Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has enjoined members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the National Assembly to make public the income of Nigerian legislators as a step of winning the support of the electorate. According to Ribadu, Nigerians would not support the PDP if they (Nigerians) did not know what was earmarked for the National Assembly and how much a senator or a House of Representatives member earns.
“If Nigerians do not know how much is earmarked for the National Assembly or how much money a senator earns, they will not support you. We must understand the pulse or the mood of the nation. The first step, therefore, is to open up the National Assembly by ensuring transparency. Public office is what it is; public. Also, at this critical time of austerity, be champions by slashing your own budget,” he said.
He continued: “My very good friend, Ben Bruce (a senator-elect) has already spoken about this. There are many others already saying it. For you to excel, you must put in extra effort than your colleagues in other parties.”
Ribadu reminded the PDP legislators that in spite of the fact that going to the National Assembly as the minority would carry a sense of personal loss, there are still good opportunities for democratic practice in Nigeria. “Your patriotism and quality contributions as members of the National Assembly will go a long way in reinventing our party and preparing it for a successful comeback in subsequent elections. You must demonstrate personal will and commitment towards being above board if you really want to checkmate others. The first charge for you is to be champions of probity in the workings of the National Assembly as well as the Legislature-Executive relations,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the outgoing Senate President David Mark urged PDP legislators to subject their individual interest to group interest and speak with one voice in the election of principal officers of National Assembly. “We must know that united we stand, divided we fall. We must take our destinies in our hands. We must be ready to provide credible, vibrant, determined and focused opposition to the party in power in a manner that would guarantee development and good governance.
“In doing so, we must maintain a strong synergy between our members in the National Assembly and the National Working Committee. The PDP is still a brand all Nigerians know. We just need to reinvent the wheels and move forward.”
Similarly, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu maintained that playing the role of the opposition would not a death sentence. According to him, PDP stood a great chance of regaining power in 2019 should its members put their house in order.
He added that the governors elected on the platform of the PDP were expected to play a major role in restoring the party’s fortunes. “May I also remind you (governors) that you have a big role to play in restoring the political fortunes of the PDP because PDP governed-states will now be the major yardsticks for evaluating our performance in the next four years. I call on you to demonstrate unbeatable and undisputable capacity for good governance such as would stand the PDP-governed states out as models in uncommon transformation and actualisation of all the blessings and promises that democracy holds,” Ekweremadu said.
By Dike Onwuamaeze
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