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Executive, legislature face-off is about themselves, not Nigerians –Okogie laments

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Executive, legislature face-off is about themselves, not Nigerians --Okogie laments

Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie has lamented the face off between the executive and legislative arms of government.

He also lamented that the fight between the arms of government is not really about Nigerians, but really about the politicians.
According to him, “Both parties in the conflict pretend to be fighting for us, they are fighting to guard the ‘trophy’ they won at the last election while preparing to retain the same trophy in the next election. They are so busy fighting that they have no time to work for our security. Their sterile conflict is, in fact, prejudicial to our security”.

Cardinal Okogie who described Nigerian political leaders as failures, also said it is regrettable that at a time Nigerians thought the war against Boko Haram was being won that evils of violent herdsmen now stares everybody in the face.

According to him, while the leaders are well protected, the citizens are not.

“Political leaders who cannot provide security are a total failure” and called on the leaders to assume their responsibility and secure the land from armed robbers, kidnappers and herdsmen.

He urged the executive and legislative arms to unite and work for the development of the nation.

He said, “Our politicians are busy fighting one another, exchanging blows in the hallowed chambers of legislation, resorting to character assassination. Our law enforcement institutions have been turned into their arsenal in this battle of the sanctimonious; the executive accuses the legislature of corruption and vice versa”.

He continued, that “Their negligence of duty, their tantrums, their failure to be transparent and accountable with very few exceptions, point to the fact that they are part of the equation of insecurity in our country.

“Our leaders are well protected, but we the citizens are not. Political leaders who cannot provide security are a total failure.

Read also: Like cancer, corruption is gradually killing Nigeria –Obasanjo

“Almost six decades after independence, almost 70 years after the establishment of Nigeria’s premier University of Ibadan, we still have to rely on medical tourism. But how many poor Nigerians can afford to spend one day in a hospital overseas. How many can afford to be away from their work for three months.

“But Nigerians have the capacity to run good hospitals. All we just need is a leadership that enables, not one that disables. They receive the perks of office in a land where workers have gone unpaid for months, government does not serve Nigerians and the public servant does not serve the public.”

“Does the life of the Nigerians have any value. If it does, can it be truly said that Nigerians appreciate the value of life. The questions are meant for all of us. Life runs the risk of being cut short by armed robbers, kidnappers, dangerous drivers driving on dangerous roads, driving cars that are dangerous for transportation.

“When we thought we were gaining the upper hand in the battle with Boko Haram, violent herdsmen stare at our helpless faces.”

 

 

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