OAU Students React to 9th National Assembly Election
Oladeji Olaniyan
A number of Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State have reacted to the election conducted for the emergence of the 9th National Assembly Leadership.
The 9th National Assembly conducted her election on Tuesday 11th of 2019, which saw the Leading political party preferred candidates, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe State) and Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos State) emerge as the Senate President and House of Representative Speaker respectively.
In an interview with OAU KILONSHELE, Some of the University Students shared their views and opinions on the emergence of the 9th National Assembly Leadership.
Peter Oyebanji, A part 3 student of the department of Management and Accounting who said that the emergence of the party preferred candidates as the leaders is not a problem but he fears that the National Assembly may turn out to be a tool of the executive arm
"APC's anointed candidates emerging is not the problem. The problem is them not making the legislative arm a rubber stamp of the executives," he said.
Another Part 4 student from department of Computer Science, Dunnex Samuel, in an interview with our correspondence expressed his view on election citing that the outcome of the election shows that Nigeria is far from achieving a true democratic society.
"From an honest point of view, the profile of the winners and the conducts of the voting senators is a reflection of our rotten political institution and how far we are from achieving the true dreams of democracy," he said.
Olowomeye Emmanuel, a Final year student of the department of Public Administration also shared a lengthy opinion on the election of the new leadership of the National Assembly, in his opinion, he said the emergence of the party's preferred candidates is a good thing citing that it would aide the internal cohesion and unity of the Leading Political party unlike what plagued them during the last 8th Assembly.
"I think the election of number 3 and number 4 citizen of Nigeria that took place yesterday is a landmark victory for APC and I think this party are getting their heart together now."
"The outcome of yesterday election show that internal cohesion and unity amongst the members of the party which is a direct converse and antithesis of what happened in 2015 during which Saraki displayed his political sagacity by acting against the decision of the party due to some internal feud and lack of definition of purpose by the party."
Furthermore, he said the emergence of the party anointed candidates will play a role in halting the rhetoric and consistent blame game of the executives against the National Assembly leadership for hindering their plans.
"it will also put an end to the blame politics game the party has embarked upon in the last four years by accusing the leadership of the national assembly of frustrating the plans and programs of the Mr. President. They don't have any excuses not to function now because they have all the parameters within their reach," he said.
However, he also note that the outcome of the election is a testament to the obvious weakness obtainable in the Country's democracy citing US democracy as an example where the Congress make decisions on their own without inordinate interference from the executive arm.
"It also shows how weak and inchoate our democracy is. In a sane and developed country like the USA. Political parties as well as the executives have no control over their party members in the Congress not to talk of election of the leadership of the Congress."
"These three institutions are separated to the extent that some people described the American party system as a four party system where we have; presidential Democrat, presidential Republican, congressional Democrat,and congressional Republican. The Congress therefore act independently without any interference and control from either the party or the executive. But reverse is the case in Nigeria yesterday where the executive wants to have the second arms of govt in their pocket," he said.
In the same vein, James Olutoki, a Part 4 Law student, said the outcome of the election is a victory for party politics in Nigeria
"Firstly, I think it is a victory for party politics in Nigeria. In many presidential democracies around the world, the concept of party supremacy and loyalty obtains. And asides ensuring stability and inclusiveness, these two ingredients are necessary for the long term health of any party." he said
He further said that it a clear delineation that the party has learnt from the mistake of 2015.
However, he was also of the opinion that the outcome of the election may most likely augur ill for Nigerian democracy citing that the National Assembly may turn out to be a stooge of the Executive
"On the flip side, I share the fear in some quarters that the emergence of these candidates, looking at the manner it occurred, might be dangerous for our hope of an independent legislature. The candidates, though eminently qualified, could not have won the way they did were it not for the 'anointing' poured on them by their party."
"In other words, the concern that these persons might make the legislature a rubber stamp of the executive shouldn't be overlooked," he said.
Another final year Student, Olufemi Alfred from department of English, said the outcome of the election should give no room for excuse from the leading Political party end.
"Now, like I have repeated, the All progressives Congress do not have any excuse this time around. Issues of delay in budget passage, friction between the two arms of government won't be the case." He said.
