You say lobbying, Sagay says the president must put his foot down, insist on his choice and have it merely formalised at the NASS. What gives? Is that how the independence works these days? When did Obasanjo whom they have so vilified and mocked and insulted become the template for modern, effective democracy and governance? When they do this and perhaps have some issues I hope it will not be a 16 years of PDP excuse especially since they want to adopt PDP style?

Given the experience of the government with the outgoing national assembly, what advice will you give to President Buhari on the issue of the leadership of the incoming National Assembly?

The President made a very major mistake which became a huge drawback to his administration for the last four years. The mistake was that he was a bit aloof about the leadership of the National Assembly. His disposition was that they have been elected, let them choose their leaders. But that was wrong. You don’t do that because they are an important arm of government and they can obstruct you and cause you setbacks, pain and can stop government from making progress in many areas including fighting corruption and improving the economy. That is what happened under the Saraki-led national assembly where they became the major opposition to the federal government. For me, the main opposition party we had was the National Assembly, headed by Saraki and the Senate. It wasn’t the PDP at all. So, I am sure the president has learnt his lesson and this year, now that the APC has majority based on the number of elected lawmakers, he should call the lawmakers, they will choose a leader internally and simply go and formalise it when the National Assembly resumes. He will tell them who he wants to be the Senate President the way Obasanjo did successfully. That’s the way he should do it. He should take full control of the process. He must put his foot down and make sure somebody who will cooperate and work with him emerges before the lawmakers assemble to formalise the process .If not, we are just going back to the destructive and acrimonious era that we just managed to survive under the Saraki-led senate.

obailala:
The NASS may be a separate independent arm of government, but it is always in the best interest of the executive to ensure (via lobbying etc) that the elected heads of the legislators are in sync with the ideals of the president if the president must have a good ride. This is the standard case all over the world, including the best democracies. There is nothing wrong/ illegal/ undemocratic about the executive being concerned and being involved in the selection process of the heads of the NASS.

somehow:


Delay in passing the budget

Not allowing some bills to pass the house reading

Refusing to approve some appointees

Always at loggerhead with the executive.

Don't ask questions that you can google!

Go check what Nancy Pelosi is making Donald Trump pass through!!

If the president of a country decides who becomes the senate President, of what use is the senate to the country? Every arm of government is supposed to be independent to check the excesses of the other arms. If the legislative arm becomes a rubber stamp of the executive, then they can do whatever they want to do at will without anyone opposing them. I'm surprised that a so called professor of law could be coming up with this mentality. Obasanjo was abused for doing that and you are proposing that in this era.

How do you guarantee that there will be no bribery, threats or such other illegality? How can he put his foot down and insist on the leadership of the National Assembly without holding something over the heads of the leadership especially when the president of country like ours would prefer a dull, sleeping rubber-stamp NASS? What about the interests of the masses? Are citizens not entitled to an independent legislative arm that will properly check-mate possible excesses of the Executive?

obailala:

There's nothing undemocratic or illegal about a president scheming or lobbying to get favourable heads of the legislative arm elected or even removed; that's just what politics is all about. As long as the process doesn't involve illegality (e.g. bribery, threats of assassination etc).

Do you know how much Saraki used in bribing his way before he gets that position? Or you think he got it on a platter of gold?

freeze001:
How do you guarantee that there will be no bribery, threats or such other illegality? How can he put his foot down and insist on the leadership of the National Assembly without holding something over the heads of the leadership especially when the president of country like ours would prefer a dull, sleeping rubber-stamp NASS? What about the interests of the masses? Are citizens not entitled to an independent legislative arm that will properly check-mate possible excesses of the Executive?

somehow:


Keep lyulying to yourself

Lolz..it's on record brother. Google is your friend.

Sagay needs to visit Aaro for check up

It was unholy and satanic for Sagay to subscribe such ignoble era to our anal democracy after we have surpassed that. We expected every arms of government to do and mind their work without interference. The executive should not be an appendage of judiciary, judiciary should not be an appendage of legislature and vice versa. One should not exert on the other for any reason.
Sagay is a lawyer and he should know better. We don't want the era of OBJ in our system anymore, the supposed learned man should not subscribe that for us.

Dannyset:
If Buhari does his I don't care attitude this time around and allows people with vested interest to disrupt his second term just like Saraki did, he will only have himself to blame.

We want a government without enemies within itself.

On point

Dannyset:
If Buhari does his I don't care attitude this time around and allows people with vested interest to disrupt his second term just like Saraki did, he will only have himself to blame.

