Monday 11 April 2011

Implication of the results of the NASS elections

NASS elections
First of all, we thank God the elections finally kicked off on the 9th of April. Reports reaching me showed that the polls went on quite smoothly in most parts of the federation amidst some violence in some places.
Some results have been announced while others are being collated, some powerful contenders like Dimeji Bankole, Iyabo Obasanjo Bello,Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Iyiola Omisore all of the PDP lost! In most northern states, Gen. Buhari's CPC swept the polls, Labour party did well in Ondo state while the ACN in the South-west did well for themselves. The South-east as been competitive too, with winners coming from different parties.
Am particularly pleased because these results are definitely a step in the right direction for our fledgling democracy. A diversified house(Senate and house of Representatives) is in favour of the people. Unlike previous years when the PDP had almost 2/3 of the house(2/3 conviction is needed for a decision to be reached in the house), passing bills that favour the senators and the president (since he's from their party was easy). But with a diverse house and no party having a clear majority of members to reach a decision, there'll be more critical debates before a bill is passed or before a budget is approved.
Also, another constitutional role of the Senators is to confirm presidential appointments which means they can frustrate Mr. President if the presented appointees are deficient.
Appropriation bills(which authorizes the government to spend money! Must be passed in the house too)
In Conclusion, the summary of the house in a democratic setting revolves around it's ability to 'check and balance' the Federal Government which Mr. President heads.

3 comments:

jaycrown said...

revolution is here and so is change.......new leaders are emerging,the presidential election should be fun.

Anonymous said...

Yessir!
We're moving, in small steady steps but the masses are still massively uneducated, still selling votes, still voting with sentiments.

We, the erudite, with all our fancy social networking, blogging and noise making are yet to penetrate that layer of ignorance.

I hope for the nation, that somehow, some way, we find a way to move beyond the grassroot, trade-by-barter politics which we practice now to something of a more intellectual form.

Afro has said!

VersatileDavid said...

@Jaycrown...We won't stop! We must be heard, I hope the best candidate emerge from the forthcoming presidential polls.

@Afrosays...like you said, we are moving in bits...in yester years,we didn't have this much youth involvement like we do now...that's something positive.
Nevertheless, the masses and the low class of the economy must not be left out, the only problem is what I'll heap the blame on past leaders.it's going to be difficult for me to preach to a beggar or a miserly old man in my village that change is on it's way without meeting their pressing needs.the whole system is massively faulty...I think the best persons to handle that are candidates and parties with good intention (and to win them over, they must meet their initial needs and follow it up with action when they are in governance i.e giving them fish and teaching them how to fish). Late Adedibu and Saraki would keep holding their stronghold on the grassroots.
A major way to solving our democratic and governance system right.
I'll be blogging soon about the CRITICAL role political parties play in good governance and democracy....Thanks for stirring this up...spread the word