F
ear is the most powerful enemy of
reason. Both fear and reason are
essential to human survival, but
the relationship between them is
unbalanced. Reason may sometimes dis-
sipate fear, but fear frequently shuts down
reason-AL-Gore, Former Vice President of
the United States
There is no better way to appreciate the
validity of the above expression than re-
flecting on the latest push by the members
of the National Assembly to pass a bill
sponsored by Honourable Odebumi Oluse-
gun, of Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal con-
stituency (APC, Oyo), – a bill that recently
passed second reading.
Going by reports, the bill, known as
“Bill for an Act to Alter Section 308 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 1999(as amended), which pro-
vides that: “no civil or criminal proceedings
shall be instituted or continued against the
President, Vice President, Governors and
Deputy Governors during their period of
office.” And have same provision extended
to accommodate/cover Presiding Officers
of Legislative officers during their period of
office.”
Indeed, there is no question that high-of-
fice such as the National Assembly needs
no distraction when discharging their re-
sponsibilities. There is equally no gainsay-
ing that politics is an act of promoting and
protecting one’s interest and not largely a
question of the masses, party or faction, af-
ter all, man is a political creature seeking to
secure his/her own position.
However, why this is both scary and
dangerous is that physical and economic
survival has not only become paramount
to the members but presently connected
to a ‘conjured fear’- a state of affairs that
prevents the Honorable to pay attention to
what has changed, what can change, what
new opportunities that are presenting them
that can help the poor masses.
This tragedy is even compounded by the
irony that the present 9th Assembly, go-
ing by the profile of members, is arguably
filled with the best trained and most highly
skilled in the history of NASS in Nigeria.
But asymmetrical personal interest has not
allowed them to do the job of lawmaking
that will enhance the life chances of Nige-
rians.
Accordingly, there are many questions
that I am tempted to ask the proponents of
this bil; apart from the established truth that
sequencing and timing are the two most
important considerations when developing
strategy, will the bill if passed continue to
allow the lawmakers live as a people under
the rule of law as embodied in our consti-
tution? Or are we by this bill trying to fail
the future generations by leaving for them
a constitution far diminished from what we
met?
Why is the house coming up with such a
beleaguered bill at a time debilitating hands
of corruption is painting the nation’s image
black at the global stage? Why was it con-
ceived at a period grinding poverty afflict
Nigerians and chains them to the lowest
rung of the economic ladder? Looking at
the fact that this bill was first introduced be-
fore the outgone 8th Assembly but was step
down due to intensified public outcry, one
may again ask; if it’s re-introduction was ne-
cessitated by fear of legal consequences for
corruption or reason?
Distinctively, while Nigerians awaits
the Honourables to analyze each of these
questions, draw a conclusion and justify
their reasoning, there are accompanying
explanations why this development should
be characterize as a reality for all to worry
about; first is that NASS, is already protect-
ed by the virtue of parliamentary immunity
which among other things provides cover
for all lawmakers for whatever they say at
the hallowed chambers. Going extra mile to
seek laws that will protect lawmakers from
legal consequences for corruption, will in
my views, exacerbate the impunity that pre-
vails in Nigeria’s political circles and worsen
the country’s ranking in Transparency In-
ternational’s Corruption Perception Index.