We want a government without enemies within itself.

Everyone is now forming an " adviser "

Is Buhari requesting for your view on that?

Even Sagay has digressed from his assigned role by uttering these here.

If you love Buhari to succeed: pray for him.

Imaging where every single one-hundred-and-eighty million Nigerians is giving Buhari advice on what to do and how to do it. You will then prefer the procedure that makes only appointed advisers to do the work.

9jaRealist:


The ideal should ALWAYS be our goal.

... but we are in a real world where all things are never equal; we aren't in a school textbook or movie, so you cant expect the 'ideal' goal to be obtainable. The 'ideal' doesnt exist anywhere in the world.

And just btw, the members of the NASS are there to represent US - their constituents - and not the president (or even the party). Accordingly, assuming that the president’s agenda is in the NATIONAL interest (and not merely to serve parochial, partisan, pecuniary, primordial or such other petty/narrow interests), then it should not be a problem ‘selling’ same to the NASS and the wider Nigerian constituency, rather than installing a “sleeping or lifeless” NASS leadership that would simply rubber stamp anything from Aso Rock.

Once again you speak of an ideal Utopia which can only be encountered in fictional stories. There will always be opposition to policies or projects, no matter how noble the idea is. The NASS has 468 members and each one of those members have their own opinions, their own understanding, their own personal goals, their own personal interests etc. Not every one of those members have the interest of the country or their constituents at heart like you ideally claim. How many members of the Nigerian NASS do you truly think are there to represent the interests of their constituents?

Besides Nigeria, even in countries where things work well, differing opinions still exist. So no matter how excellent the president's agenda is, you can never still expect all parliament members to agree to it and the worst thing that can happen to any democratic president is to have a parliament headed by people who are hell bent on seeing things differently from him.

freeze001:
How do you guarantee that there will be no bribery, threats or such other illegality? How can he put his foot down and insist on the leadership of the National Assembly without holding something over the heads of the leadership especially when the president of country like ours would prefer a dull, sleeping rubber-stamp NASS? What about the interests of the masses? Are citizens not entitled to an independent legislative arm that will properly check-mate possible excesses of the Executive?

Like I said in one of my earlier comments, I was addressing someone who implied that in an ideal democracy, the president (executive) shouldnt have any business or be bothered about who heads the NASS because the NASS should be independent. Oh yes the NASS is independent, but I also rightly said that only a sleeping or lifeless or just a dull president will sit back and watch people who dont align with his agenda rise to head the parliament.

Now that being said, there are different ways a president can influence who and who become the head of the NASS. It's left for a president to chart his own course by deciding on how he wants to effect things like this.

obailala:
... but we are in a real world where all things are never equal; we aren't in a school textbook or movie, so you cant expect the 'ideal' goal to be obtainable. The 'ideal' doesnt exist anywhere in the world.

Dude, do not know you from a can of beans so will not presume to speak for your personal standards or expectations, but I would like to think that most Nigerians do not consider themselves children of a lesser God and thus are in pursuit of the ideal in all spheres of their lives. The notion of settling for less should be anathema for anyone/everyone with high expectations for themselves and their country. Even if the ideal ultimately proves unattainable, it’s pursuit should ALWAYS be our collective aspiration for as the saying goes (and I paraphrase), “when you aim for the sky, you would tend to excel even if you fall short”.

obailala:
Once again you speak of an ideal Utopia which can only be encountered in fictional stories. There will always be opposition to policies or projects, no matter how noble the idea is. The NASS has 468 members and each one of those members have their own opinions, their own understanding, their own personal goals, their own personal interests etc. Not every one of those members have the interest of the country or their constituents at heart like you ideally claim. How many members of the Nigerian NASS do you truly think are there to represent the interests of their constituents?

Besides Nigeria, even in countries where things work well, differing opinions still exist. So no matter how excellent the president's agenda is, you can never still expect all parliament members to agree to it and the worst thing that can happen to any democratic president is to have a parliament headed by people who are hell bent on seeing things differently from him.

Here, you just sound confused because the ability to sell one’s program is not synonymous with UNANIMTY of opinions.

This may be even further confusing for you, but a DIVERSITY of opinions and viewpoints is actually a GOOD thing - not least because no one person has a monopoly of wisdom (not even the President, as you appear to think). In fact, the ideal process is to subject ideas and opinions to competition in a free marketplace of ideas until the ‘best’ ones win or otherwise emerge therefrom. Accordingly, quite often, the ‘best’ and most effective laws and policies are a result of compromise, resulting from the meshing of a variety of different interests.

