We need executive orders

NlGERIA’s “deliverance” from imminent civil war is assured if constitutional dictates are followed. Now that Nigeria is faced with problems of agitation for separation and resource control, the country is lucky to have a vice president like Yemi Osinbajo, a leader who is very vast in law and who can facilitate laws (executive orders) to rescue Nigeria from the brink of a civil war. We need an executive order that would mandate all state governors to survey all minerals and agricultural products available in their states and process them for export and domestic consumption. When everyone is gainfully engaged in mass production with high profits, the present urge for agitation will fade away and peace will prevail. All governors shall be duty-bound to survey and start producing all existing commodities within their state, be they minerals or agric produce (edibles) within their states. All such production from farms and mines should start within 90 days after they are  sworn into office. We need an executive order ordering all governors to pay 10 per cent of the proceeds of production sales to the federal purse.

Governors should specifically use 50 per cent of the product sales for the infrastructure development of their respective states. The rest should be used for industrial development projects. When industries are producing, unemployment will be reduced to the barest minimum, thus making the agitations for separation to fade out. We need an executive order that would make governors to be subject to impeachment if, after two years in office, they have not built roads or put schools and industries in place. This type of order is designed to make governors sit up and be more serious in meeting the needs of the people. Also, there should be an executive order that allows independent candidates for governorship elections. The rationale for this is that it allows for the virtues of innovation, inventiveness and integrity to thrive and drive such a candidate in office, instead of political parties obstructing the expression of these virtues.

Party ideology obstructs societal progress. When an independent candidate becomes governor, he will not be restrained or obstructed by party dictates/tussles, but be propelled into positive action to deliver and meet the people’s economic aspirations. When people are employed, agitations will cease and peace will prevail.

We also need an executive order that allows for the recall of any member of the NASS who fails to support or vote for these progressive orders. He shall be subjected to recall within 90 days after the vote in parliament. The rationale behind this law is to emphasie that members of the NASS should be more loyal to the national interest, national dreams and aspirations than to their personal or party interest. After all, the nation’s interest is greater than themselves plus their parties put together. When we have purposeful and dynamic leaders that are more conscious for national interest, then, progress and development shall prevail across the nation.

The president can save and deliver Nigeria from the civil war now much in the air. Nigeria’s “deliverance” depends on innovative and proactive orders. When an executive order abolishing the law granting immunity to governors is passed within 90 days, the present recklessness by governors, particularly in spending habits, would stop forthwith. Such laws would make present and future governors and in fact all public office-holders in general sober. This is because when a governor can be removed so easily, all his subordinates will be very careful in spending our commonwealth. When a governor knows that with ordinary two-thirds majority votes by the House of Assembly he can be out, this country will attain 90 per cent reduction in corruption level.

It was the immunity clause that killed the spirit of honesty and integrity in our leaders. Again, with our type of tradition and custom, relations are the first set of people to condemn former governors for not amassing wealth, saying “after all, you were a governor for five years but you have no houses or cars to show for it. You are foolish and stupid.”This is our kind of society, a society that praises and condones thieves. To have a less corrupt society, we all need to support executive orders. Any member of the National Assembly or state House of Assembly shall also be subject to a recall for not voting in support of these new reformation laws. Laws that give people the ability and opportunity to recall or impeach our leaders are what we require to right the wrongs of our society. We need reforms to ensure rapid development.

• Igungbo sent in this piece via [email protected]