Ndume’s Removal: Senate Sliding Into Autocracy, Arm Of Executive – CISLAC
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has said that the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as Chief Whip of the Senate marked a clear demonstration of an orchestrated plan to silence legislators and the introduction of autocracy targeted at preventing them from voicing the concerns of the Nigerian people whom they were elected to serve.
This was as it stressed that the Senate leadership’s alignment with executive anti-people policies and self-serving interests raises concerns about its autonomy.
The advocacy organisation said the development is taking place after silencing, intimidating, and harassing opposition senators, thereby forcing them to keep quiet, stressing that the development is not democratic and totally unacceptable.
It warned that silencing dissent and marginalizing outspoken senators like Ndume and Abdul Ahmed Ningi, would render the Senate irrelevant, stressing that rather than penalize Senator Ndume for advocating on behalf of Nigerians, his contributions should be acknowledged and respected.
CISLAC in a statement in Abuja particularly accused the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio of deliberately of stifling dissent and undermining democratic representation.
It noted that legislators are being forced to keep quiet while Nigerians are bleeding, hungry, and dying, adding that they are now made to just sit idle and collect bogus salaries.
The statement which was signed by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, noted that the Senate’s actions has seriously undermined the constitutional role of legislators as representatives of the people at the highest level of government.
It further said; “By restricting senators from expressing national concerns, the Senate risks eroding its mandate and weakening the legislature as an independent arm of government.
CISLAC noted Ndume’s role in the formation of the current Senate leadership and his contributions to governance, adding that until and unless a senator violates the Senate rules or the constitution, their removal reflects high level of sycophancy thereby undermines the credibility of the legislature as an independent arm of government.
According to CISLAC; “Removing Senator Ndume, portrays the Senate as a mere extension of the executive and completely contradicts its role as a check on executive arm of government excesses.
“There must be room for opposition in the Senate. Democracy only flourishes where a thriving opposition exists. The opposition parties have been silenced, and this should not be tolerated.
“The senators are there to represent the people. If the people are not happy with the way the country is run, then there is a crisis. Nigerians need to have a vibrant Senate that speaks for its people.
“The Senate is not a chieftaincy position; it’s a serious role that requires them to connect with the people, speak with the people, and voice their demands. All the other senators shouldn’t just keep quiet in times like this.
“The Senate has various political parties—APC, PDP, LP, and APGA—and they are all quiet when they are supposed to hold the central government accountable. They are supposed to checkmate the excesses of the other arms of government irrespective of party loyalty.
“You should not keep quiet as a legislator; you’re only undermining democracy if you do. Being loyal to the party does not mean you should be quiet when people are kidnapped, killed, and hungry. It is an anti-people action to stay silent when the country is not going well. You should not just keep quiet when the country is in hard times, and this is not acceptable,” CISLAC stressed.
CISLAC specifically expressed concern that opposition political parties in the Senate have been ambushed and silenced, thereby allowing anti-people agendas and continued non-transparent and unaccountable governance in Nigeria to thrive.