Meanwhile, you keep harping on and idealizing about a president’s “excellent” agenda, but what if the president’s agenda is horrible (or as previously proffered, parochial, primordial, partisan or pecuniary-driven)? Should the parliament simply be compliant and roll over? The Nigerian President is NOT a Sultan, Emir, Oba, Igwe, Obong, Tor, or any other such feudal monarch. Rather, he is constitutionally RESTRAINED by a system of INDEPENDENT check and balances, which if/when eroded inflicts incalculable damage to our constitutional democracy.

obailala:
Like I said in one of my earlier comments, I was addressing someone who implied that in an ideal democracy, the president (executive) shouldnt have any business or be bothered about who heads the NASS because the NASS should be independent. Oh yes the NASS is independent, but I also rightly said that only a sleeping or lifeless or just a dull president will sit back and watch people who dont align with his agenda rise to head the parliament.

Now that being said, there are different ways a president can influence who and who become the head of the NASS. It's left for a president to chart his own course by deciding on how he wants to effect things like this.

Nope, not an “ideal” democracy - in ANY constitutional (checks-and-balances) democracy worthy of the name.

Even in the US (whose system our constitution was primarily modeled after), when the Republicans controlled both the White House and both chambers of Congress, President Trump never presumed to “take charge” (or to otherwise interfere with) the process of electing the Speaker of the House. In fact, if anything, Speaker Ryan quite often butted heads with the President on various issues. Of course, the President may well be ‘bothered’ about who heads the other arms of government (and not just the legislature but the judiciary as well), but that’s not what we are discussing here, so let’s discard of the semantic sophistry because the issue here is the President (and I quote Old Man Sagay) “taking charge” of the process of a constitutionally CO-EQUAL (and constitionally-mandated INDEPENDENT) arm of government electing its leadership.

It’s rather unfortunate that African countries often take on the veneer of democracy but seem reluctant to imbibe its spirit and ideals.

9jaRealist:


Dude, do not know you from a can of beans so will not presume to speak for your personal standards or expectations, but I would like to think that most Nigerians do not consider themselves children of a lesser God and thus are in pursuit of the ideal in all spheres of their lives. The notion of settling for less should be anathema for anyone/everyone with high expectations for themselves and their country. Even if the ideal ultimately proves unattainable, it’s pursuit should ALWAYS be our collective aspiration for as the saying goes (and I paraphrase), “when you aim for the sky, you would tend to excel even if you fall short”.



Here, you just sound confused because the ability to sell one’s program is not synonymous with UNANIMTY of opinions.

This may be even further confusing for you, but a DIVERSITY of opinions and viewpoints is actually a GOOD thing - not least because no one person has a monopoly of wisdom (not even the President, as you appear to think). In fact, the ideal process is to subject ideas and opinions to competition in a free marketplace of ideas until the ‘best’ ones win or otherwise emerge therefrom. Accordingly, quite often, the ‘best’ and most effective laws and policies are a result of compromise, resulting from the meshing of a variety of different interests.

Meanwhile, you keep harping on and idealizing about a president’s “excellent” agenda, but what if the president’s agenda is horrible (or as previously proffered, parochial, primordial, partisan or pecuniary-driven)? Should the parliament simply be compliant and roll over? The Nigerian President is NOT a Sultan, Emir, Oba, Igwe, Obong, Tor, or any other such feudal monarch. Rather, he is constitutionally RESTRAINED by a system of INDEPENDENT check and balances, which if/when eroded inflicts incalculable damage to our constitutional democracy.

The point is PMB will NOT allow himself to be restrained by any idealistic independent checks and balances exploited by the opposition for their selfish agenda.

Everything will be done to ensure we don't suffer the kind of delays and deliberate sabotage that the 8th assembly caused to PMB, and all that is needed to be done to achieve that will be done including choosing senate leaders as far as possible. Sagay is merely stating the Presidency's already decided position on this issue.

Rubber stamp is bae. Once bitten twice shy.

QuotaSystem:


The point is PMB will NOT allow himself to be restrained by any idealistic independent checks and balances exploited by the opposition for their selfish agenda.

Everything will be done to ensure we don't suffer the kind of delays and deliberate sabotage that the 8th assembly caused to PMB, and all that is needed to be done to achieve that will be done including choosing senate leaders as far as possible. Sagay is merely stating the Presidency's already decided position on this issue.

