Open NASS :My disappointment and Disillusion #openNass by @9jaclicktivist

It is way too disappointing, much more painful to see how the two major parties have ransacked the decorum and sanctity of the House to a bear palour gathering,  am so dumbfounded that even the majority Party APC is divided among itself, their disappointing war had made them sweep a lot of burning issues under the carpet, issue and bills affecting million of Nigerians, are bulldozed without care

 I remember watching the proceedings of both Houses on television and also how the party which is in power now was in opposition then and had stalled the proceedings of both Houses for quite a few sessions on various issues. I thought, probably by now, all the issues would have either been sorted out or died a natural death.

 “In democracy one learns to differ decently”. But decency was nowhere to be seen, not even in the corridors, leave aside inside the NASS . I have seen the Senate President facing trial for Misconduct, coruption and forgery, Criminals seems to have invade the senate, they shut the door to their enjoyable bear parlour proceedings and thereafter cart away loads of money from the National vault

  The Senate being a national institution should understands the repercussions and fallouts of such a gross and disappointing attitude and image towards democratic norms.  In those days when senate was open, one would be so happy to see school-children standing at the gates in long queues in discipline, murmuring and whispering into each other’s ears, and giggling with anxiety. The excitement of witnessing the proceedings of NASS was evident in their eyes. But I suddenly felt embarrassed and disappointed Senators turned them back, away from the National Assembly. I even feared their exposure to the behaviour of Representatives  that they’d witness inside not to talk of the jabbing war they view from their home screens. or the reality of monies carted inside Ghana-must-go backs for no work. I felt like making an appeal to all Representatives: Please, for God sake or at least for the sake of the youth of this generation watching your proceedings, behave properly. But I knew that the appeal would have no effect not in the face of their personal interests.

NASS  is a legislative body and each member has been sent their by their constituency to put forward their views hoping he/she I’ll be able to make the voice of millions from its constituency heard in Parliament. The people had put their faith in them to do wonders for them in the National assembly, but I find it difficult to even hear them speak a few meaningful words. I wonder if they are not responsible to being able to put forward the sufferings of their people, particularly their constituency. It is such a great agony that their voters and constituency suffering is going unheard and unnoticed in the temple of democracy where they surrender their faith every four years, not because there is some flaw in the system but that our parliamentarians are failing it. It,s wondrous at times, seems peculiar as some get the opportunity without even asking for it they rig elections and some keep pleading for a chance to change the bad past.They don't fear how they will face the people back home when they ask them what have  they done for them in the NASS because they would always have their pervasive way up there again either by crook or any means. They will not be able to see us in their eye as they will have no answer to satisfy us. They would give some lame excuses.

Representatives  have no  patience to talk out simple differences with fellow representatives. they not only waste time in the National Assembly but also lower the dignity and values of national politics. They waste our energy and the public’s hard earned money. No representative, however important he or she may be, has the authority to do this. People have sent them to NASS to do something constructive not to destroy the healthy, mature and decent practices that have evolved and survived the test of the time.

It seems like the values of the democratic tradition, customs and practice in the temple of democracy have diminished considerably with the passage of time.Both majority and minority group member of the dominant parties speaks and shower praises on the Constitution of Nigeria forgetting some Law needs amendment, When a law stay 20years it begins to work against it legal stand, hope they are trained to notice this. I am pained to say that not an iota of that spirit existed in the House thereafter, and more so in the recent times. The two largest parties in the House, held the House to ransom and, in turn, held an entire nation to ransom. When the ruling party wants to take up a discussion, the main Opposition vehemently opposes it; when the main Opposition insists on taking up some issue for debating, the ruling party rejects it.

I fail to understand whether this House has been constituted for deliberations or disruptions, it appears as if nobody is bothered about the people they represent in the National Assembly, nor are they bothered about the public money that is being wasted. And all this is for what? To settle personal or political scores, to settle ego problems or to play vindictive politics? And, at whose cost? At the cost of the tax-payer, of course.

I always had a feeling that maybe some of the veterans are still holding on to the ‘slow and steady’ sort of progress/development as a safer bet.  It pains me that the two major parties have ransacked the decorum and sanctity of the House to an extent that other smaller and regional parties are dumbfounded and their issues, affecting hundreds of thousands of people, are being bulldozed unscrupulously.

I am disappointed and disillusioned whenever I sit in my house watching the activities that goes on in the National assembly (rather unruly assembly), I ask myself: Did APC also come here to be a part of all this? Consolidating the Old lifestyle of the former ruling class? 

I sincerely wish to make an appeal to all in the NASS members, cutting across party affiliation:  Join together and raise your voices for those who, even after decades of independence, are living in pitiable conditions with no clean water to drink, no roof over their head, no electricity, no roads, no schools, no basic medical facilities. Friends, Open Nass! Mr Representative let head hangs in shame because, presently, you are enjoying many privileges while being able to do precious little for the needy and the helpless and for the people of your constituency.