By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International in Nigeria (TIN) have mourned the demise of former Speaker of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba.
The twin organisations in a joint statement signed by Mallam Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International in Nigeria, and sent to The DEFENDER on Tuesday, commended Na’Abba, a one time Nigeria’s number four citizen without record of corruption and administrative misbehaviour, for his dogged struggle for legislative autonomy and strengthening.
The globalised Civil Society organisations also praised the virtues of the late legislative hero for his legacy of respect for the sanity and sanctity of the rule of law while in office as Speaker of Nigeria’s Green Chamber.
“We, in the spirit of commiseration, recall his dogged struggles for legislative autonomy and firm positions to defend Nigeria’s nascent democracy during his tenure as Speaker from 1999 to 2003.
“Just as we commend his selfless fights for legislative strengthening, sustainable democracy and respect for the sanity and sanctity of the rule of law, while serving as the Speaker of the House.
“We found as worthy of emulation, Na’Abba’s purposeful leadership and well-intended efforts that secured the legislature from executive control,political interference, suppression of power and power-corrupt politicians, while protecting our emerging democracy from a major setback, executive dominance, and other spirited tendencies to ride roughshod over the National Assembly.
“We recall that the current 13% derivation fund from the federation revenue to oil-producing communities in Niger Delta came to limelight under the leadership of Na’Abba as Speaker of the House. Through this move, he had demonstrated sincere concerns for social justice and equity in Nigeria.
“We further observed in his valued contributions to Nigeria’s democracy, the undaunted leadership capacity to harmoniously mobilise other Members of the House for a united and non-compromised front that commanded respect from the executive arm.
“Civil Society Groups in Nigeria worked collaboratively with the National Assembly to support legislative transparency , capacity strengthening and constituency accountability. There were regular consultations that helped legislative focused.
“We are hopeful that Ghali Na’Abba’s democratic spirit and leadership principles will be emulated by the current leadership of the National Assembly and States Houses of Assembly and even future legislators in Nigeria,” CISLAC and TIN said in the Rafsanjani’s statement.