Rubber stamp is bae. Once bitten twice shy.

Not gonna happen, and even if it starts that way it’s not gonna last...
Instead of relying on the laziness of installing a “lifeless” NASS leadership, dude better start working on solid (and ‘sellable’) policies.

9jaRealist:


Nope, not an “ideal” democracy - in ANY constitutional (checks-and-balances) democracy worthy of the name.

Even in the US (whose system our constitution was primarily modeled after), when the Republicans controlled both the White House and both chambers of Congress, President Trump never presumed to “take charge” (or to otherwise interfere with) the process of electing the Speaker of the House. In fact, if anything, Speaker Ryan quite often butted heads with the President on various issues. Of course, the President may well be ‘bothered’ about who heads the other arms of government (and not just the legislature but the judiciary as well), but that’s not what we are discussing here, so let’s discard of the semantic sophistry because the issue here is the President (and I quote Old Man Sagay) “taking charge” of the process of a constitutionally CO-EQUAL (and constitionally-mandated INDEPENDENT) arm of government electing its leadership.

It’s rather unfortunate that African countries often take on the veneer of democracy but seem reluctant to imbibe its spirit and ideals.

The bolded part of you comment above says it all; you have no idea how politics and leadership works. It's amusing that you think Trump just sat down and did nothing behind the scenes. FYI, 'doing something' does not necessarily mean stepping out like a soldier and giving orders, cos it is not military rule. Doing something simply implies behind the scenes lobbying, blackmailing, scheming etc. It happens in every democracy and its simply called politics. Once again, I find it very amusing that of all the 'near perfect' democracies in the world you could have given examples with, you chose the USA which is the world capital of the schemes I was referring to.

9jaRealist:


Dude, do not know you from a can of beans so will not presume to speak for your personal standards or expectations, but I would like to think that most Nigerians do not consider themselves children of a lesser God and thus are in pursuit of the ideal in all spheres of their lives. The notion of settling for less should be anathema for anyone/everyone with high expectations for themselves and their country. Even if the ideal ultimately proves unattainable, it’s pursuit should ALWAYS be our collective aspiration for as the saying goes (and I paraphrase), “when you aim for the sky, you would tend to excel even if you fall short”.



Here, you just sound confused because the ability to sell one’s program is not synonymous with UNANIMTY of opinions.

This may be even further confusing for you, but a DIVERSITY of opinions and viewpoints is actually a GOOD thing - not least because no one person has a monopoly of wisdom (not even the President, as you appear to think). In fact, the ideal process is to subject ideas and opinions to competition in a free marketplace of ideas until the ‘best’ ones win or otherwise emerge therefrom. Accordingly, quite often, the ‘best’ and most effective laws and policies are a result of compromise, resulting from the meshing of a variety of different interests.

Meanwhile, you keep harping on and idealizing about a president’s “excellent” agenda, but what if the president’s agenda is horrible (or as previously proffered, parochial, primordial, partisan or pecuniary-driven)? Should the parliament simply be compliant and roll over? The Nigerian President is NOT a Sultan, Emir, Oba, Igwe, Obong, Tor, or any other such feudal monarch. Rather, he is constitutionally RESTRAINED by a system of INDEPENDENT check and balances, which if/when eroded inflicts incalculable damage to our constitutional democracy.

I never said or implied in any way whatsoever that the president or anyone has any monopoly of wisdom; that actually is the exact opposite of what I tried to explain so I wonder how you arrived at that conclusion.

Once again my point is that no matter how noble ( the agenda of a president might be (now I mean the noble ideas, not the horrible ones), there will always be people who think otherwise, who see things differently, and who will work tirelessly to oppose the agenda. Now these people may not necessarily be bad people, rather they just see things differently and prefer a different approach to achieve a similar goal.

Of course it's a democracy and not an authoritarian monarchy or dictatorship, so for the president to push forward whatever agenda he has, he has to be able to convince parliament (I NEVER implied otherwise, and neither did I suggest that parliament should be a rubber stamp). But all I tried to point out is that since a president has to convince parliament before he does anything, that is why every president globally (not restricted to Nigeria) will prefer parliament leaders who are aligned with his ideologies, that is why presidents want their party members to be majority and lead parliament.

