On the supremacy of the party over its members

From the address delivered by Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the Oyo State Conference of the Unity Party of Nigeria on Saturday, 8th November; 1980.

BE that as it may. The important point to stress here is that our Constitution clearly makes a Registered Political Party the cornerstone of the activities of all the members of that party, including those of them in the Legislature and the Executive, as well as those of them operating outside these two organs of government. Indeed, the Registered Political Party is the sole source, from which candidates for election, and elected members of the Legislature and Executive, derive their life-blood for acceptability, public status, and legitimacy, Any elected member or group of elected members of a political party who refuse to toe the party line—that is, choose to break their link with the party source—must, of a necessity, either quickly affiliate with another Political Party for a link with another party source, or be doomed to political dehydration or anaemia. In other words, by express provisions as well as necessary implications in the Constitution, the Registered Political Party is supreme and absolutely decisive in the conduct of our public affairs.

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If the Party is supreme, then it is simple logic that in all matters of dispute, conflict, or antithesis between the Legislature and the Executive, the Party in Power should have the last say whenever a consensus cannot be reached between them.

In those circumstances, the Party in Power must provide forums and avenues for regular consultations designed to forestall or nib in the bud acrimonious disputes between the Legislature and the Executive, to promote a consensus between the two organs, to correct deviation from the Party line on the part of Members of the Legislature or of the Chief Executive, and to take a firm and final decision one way or the other, whenever necessary. This should be the case wherever the Party controls both the Legislature and the Executive. Accordingly, this should be the case in the five States controlled by the UPN. More so as our Party Constitution makes sufficient provisions for forums of consultation between those elected into public offices on the one hand, and Party leaders on the other, at every level of governmental activities – from Local Government right up to Federal Government.

Two problems of peculiar dimensions, however, arise; firstly, when the Party in control of the Legislature is different from the Party in control of the Executive; and secondly, when a party is a minority in a Legislature controlled by another Party which also controls the Executive and is, therefore, the Party in Power.

In the first case, since the Members in the Legislature and those in the Executive must regard their respective parties as supreme, then there has to be constant occasions for operational conflict or even irreconcilability. The same thing goes for the second case.

Nevertheless, I do once again affirm, most emphatically, that the Party is supreme, and that the Party is the political cornerstone in all conduct and direction of public life. At the same time, the Constitution has stipulated for all Political Parties, regardless of their methodological diverseness, common social objectives which they are all enjoined to pursue at all times. The Constitution has also provided identical touchstones by means of which genuine conformity with the ‘Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy’, can be assayed.

As a result, there need be no permanent operational irreconcilability or antithesis between the Legislature and the Executive, such as obtains in Kaduna State. It is clear that the PRP Government under Balarabe Musa is conscientiously and diligently making efforts to promote the welfare of the people of the State, as enjoined by Chapter II of our Constitution. It, therefore, deserves the support of the Legislature. But it is also clear from all accounts that he is being insensately hindered, at every turn, by an extremely narrow-minded and anti-social NPN majority in the Kaduna Legislature. In this connection, I invite the NPN to reflect upon and learn from the UPN approach to every issue in the National Assembly, and transmit the lessons derived to their fellow-party men in the Kaduna State Assembly.

For instance, of the multitude of Ministers appointed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari, only two were strenuously and implacably opposed by the UPN Members of Senate. Of these two, one has resigned his appointment under disgraceful circumstances. The other one is still holding shamelessly and precariously to office, even though a Committee, of which the Minister is not a member, has recently been set up by Alhaji Shehu Shagari to advise him on matters within the portfolio of the said Minister.

But in Kaduna, lists of Commissioners have been wholly rejected on two occasions. Among those in the lists are men offine qualities and high qualifications, who are, in many respects, superior to many of those in Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s list supported by the UPN and PRP Members of Senate. What we are witnessing in Kaduna, therefore, IS NAKED TYRANNY OF THE LEGISLATURE AT ITS VERY UGLIEST.

Nigerian Tribune