As part of activities to mark the 2012 Democracy Day and the first anniversary of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, a National symposium was organized on the eve of the anniversary at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja. The symposium, which was tagged: “Our Democracy: Progress and Challenges” was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, a chunk of members of the Federal Executive Council and lawmakers, as well as a cream of the nation’s political circle affiliated to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who added colour and grandeur to the occasion.
The symposium, which was supposed to focus on discussions around the progress and challenges of the nation’s democracy, however, laid emphasis on a sharp disagreement between the President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the principle of separation of powers between the executive and legislature, two out of the three arms of government in a democratic system.
The President, who debated in support of a less strict separation of powers between the two arms, concluded that implementation of total separation of powers would adversely affect development and good governance. The President premised much of his arguments on the extensive scrutiny, the legislature often subject national budgets, prepared and submitted to it by the executive in the name of exercising its duty. He alleged that the National Assembly often mutilates and makes changes that make it difficult for the executive to implement the budget.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, who opposed the motion that total separation of power and absolute independence of both arms of government is detrimental to development and smooth running of good governance, explained that the executive is only made up of two people, the President and Vice President, while the legislature comprises of hundreds of members that represent their respective constituencies, shouldering the responsibility of protecting their interests. Tambuwal, who emphasized the need for good working relationship between the two arms, added that, that should not in any way interfere with the independence of each party and the principle of separation of power, which is an essential element in a democratic system. Reacting to the President’s accusation that the legislature always undermines the efforts of the executive in budget preparation, the Speaker also faulted the executive of frustrating their work by refusing to assent to bills they passed.
At the end of the symposium, which was purposely organized to discuss the progress and challenges of the nation’s democracy, turned into an event for open disagreement between the President and the Speaker. Many Nigerians, who expected the gathering to ponder on the series of pressing national issues and daunting challenges that are stunting the nation’s journey to rapid development, were disappointed with the direction of the event. Similarly, the direction the symposium took in the wake of very alarming assessments that trailed the democracy day celebration from many prominent politicians, distinguished academics and elder statesmen, all pointing to the apparent failure of the nation’s 13 year old democracy as well as President Jonathan’s one year in office, further re-enforced the views of the cynics among the citizens.
In addition, the debate on the principle of separation of powers, which characterized the Democracy Day National Symposium is a clear indication that many of our leaders do not have a full understanding of even the basic tenets of democracy, because one of such basic tenets is the principle of separation of power, which means that each arm operates within some specific framework as contained in the country’s constitution for the purpose of ensuring good governance. In developed democracies, the executive adopts the strategy of lobbying to ensure the bills it submitted to the parliament are adopted, rather than the crude or even subtle use of power.
It is rather unfortunate that a democratically elected President would propose a compromise in the principle of separation of power, which is an important pillar in a democratic system of government. President Jonathan was indeed wrong to have made such an unnecessary proposition, which is very unfortunate considering the fact that he is the President of Africa’s largest nation. Similarly, The President’s concern over the strict adherence to the principle of separation of powers between the legislature and executive reveals his anti-democratic tendencies. Many people would definitely wonder that even when the executive is seen to be too powerful and therefore getting away with so many wrongdoings, the President is still complaining. It all shows that Jonathan is both poorly skilled in terms of democratic governance and over ambitious.
In the context of all the points raised in the course of the argument between the two leaders, it will be most appropriate to conclude that Speaker Tambuwal spoke the minds of all lovers of democracy. The separation of powers among the three arms of government should not only continue to exist but it should be seen to be existing through maximum observance by the operators of all the three arms.
But more importantly, during such important national events, the leaders should be seen to be brainstorming on how to address pressing issues that affect the people and the nation, like the rising insecurity, the issues of poverty and unemployment, corruption, healthcare, education, power, dwindling infrastructure and other important issues with a view to reducing the sufferings of the people and setting the nation on the right track towards rapid socio-economic and political development.
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