In summary, all I've tried to explain is that there is nothing wrong or ignoble about a president wishing and lobbying to have people in tune with his ideologies leading parliament; that is what democratic politics is all about.

obailala:

The bolded part of you comment above says it all; you have no idea how politics and leadership works. It's amusing that you think Trump just sat down and did nothing behind the scenes. FYI, 'doing something' does not necessarily mean stepping out like a soldier and giving orders, cos it is not military rule. Doing something simply implies behind the scenes lobbying, blackmailing, scheming etc. It happens in every democracy and its simply called politics. Once again, I find it very amusing that of all the 'near perfect' democracies in the world you could have given examples with, you chose the USA which is the world capital of the schemes I was referring to.

Presumably you personally were “behind the scenes” at the White House...

Dude, Paul Ryan was already House Speaker before Trump’s election, and that was NOT going to change regardless of the PUBLIC spats and disagreements between Ryan and Trump. Lobbying and “taking charge” are distinct and disparate, and in the US folks understand the concept of INDEPENDENT AND CO-EQUAL arms of government. Shame that senile old men in Nigeria (and apparently their idolizers) do not. SMH

freeze001:
You say lobbying, Sagay says the president must put his foot down, insist on his choice and have it merely formalised at the NASS. What gives? Is that how the independence works these days? When did Obasanjo whom they have so vilified and mocked and insulted become the template for modern, effective democracy and governance? When they do this and perhaps have some issues I hope it will not be a 16 years of PDP excuse especially since they want to adopt PDP style?

He is merely indulging in sophistry because I have told him several times that the issue is NOT lobbying but Sagay’s ”taking charge”.

First you said this:

obailala:

There's nothing undemocratic or illegal about a president scheming or lobbying to get favourable heads of the legislative arm elected or even removed; that's just what politics is all about. As long as the process doesn't involve illegality (e.g. bribery, threats of assassination etc).

Then this:

obailala:

The bolded part of you comment above says it all; you have no idea how politics and leadership works. It's amusing that you think Trump just sat down and did nothing behind the scenes. FYI, 'doing something' does not necessarily mean stepping out like a soldier and giving orders, cos it is not military rule. Doing something simply implies behind the scenes lobbying, blackmailing, scheming etc. It happens in every democracy and its simply called politics. Once again, I find it very amusing that of all the 'near perfect' democracies in the world you could have given examples with, you chose the USA which is the world capital of the schemes I was referring to.

So, let me get this straight: blackmail no follow for illegality @the bold part abi?

9jaRealist:


Presumably you personally were “behind the scenes” at the White House...

Dude, Paul Ryan was already House Speaker before Trump’s election, and that was NOT going to change regardless of the PUBLIC spats and disagreements between Ryan and Trump. Lobbying and “taking charge” are distinct and disparate, and in the US folks understand the concept of INDEPENDENT AND CO-EQUAL arms of government. Shame that senile old men in Nigeria (and apparently their idolizers) do not. SMH

I would like to assume you already get my point. Respecting the independence of another arm of government does not mean you must fold your arms and do nothing.

I now get your point too, youre more concerned about the semantics of the phrase 'taking charge'. But just so you know, taking charge of a situation or your destiny does not automatically imply getting involved in illegality.

freeze001:
First you said this:

Then this:


So, let me get this straight: blackmail no follow for illegality @the bold part abi?

Like I said, it happens in every democracy all over the world. A simple example - You to be a chronic adulterer for instance and you're gunning for a political leadership position of which I have my eyes on. If I have details/evidence of your philandering and I threaten to expose you if you dont back down, that would be a pure case of blackmail. Whilst it may be socially unfair/dishonourable to do that, can you kindly educate me on the exact law I would be breaking by doing that?

The last time I checked, that's exactly what happens in political struggles all over the world, including the most sound democracies. So let's stop acting as if Nigeria is hell.

Gandollar:
Fvck shiiit nigga! It's the affairs of my fvcking country You are toying with and I should just recline while Zombies run it aground??

Have you not done enough damage already?

you refused to answer the question .Instead of you to contribute or think how Atiku can win Buhari at tribunal .you are here putting mouth for non of your business.

Gandollar:
Give one instance of the damage? Just one.

by not approve the budget from November 2017 to June 2018 ,and many more .

Buhari should act and not fall sick again. God grant him good health.

adekolaelect:
by not approve the budget from November 2017 to June 2018 ,and many more .

I have already treated this, please scroll up

adekolaelect:
you refused to answer the question .Instead of you to contribute or think how Atiku can win Buhari at tribunal .you are here putting mouth for non of your business.

lol