Joseph Odok|22 August 2017
The laws of the Federation empowers the legislators to check the excuses of the Executive and fine-tune its policies. This is what the John Gaul Lebo-led Cross River State House of Assembly has failed to do. Unconfirmed rumours say that the John Gaul Lebo-led Cross River State House of Assembly has been bought over by the governor and the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly.
Undeniably, the Cross River State House of Assembly is now a stooge and appendage of the executive. Could this also be Ayade's fault? To an extent yes, but attempt of the executive to pocket the legislature can frustrate the functionality of government. However, I insist that the larger blame is the ineptitude of the the John Gaul Lebo-led Cross River State House of Assembly and not just Ayade.
The major problem of the Cross River State House of Assembly is John Gaul Lebo. His imposition knows no bound. It is on record that since the inception of the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly, the Deputy speaker Rt. Hon Joseph Bassey has never been given opportunity to precede over a single legislative session.
The ineptitude of Hon John Gaul Lebo makes him perpetually afraid and imposition becomes his survival strategy. This irrational fear became heightened after a threat to impeach him. When the speaker embarks on official duty outside the state, he gives reason to cancel legislative session, or shift the session till when he is back from any official duty.
It is a reality that the speaker has very unreasonable suspicion of his Deputy and the rest of the members of the House of Assembly. In the National Assembly and the Senate, deputies are given opportunity to preside over legislative session. Even the Senate that has a mixture of APC and PDP, there have been countless times that the Senate President Senator Saraki has offered opportunity to Senator Ike Ekweremadu to preside over Senate session. The ineptitude of John Gaul has created a deep fear that breads distrust and suspicion of his Deputy and other house members, this is the reason he cannot spare a legislative session without his superimposing presence. It is a pity.
The major problem of Cross River State is John Gaul Lebo, any blame on Ayade may be remote and unreasonable. The sad reality is that John Gaul Lebo has nothing to show for selling Cross River State to the executives. John Lebo has no property compared to the fortune of past speakers of Cross River State House of Assembly. For what did he mortgage the state for? Could his action just be a selling of birthright for mere portage?
Cross River State House of Assembly is a redundant house. It boast of laws that are not visible, last year it passed an invincible budget to the public, this year again same is repeating itself. Where is our budget? The emergence of the John Gaul Lebo led Cross River State House of Assembly saw the shutting down of the existent House of Assembly website. For two years now, the State House of Assembly has operated without an existing website, this was not the case with the Larry Odey led 7th State House of Assembly with a robust website. Could John Gaul Lebo be said to have shut down the Assembly website to perpetrate fraud?
Suggestions:
1. With increasing lapses in the Cross River State policy framework, the executive must look for ways to activate the Cross River State House of Assembly through increasing spending. An inept House of Assembly surely plays down on the credibility of the Executive.
2. The people must rise to challenge the State House of Assembly and possibly begin occupy Cross River State House of Assembly campaign. The Mandate has began wide consultations on the above subject matter.
3. Cross River State media persons should increasingly focus on engaging the Cross River State House of Assembly until the needful is done
4. The government of Cross River State should begin to see a viable House of Assembly is an antidote for good governance. Working on the legislature and fine-tuning government policies is the surest way the Ben Ayade administration can build trust.
5. John Gaul Lebo should be challenged to improve or be given the option of resignation or impeachment by the Assembly members.
Joseph Odok
Social Change Agent
