NIGERIA: Why 10th Assembly must be allowed to choose its leaders – Rafsanjani

•Points out danger of allowing corrupt persons hijack political power in country

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

The ruling class in Nigeria has been advised against imposition of individuals as the 10th National Assembly in the country warms up to elect leaders, who will preside over its affairs.

This advice came by Chairman Board of Trustees of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Head of Nigerian Office of Transparency International (TI), Mallam Auwal Ibrahim Musa a.k.a. Rafsanjani, while featuring as guest on a Channels Television programme on Thursday.

Responding to question as to what expectations should be as members-elect of the National Assembly are carrying on with their activities for the next dispensation, the civil society leader, who is also Executive Director of Civil Society and Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said it should not happen that the executive or the All Progressives Congress (APC) would make attempt to impose individuals as leaders of the 10th Assembly, if the purpose for which they are in politics is truly to serve Nigeria and make the country a better place for Nigerian people.

According to Rafsanjani, “It is very important in this 10th Assembly to have leadership that can be acceptable to members, leadership that also has some level of integrity and credibility, leadership that is also going to be focused and be able to do the work as required by our Constitution.

“The unfortunate development going round now is, first and this is also to tell you the terrible legacy of the anti-corruption under Muhammadu Buhari,  that people who are being investigated for monumental looting and stealing of public funds are now the ones even being pushed for leadership position.

“This is terrible in the sense that it is expected that the outgoing government should have done everything possible to make sure that, at least, those with baggage of corruption will not continue to hijack political power in the country. But, sadly, that has not happened and now APC, in its wisdom, has decided to point some individuals to occupy the leadership position in the National Assembly,” he expressed concern.

Speaking further, Mallam Auwal Musa said, “I have no problem with zoning of the position, but the APC or executive cannot decidedly impose individuals on the legislature, if we really want to have proper functioning of the legislature that will also take the interest of Nigerians, not just the interest of the executive or the interest of the APC as a party.

“So, it is absolutely necessary that once the APC has decided to do its zoning, which course is even subject to other political parties’ acceptance and agreement on the individual members support,  it is important that they allow members of the National Assembly to choose their leaders so that there will be effective leadership, there will be a leadership that is going to be acceptable to members of the National Assembly.”

But, he continued, “Once you insist and impose individuals as leaders of the legislature, then you’ve created a crisis that will make the legislature not to function, not focused because,  you have taken away their responsibility as members to elect their leaders among themselves, who should preside over the leadership of the National Assembly,” he said.

The CISLAC boss said, “It is dangerous that anybody will just come and pick up and insist and impose certain individual that already has a serious reparcaution. Because the public perception of the legislature is nothing to write home about. Already, you know how the election has gone. A lot of people have reservations and that is why we have issues in the court.

“Now, to come and have a imposed leadership in the National Assembly? That will not be good for us,” he concluded.