BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU
ONE of the proponents of virile opposition in the country is Deputy Senate Leader and Senator-elect, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba. According to him, a virile opposition will aid the fulfillment of the nation’s democracy.

Ndoma-Egba, who has just survived the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN’s attempt to put a stop to his third term ambition to represent Cross River Central in the Senate, while commenting on his re-election at the rescheduled April 26 Senate election in the state posited that a virile and purposeful opposition would enhance the accomplishment of the country’s democracy. “Opposition will help, enhance and elevate our democracy.”

For democracy to be said to be working in any organization or community, the people will have to determine who lead them and the three arms of government: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary will operate independently without any arm trying to subsume or usurp the function of the other.

In Cross River State House of Assembly, lack-luster performance of the House has often be attributed to lack of opposition. The viability of a house is determined most times by the quality of bills and motions passed and the quality of arguments on the floor although behind the scene functions through committees cannot be neglected.

Imoke: Needs to be kept on his toes.

Political analysts have argued that the Cross River House was full of life between 1999 and 2003 when there was a viable opposition party. It was gathered that though the state was under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with Governor Donald Duke in charge, the House Speaker was from the then All Peoples Party, APP, which metamorphosed into the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP.

As at that time, one could enjoy the quality of debates from the likes of late Emperor Owah representing Obubra I State Constituency; former University don, Hon. Cletus Obun (Boki I), Hon. Orok Otu Duke who was the deputy speaker and Bassey Ibor of Yakurr constituency, all of the PDP.

The then APP assembled some of its good hands in the likes of Hon. Pius Awah representing Obanliku; Tom Agi (Yala I); Simeon Nkoro representing Ikom II; Alex Ukam of Biase constituency; Hon. John Owan Enoh representing Etung state constituency and the Speaker who is now the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Delta State, Dr. Gabriel Adah, who was full of charisma, influence and authority, although some of them later in 2004 decamped to the PDP.

Apart from the vibrancy of the House due to the quality of the members and the respect it commanded from the executive, the security agencies had a herculean task as the Mace, which is the symbol of authority could be taken away by different interest groups in the House.

Within the PDP, there was a division between the lawmakers loyal to Governor Duke and those sympathetic to the Deputy Governor, Chief John Okpa of blessed memory and it led to horse trading and lobbying. Interestingly, loyalty to the two political gladiators cut across the two political parties.

Unfortunately, in 2004, when Prof. Maurice Iwu was in charge of the Independent National Electoral commission, INEC, political analysts alleged that there was no election in the state rather imposition of candidates into different political positions reigned. It was also the time the issue of conclave (apology to the Catholic Pontiff election) was introduced in the state political lexicon. PDP then became a family affair and the House lost its vibrancy.

Some of the ‘fire brand’ lawmakers were either stopped from being re-elected especially those from the ANPP, or were made to join the PDP before the second mandate could be handed to them. In fact, any opposition to any bill especially those from the executive was regarded as an aberration and attracted some punitive measures.

Hon. Joseph Etene representing Bakassi State constituency was a force to reckon with, but the University of Calabar Law lecturer was not given a second mandate and his attempt to reclaim the position hit the rocks which made him to join the ACN. However, there was allegation of election fraud that gave his opponent the victory in the just concluded elections.

In 2007, the story was the same only that few members were elected. Besides, the emergence of Liyel Imoke as governor has brought some changes. Imoke’s administrative style is quite different from his predecessor and members to an extent could freely comment on issues before the House without fear of being summoned by the executive but yet with caution and at their own peril.

Although, it was alleged that some members were only given the tickets because of their loyalty to their political godfathers and do not have the pedigree to qualify them as lawmakers, there are some like Hon. Agbiji Mgbe Agbiji representing Ikom 1, Hon. Jake Otu Enyia of Boki, Itayan Asuquo and George Oben’Eche from Akamkpa, Dominic Aqua Edem deputy speaker, Signor Idiege, Jerry Martins Agba and Orok Duke who can enliven the House through quality contributions on the floor of the House.

Two of the three female legislators, Dr. Pauline Ekuri and Mrs. Esther Ayomobi once in a while make their presence felt and every contribution by members must not be seen as being contrary to the position of the state government.

It was gathered that most members do not have conscience of their own. It is the party that thinks and speaks for them and even if the thing runs contrary to their personal belief. To retain their positions and remain relevant, they have to allow the position of the party to override their personal or in some cases the interest of the masses.

There is another group of members who seem not to know what it means to be lawmakers. The best they can do is to chorus ‘ayes’ when the speaker will say those in support to say “ayes’ or “nay”. For this group, their interest is to come to the plenary, put down their names and wait for the time the sitting will be adjourned. Some have alleged that those in this group have communication problems and lack the oratory prowess to express themselves in public except otherwise they are using their native language.

Though investigations revealed that some of these “passenger” lawmakers found themselves back to the House, it is a cheery news that the once upon a time vibrant House has again got an opposition. Mr. Alex Irek of the Action Congress of Nigeria was declared winner of the Obubra 1 state constituency election that took place on April 26, defeating the present occupant of the seat, Hon. Fabian Okpa of the PDP.

In an interview with Hon. Irek, he promised to be a virile opposition in the House. He pointed out that every contribution in the House should be for the interest of the state and that no matter the party anyone comes from the most important thing is the interest of the state. He ruled out the possibility of decamping to the PDP where he left to contest the election.

Yes it is true that there is one opposition member out of 25 members it is not certain what becomes of the opposition as the members are sworn-in on May, 29. Besides, as some candidates of the opposition parties that lost the election are dusting their files to challenge some of the results that saw PDP candidates emerging in the 24 state constituencies, if the outcome of the petitions become favorable to the opposition, it will help to strengthen democracy instead of the one party state that has become the order of the day.

No matter the way it is looked at, opposition is good for the growth of democracy and brings out the best in individuals and political parties in the polity.