Controversy has continued to attend the trial of
the Senate leadership on charges of conspiracy and forgery of the Senate’s
standing rules. The deputy chairman of the House committee on appropriations,
Rep. Chris Azubogu (Anambra, PDP), in an interview with NAIJ.com called for
caution, stating that the involvement of the deputy Senate president, Ike
Ekweremadu, would negatively affect the southeast geo-political zone.
He said
that Nigeria’s democracy is evolving, and that the utmost care must be taken to
ensure that no action taken will negatively affect the country.
He said that the three arms of government which are
mutually independent deserve mutual respect. Therefore, the interference of one
with the other will affect the nation’s young democracy. “Whoever that is
behind it, such person must know that the issue involved is about the internal
affairs of the National Assembly vis-a-vis the Senate. “The process as it looks
does not seem to be devoid of external influence but however, when the court
invites you, you have to honour the invitation. But for those behind it aiming
to harness some kind of political gains, let’s watch and see where it will take
them,” he added.
Speaking on the economic policies of President
Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and his anti-graft war, Azubogu said that the
methods and approach of the anti-graft war need to be fine tuned. He said
corruption has so far affected the country negatively, and that the country
needs to have a paradigm shift through a different approach and method. He
added that President Buhari’s anti-corruption war is one sided. “As far as I’m
concerned, President Buhari does not have any clear cut economic policy yet.
When we see it, we would know. On his anti-graft war, he is doing well but his
approach should be a solution that is technologically based, clinically
finished. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Chris Azubogu Honourable Chris
Azubogu “These are some of the things that are affecting us in the fight
against crime. Like our drug war should be reformative, where you reform people
and restrain them from acting against the law of the land. When you put it
together is a great thing to reform the entire process. “These are the things
we should be looking at, not only enforcement. There is an urgent need for
leaders to sit back and think. “Today we know that the strength of any nation
lies in her size. If our population is not well informed or educated, even the
educated lack discipline. Such nation will lose her resources. But when you
focus on reforming people who had gone astray as a correctional process, I
think it will go a long way to save the nation a great deal. READ ALSO: Your
job is to create jobs for Nigerians, Agbakoba tells Ngige “Most importantly, we
need to sit back and plan our population. The rate at which our population is
growing, if properly harnessed will be to our advantage. If not we will have
problems that might be difficult to handle. “I would also say that the
corruption war is one sided because the same people who were in PDP before who
are assumed to have committed the same offence of those who are in PDP today
are not being tried. “It is only PDP that had been in government so it is only
PDP members that are being tried. That is not a problem, but when people who
are on the same pedestal when they were in PDP but because they are now in
another party are not called to answer for what they did, that seems biased,”
he said. Responding to a question about the economic implications of the second
Niger bridge, he said that the project is a model for Nigeria and not for only
for the southeast, adding that it would link not only the southeast but also
the east and the west. “I refuse and disagree that second Niger bridge is meant
for southeast. It is putting across a bridge that would link the east and other
part of the country, and not just the southeast but the east and west. “Over 40
per cent of vehicles that crossed the second Niger bridge heads to the north,
so it is for the economy of the country, so the impact would be on the country
not southeast alone. They should stop making noise about it because it is for
the nation not for the southeast.” Azubogu explained that his constituency,
being part of the hub of industrial and business activity in the country, needs
key infrastructure like good roads, power supply and healthcare system that
would drive industrial developments, which he said would increase the
productivity of the state and would help the country. “The Obannewi Okigwo road
is very important to us, and power in Nnewi needs to be taken care of, so that
would help us develop the things we can on our own to satisfy international
market. When we do well and our excesses are exported to other countries and
even with exporting plan in mind, we would be able to develop a proper plan
targeting other markets. “In global economy today, what everybody does is to
ensure that you apply yourself where you have cooperative advantage. We are
industrious people, we are commercially oriented and we are ready and willing
to bring out our experience and knowledge to help Nigeria reduce the level of
import coming into the country, thereby conserving our foreign exchange. Even
more foreign exchange through our industrial production; I can guarantee that.