A number of Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State have reacted to the election conducted for the emergence of the 9th National Assembly Leadership.
The 9th National Assembly conducted her election on Tuesday 11th of 2019, which saw the Leading political party preferred candidates, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe State) and Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos State) emerge as the Senate President and House of Representative Speaker respectively.
In an interview with OAU KILONSHELE, Some of the University Students shared their views and opinions on the emergence of the 9th National Assembly Leadership.
Peter Oyebanji, A part 3 student of the department of Management and Accounting who said that the emergence of the party preferred candidates as the leaders is not a problem but he fears that the National Assembly may turn out to be a tool of the executive arm
"APC's anointed candidates emerging is not the problem. The problem is them not making the legislative arm a rubber stamp of the executives," he said.
Another Part 4 student from department of Computer Science, Dunnex Samuel, in an interview with our correspondence expressed his view on election citing that the outcome of the election shows that Nigeria is far from achieving a true democratic society.
"From an honest point of view, the profile of the winners and the conducts of the voting senators is a reflection of our rotten political institution and how far we are from achieving the true dreams of democracy," he said.
Olowomeye Emmanuel, a Final year student of the department of Public Administration also shared a lengthy opinion on the election of the new leadership of the National Assembly, in his opinion, he said the emergence of the party's preferred candidates is a good thing citing that it would aide the internal cohesion and unity of the Leading Political party unlike what plagued them during the last 8th Assembly.
"I think the election of number 3 and number 4 citizen of Nigeria that took place yesterday is a landmark victory for APC and I think this party are getting their heart together now."
"The outcome of yesterday election show that internal cohesion and unity amongst the members of the party which is a direct converse and antithesis of what happened in 2015 during which Saraki displayed his political sagacity by acting against the decision of the party due to some internal feud and lack of definition of purpose by the party."
Furthermore, he said the emergence of the party anointed candidates will play a role in halting the rhetoric and consistent blame game of the executives against the National Assembly leadership for hindering their plans.
"it will also put an end to the blame politics game the party has embarked upon in the last four years by accusing the leadership of the national assembly of frustrating the plans and programs of the Mr. President. They don't have any excuses not to function now because they have all the parameters within their reach," he said.
However, he also note that the outcome of the election is a testament to the obvious weakness obtainable in the Country's democracy citing US democracy as an example where the Congress make decisions on their own without inordinate interference from the executive arm.
"It also shows how weak and inchoate our democracy is. In a sane and developed country like the USA. Political parties as well as the executives have no control over their party members in the Congress not to talk of election of the leadership of the Congress."
"These three institutions are separated to the extent that some people described the American party system as a four party system where we have; presidential Democrat, presidential Republican, congressional Democrat,and congressional Republican. The Congress therefore act independently without any interference and control from either the party or the executive. But reverse is the case in Nigeria yesterday where the executive wants to have the second arms of govt in their pocket," he said.
In the same vein, James Olutoki, a Part 4 Law student, said the outcome of the election is a victory for party politics in Nigeria
"Firstly, I think it is a victory for party politics in Nigeria. In many presidential democracies around the world, the concept of party supremacy and loyalty obtains. And asides ensuring stability and inclusiveness, these two ingredients are necessary for the long term health of any party." he said
He further said that it a clear delineation that the party has learnt from the mistake of 2015.
However, he was also of the opinion that the outcome of the election may most likely augur ill for Nigerian democracy citing that the National Assembly may turn out to be a stooge of the Executive
"On the flip side, I share the fear in some quarters that the emergence of these candidates, looking at the manner it occurred, might be dangerous for our hope of an independent legislature. The candidates, though eminently qualified, could not have won the way they did were it not for the 'anointing' poured on them by their party."
"In other words, the concern that these persons might make the legislature a rubber stamp of the executive shouldn't be overlooked," he said.
Another final year Student, Olufemi Alfred from department of English, said the outcome of the election should give no room for excuse from the leading Political party end.
"Now, like I have repeated, the All progressives Congress do not have any excuse this time around. Issues of delay in budget passage, friction between the two arms of government won't be the case." He said.
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