The law of the Federation empowers
the legislators to check the excesses of the executives
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. 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 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. De-Mandate Advocate 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
Social Change Agent
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