• Says govt can’t afford to spend tenure on squabbles
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has sued for peace between the Presidency and the National Assembly. He also advised the executive and legislative arms of government in African nations not to spend their tenures in unnecessary conflicts.
Osinbajo said the African populace, most of whom are poor and deprived, look up to the government to make their lives better, noting that the citizens benefit more when there is a harmonious working relationship between the executive and the legislature.
Reacting to a recent media report that he was threatening the leadership of the National Assembly, the acting president jocularly said considering the sizes of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, when compared to his own petite size, it would be suicidal for him to threaten either of them, not to talk of both of them combined.
Osinbajo spoke in Abuja yesterday while declaring open the 16th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers (CSPOC), Africa Region.
The conference which will last till Saturday, has as its theme “Presiding officers in a changing society,” and is being attended by presiding officers from different 11 African countries.
The countries include: Bostwana, Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Others are South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia .
Osinbajo said the largest number of the poor and deprived people in the world are from the African continent as a result of conflicts, corruption and weak institutions. He added that there was a consensus that this is a fallout of failure of leadership in the continent.
He said: “While we speak of our legislative halls as hallowed chambers, our courts as temples of justice, and the executive villas as corridors of power, all suggestive of grand, but isolated institutions, the reality for the majority of our peoples is the misery of the slums and the indignities of powerlessness.
“So, while we describe ourselves as excellencies, distinguished and honorable, the vast majority of our people would, in their most polite moments, say they see neither excellence nor much honour in their own lives.”
The acting president reminded the political elites in Africa that position of leadership bestowed on them by the electorates “is a short lease and must be used to benefit of the people.”
“The responsibility that privilege and power place upon us is to do our utmost to change the current bleak narratives and projections for our nation and the world.
“It is, therefore, my submission that the burden that the privilege of leadership places upon us is that our tenured positions in the executive and legislature must not be wasted on conflicts and division. The problems are too grave, the lives and livelihoods of millions depend on our cooperation, we cannot afford to fail.”
Similarly, Dogara, who also spoke at the event, said to ensure good governance in Africa, a cooperation between the executive and legislature is imperative.
He said although in most presidential systems of government, there is separation of personnel and functions, there is often an overlapping, making it necessary for the legislature and executive to work together to serve the people.