Checks And Balances

Hi Bhola,

I dare say that the principle of separationof power and checks and balances should be incorporated into every human organisation to avoid the tyranny of the individual, however the notion was originally meant to avoid overbearing influence of an arm of govt over another i.e the executive arm over the legislature or Judiciary . The effectiveness of this principle involves setting up institutional mechanism that will ensure the independence of each level of govt.

However, while there is need for a just zoning arrangement that will take care of all the stakeholders in a party and also there should be an internally inbuilt mechanism that will serve as checks and balances for a political party (internally) but the idea of checks and balances does not implies that a party that won in a general election most especially the (Anglo-American Winner take All presidency that Nigeria is currently practicing should of necessity zone their  political offices to other party, except they re forming a government of national unity.

Having said that it is expedient that a political party in a fragile democracy like Nigeria should play down the winner take all syndrome, this is important in order to reduce tension and the desperation that always associated with election in Nigeria, since the oppisition is not likely to get any slut in the govt. if they loose election there may may tendencies to make election a do or die affairs.

Also, since Nigeria is a multi-ethnic society and ethnic cleavelages are very weak, it will not be out of order to ensure that the Winner Take All Syndrome is Totally Avoided to reduce tension and stabilise the body politics.