Akwa Ibom State Government: Executive Arm Plays Legislative Arm Towards Comatose
Albert Einstein postulated that “the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” He even classified Time as illusion. Neuroscience also claims that “everything we experience is actually a figment of our imagination”
The recent experience of members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly regarding touted cordial relationship between the Executive arm and Legislature is an illusion, as if members are just awoken from dream.
All is not well with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
This reminds me of a story, when a fox was in distress in a pit, and called on a goat to help; as soon as the goat jumped into the pit, the fox jumped on the back of the goat, and used the back of the goat as a spring board to jump out of the pit. Leaving the goat to its fate. The 2023 Election is near.
What is the status of Legislative Autonomy Bill that was passed? Can this present Assembly enjoy Financial Autonomy? Are there unsaid regrets?
The Committee on House Services appears frustrated by non funding, which Financial Autonomy could have brought relief. One could easily feel the effects of non funding within the premises of the Assembly, mere looking at decayed infrastructures.
Imagine House Members, who went to borrow money to complete first batch of Constituency Projects, till date, they are yet to be refunded. Rather, the Executive arm is concentrating efforts funding the preferred Gubernatorial candidate campaign preparation, even providing and funding fleets of bullet proof cars.
Prior to this 7th Assembly, Members were comfortably executing at least two Constituency Projects.
Information has it that the Governor refused to even meet with the Leadership (Principal Officers) of the Assembly to discuss funding. Which means, there are no plans for proper funding, except, drops of insufficient funds may be received whenever Governor needs them again. Pitiable and sad.
Then think of a situation, if this crob of Members that are so poorly treated, are entitled to severance pay at the end of their tenure, then they should be ready to carry placards, singing solidarity songs down Barracks Road to face police teargas.
God forbid that these trend of present government continues in Akwa Ibom State. So that, 1 Kings12:11 should never be the portion of Akwa Ibomites, that successor would be like: “and now whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke, my father chastised you with whips, but I would chastise you with scorpions”
Currently, there are speculations that plenary may not hold till the end of the year. Last Thursday, there was heated arguments during Executive session of the House, which may have been reason for the cancellation of plenary.
Certain moves indicates that impeachment dangles around the Speaker and House Leadership. Members seem to be very unhappy with the Leadership of the Assembly. The situation of non funding is blamed on the Speaker and the rest of Leadership approach, in relating with the Executive arm of government.
The posture of the Executive Arm reminds one of the story of the father of frogs, in an attempt to puff to the size of an Ox, as described by the children as what they saw, got pop, and burst into pieces. The self-conceit “cordial relationship” can lead to self destruction. All is not well.
For instance, members are supposed to attend Conference of Parliament Association (CPA) in Canada, from 20th to 26th August, 2022, but till the moment this paper went to bed, the Governor has not given approval, tickets have not been secured, no preparations, etc.
The Executive arm should meditate on this: When dove dropped leaf in the stream to save the ant from drowning, the ant used the leaf to float to safety. When the ant observed that a hunter was about to shoot the dove, the ant returned the dove favour, by biting the hunter in the foot, this distracted the hunter to misfire, for the dove to fly away to safety.
