
However, another discussant on the panel, Chief Odumakin, a political
analyst, in his own contribution, said, the size of government in
Nigeria, is part of what is perpetuating and intensifying corruption
in Nigeria, as it is characterized by wanton abuse of due process of
governance. Odumakin went on to say that, Nigeria is sinking, and one
of the things that can be done to remedy the situation, is to cut down
on the cost of governance. “…Nigeria does not need 109 Senators and
360 House of Representatives members for the government to be
effective…” Odumakin said.
However, as all these opinions and counter opinions, with respect to
how to manage our scarce resources and fix pertinent issues continues,
we must not forget that, the arguments that are advanced today, in
support of cutting the cost of governance, was same argument that was
made in the past for the removal of fuel subsidy. At the time when
Nigerians argued for the removal or retention of fuel subsidy, some
believed that, the removing fuel subsidy, will make more fund
available to the government to fix infrastructure, but, with the
removal of subsidy from fuel, has anything changed?
Those at the saddle of power in Nigeria must be sincere and purposeful
in their drive to ensure good and responsible government. To fix the
avalanche of problems facing Nigeria today, shouldn’t be an issue if
the right thinking, nationalistic and patriotic Nigerians are given
the opportunity to saddle the affairs of the country.
The number of Senators and House of Representatives members that are
paid several millions every month, is not the problem, but the huge
sums of money they are paid, and the cost of maintaining them, are the
issue.
In a democratic setting, adequate representation is sacrosanct;
therefore, the breaking down of every state into smaller senatorial
districts, and smaller units is a good idea, as it ensures that, the
people are well represented at every level. Be that as it may however,
we must also not lose focus of the fact that, these political
representatives at the Senate, House of Representatives, or Houses of
Assemblies, etc, are carrying out a noble cause of representing their
people; therefore, they ordinarily should not be paid huge sums of
money for rendering a noble service; just like some people have argued
that, if the remuneration paid to our political representatives are
downwardly reviewed, many will quit politics, as personal gains has
been the main attraction of many into politics.
In conclusion therefore, the involvement in sharp practices,
insincerity, covetousness, greed and the like, by politicians and
managers of our economy, has been responsible for the high level of
poverty and infrastructural decay in Nigeria.
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
The comment made recently during plenary at the Senate by the former
governor of Imo state, and now, the Senator representing Imo West at the
Senate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, that Nigeria should cut down on the
cost of governance, so as to make more funds available to enable the
country cater for priorities, has been generating ripples across the
country. While some that seem to be benefiting from the status quo are
condemning it, several others, especially the common men on the
streets are applauding Okorocha for his line of thought.
...the number of Senators and House of Representative members that are paid several millions every month, is not the problem, but the huge sums of money they are paid, and the cost of maintaining them, are the issue...In the opinion of Senator Okorocha, the government is not able to
provide employment for the teeming youths, and also fix basic
infrastructures that will provide the enabling environment for the
economy to thrive, because of the huge cost of governance. Okorocha’s
opinion, is that, whatever three Senators from each state of the
federation is doing at the Senate, can be done by one from each state,
and the salaries paid to the other two, can be conserved and used to
cater for pressing needs in the economy.
In view of the above, during the programme, ‘Politics Today’, aired on
Channels television, on Friday, 5th October, an erstwhile House of
Representatives member, Hon. Johnson Agbonayima, condemned Okorocha’s
opinion, and insisted that, the high rate of corruption in the
country, is the root cause of the inability of the government to carry
out its responsibilities of providing basic amenities, hence poor
enabling environment that we are experiencing in the country today.
Agbonayima, therefore, suggested that, the government should rather
block all the loopholes that created financial leakages in the
economy.
Hon. Johnson Agbonayima, went further to ask Senator Okorocha to
resign in protest against the status quo, as section 48 and 49 of the
1999 constitution, as amended, supports the delineation of states into
three senatorial districts, and each senatorial district to be
represented by a Senator.
However, another discussant on the panel, Chief Odumakin, a political
analyst, in his own contribution, said, the size of government in
Nigeria, is part of what is perpetuating and intensifying corruption
in Nigeria, as it is characterized by wanton abuse of due process of
governance. Odumakin went on to say that, Nigeria is sinking, and one
of the things that can be done to remedy the situation, is to cut down
on the cost of governance. “…Nigeria does not need 109 Senators and
360 House of Representatives members for the government to be
effective…” Odumakin said.
However, as all these opinions and counter opinions, with respect to
how to manage our scarce resources and fix pertinent issues continues,
we must not forget that, the arguments that are advanced today, in
support of cutting the cost of governance, was same argument that was
made in the past for the removal of fuel subsidy. At the time when
Nigerians argued for the removal or retention of fuel subsidy, some
believed that, the removing fuel subsidy, will make more fund
available to the government to fix infrastructure, but, with the
removal of subsidy from fuel, has anything changed?
Those at the saddle of power in Nigeria must be sincere and purposeful
in their drive to ensure good and responsible government. To fix the
avalanche of problems facing Nigeria today, shouldn’t be an issue if
the right thinking, nationalistic and patriotic Nigerians are given
the opportunity to saddle the affairs of the country.
The number of Senators and House of Representatives members that are
paid several millions every month, is not the problem, but the huge
sums of money they are paid, and the cost of maintaining them, are the
issue.
In a democratic setting, adequate representation is sacrosanct;
therefore, the breaking down of every state into smaller senatorial
districts, and smaller units is a good idea, as it ensures that, the
people are well represented at every level. Be that as it may however,
we must also not lose focus of the fact that, these political
representatives at the Senate, House of Representatives, or Houses of
Assemblies, etc, are carrying out a noble cause of representing their
people; therefore, they ordinarily should not be paid huge sums of
money for rendering a noble service; just like some people have argued
that, if the remuneration paid to our political representatives are
downwardly reviewed, many will quit politics, as personal gains has
been the main attraction of many into politics.
In conclusion therefore, the involvement in sharp practices,
insincerity, covetousness, greed and the like, by politicians and
managers of our economy, has been responsible for the high level of
poverty and infrastructural decay in Nigeria.
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