“Though I would not fail to thank the federal government through its policy of
automotive development plan that has already marked Nnewi for the
implementation of the automotive industrial park. That one is oncoming but
beyond that, we want,” he explained. Responding to a question on the agitation for
Biafra by the southeast, he called for a peaceful dialogue between the
government and the agitators. “They are citizens of Nigeria. If they have any
issue, all you need do as a government for all is to call them, sit with them
and listen to their plight. We are practising democracy so you need to apply
the right approach, not the same approach for a different cases. “It is clear;
people have the right to air their mind. People must have their opinion. That
people have their opinion does not mean you should criminalize them. If need be
for you to call for referendum, you do so. There are processes but I can assure
you that if there is call for referendum, Biafra will not stand in Nigeria, but
if there are issues to be addressed like injustice, inequality and more, they
should be addressed. “As a government you must listen to people. When you
refuse to listen to them, they can react in a manner that is not acceptable.
The government should note that some people are not informed, but when you sit
them down and talk to them some of these issues will naturally be addressed,”
he said. Reacting to the issue of the sex scandal in the House, the lawmaker
said that the National Assembly is a self-regulatory body and has put in place
internal mechanisms to regulate itself. READ ALSO: How Kidnappers, ritualists,
convert police post to their den in Lagos “The ethics and privileges committee
with collaboration of foreign affairs committee are already investigating the
matter. After the investigation we would know the outcome. For me it is an
allegation and not yet proven or anyone convicted by any court of law, so lets
keep our fingers crossed. On the achievements of the House over the past year,
Azubogu said that the National Assembly and particularly the House of Representatives
has done much in the last year, adding that the eighth assembly has been an
improvement on other assemblies after 1999. “The process of democratization and
the responsibility of the House of Representatives have continuously improved;
capacities been built among staff and members. If you look at it, our political
experience is deepening; our democratic experience is deepening. You have
people with higher quality or higher accomplishment in all areas. “In the area
of politics, people are now seen leaving what they are doing to bring their
wealth of experience into legislation. All manner of people, young and old,
with vast experience and knowledge in all spheres of life, coming together in
the House, debating on issues that affects the nation, bringing things before
light, trying to bring in their best to serve their fatherland. “I was
privileged to be in the seventh assembly and now the eighth assembly. I can
tell you that the entire process from the seventh assembly to the eighth
assembly has had great improvement. I can tell you that in the way our order
paper are been organized, the way things are done in the House, has all
improved. Even topical issues a lot has improved. “The area of sectorial
debate, we have seen that our decision to invite all stakeholders, especially
those who hold briefs for the president to defend MDA, came to give us their
plans, and the state of the nation has enlarged our scope of what the executive
arm are doing, and looking at loopholes where decision have to come in to strengthen
the arm of the executive for them to carry out their constitutional duties. So
these are the ways we are saying that there is great synergy; the relationship
is improving,” the lawmaker said. He said that a number of laws have been
amended while some have been passed and others are in the process of being
passed. “You can see that the lawmaking act by the National Assembly is been
properly harnessed to give Nigerians the best in deepening our democratic
experience and also improve the quality of service offered to Nigerians,” he
said. Speaking on plans for his constituency, Azubogu said the principal thing
about representation is not to claim to do the work of the executive, but to
offer quality accessible representation, and to participate in the act of
lawmaking to ensure that the laws are being passed in respect of the sponsors.
He said lawmakers need to monitor the laws being passed so that it will not
affect their constituents negatively. He further stated that there is a need
for members to ensure quality representation of the Nigerian people at the
National Assembly. “I have to make sure that a good number of my people do not
lose out in that of national interest; for them to have a voice to speak out
their interest and things that concerns them. Also come up with motions that
can attend to their immediate needs and challenges. He called on members to
make themselves accessible to their constituents; to listen to them and carry
their burdens and needs to the floor of the National Assembly for immediate
action.
Hon.Chris Azugbogu
