The Legislature in other climes is seen as the panacea for a sustainable democracy. Little wonder it is regarded as the First branch of government in a constitutional democracy. The Legislature has also been described as the most representative of the three branches of modern Democratic Institutions. The constituent representative nature of the legislature under a presidential system as a check and counter-balance to the Executive in the operation of the Constitution, constitute a veritable mechanism for the limitations and accountability of executive powers. The roles performed by the legislature could facilitate the smooth functioning of the democratic system or by default, its decline and ultimate collapse.

The beauty of modern democracy, which was instituted by the ancient Greeks, since some 3,000 years ago, is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Long gone are those days when the people would assemble at the market place to shout out their wishes, which when collated, would form the policy options of the leaders of the State.

Demographic realities have since dictated a more improved system whereby the views and the wishes of the people are aggregated and conveyed to the highest levels of governance through representatives which they elect at different levels of the polity. Hence, the modern parliaments are taken to constitute the most important level of government, as they represent – or should represent – the vector of the will of the people. The doctrine of separation of powers in a democracy presupposes that each arm of government is assigned certain responsibilities and powers which it exercises with a measure of Independence and in the process, ensures checks and balances within general mechanisms of governance.

The duty of the Legislature is not only to make Laws, but it is also saddled with the responsibility of expressing the will of the people and holding government, particularly the executive to account. Legislature has played very important roles and always had a very weighty impact on the development of the democratic culture in society, particularly in Nigeria. This is evident in instances when various legislative chambers in the country held the Executive to ransom for the interest of the masses. It can be recalled that in 2014, the Adamawa State House of Assembly impeached Governor Murtala Nyako; while the Enugu State House of Assembly impeached the Deputy Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi thesame year. Coming down home to Bayelsa state, it could be recalled that Rt. Hon Peremobowei Ebebi (Speaker) led the impeachment of Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, the Governor of Bayelsa State in 2005, due to the public outcry surrounding his money laundry scandal. These respective Houses at various point in time showed great temerity in order to keep faith with the masses whom they were elected to represent. They showed that every so often, the voice of the oppressed could be heard from afar and near among the oppressed minorities.

Unfortunately, many Bayelsans are now of the impression that the salutary roles and the impact of the State House of Assembly are increasingly being diminished by what has been seen by many as a rubber stamp Assembly, through acts of hero worshipping by its members, want of Legislative experience, corruption, and lack of Legislative Independence under the Speakership of Rt. Hon. Kombowei Benson. To that extent, the reputation of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has continued to be eroded in the purview of the citizens who have been lamenting the deteriorating quality of representation and ineffectiveness they have been enjoying from their elected representatives.

Worst is that it has cascaded from a respectable chamber to a humorist House. The House have absconded their primary function of representation and divest such responsibility to ‘Government critics’ who has unfailingly amplified the voice of the oppressed in the state. It could be recalled that during the inauguration of the House, members were engaged in a fisticuff as some members were surreptitiously sworn in while others were not. Those members that were not sworn in and were devising for a mass protest against the House include; Belemote Alfred Watson, (APGA) Brass constituency II, Gibson Edwin Munalayefa (LP) Ogbia constituency II and Gabriel Michael Ogbara (ADC) Ogbia constituency III who have all, since been sworn in and have resumed their seats. The only thing we have gotten from the House is its continuous romance with the Executive which is not supposed to be so, for them to effectively carry out their function. Despite the public outcry about executive profligacy, the Kombowei Benson led Legislature is seemingly unconcerned. As long as their Allowance keeps coming. They are more concerned with making anti-people’s Law when they are not writing Congratulatory messages to the Governor when opportunity presents itself, then they are congratulating him for his victory at the Tribunal or passing a BILL within 24 hours for the establishment of a certain ‘University of Africa’ to be cited at Toru-Orua, the Governor’s village, when the State’s university is in a pitiable condition and have since been on strike for 3, months now, because of Government inability to pay salary to Lecturers. Not only that, the members of the Legislature have failed to embark on a single Constituency project. Even the community of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kombowei Benson lacks portable drinking water. What is wrong with these set of Legislatures?

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly have continuously failed to see that effective legislature contribute to effective governance. And such, have shied away from living it’s Constitutional........http://nextnewslive.com/who-needs-the-bayelsa-state-house-of-assembly-aluzu/

True talk, konbowei Benson is not the speaker of d house, seriake dick is d governor n also the speaker, quote me anywhere...