Nigerians share thoughts on recall of Senators, Reps
There have been recent moves to recall Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) and Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) by their constituents for different reasons. Daily Trust sought opinions of some Nigerians on the relevance of recalls. Henry Tokula, 40, Teacher, Port Harcourt, Rivers State It is really a good thing that […]
There have been recent moves to recall Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) and Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) by their constituents for different reasons. Daily Trust sought opinions of some Nigerians on the relevance of recalls.
Henry Tokula, 40, Teacher, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
It is really a good thing that it has been enshrined in the constitution the right of constituents to recall representatives in the National Assembly who are not fulfilling their responsibilities to the people. However, it is nearly impossible to know for certain who is telling the truth, who is simply being witch hunted and who rightly deserves the justice that is recall. In a situation like that of Kogi State, where there is a battle between the governor and Senator Melaye, you begin to doubt the wisdom of such a clause as the recall. Both parties claim to have monopoly of the truth. Both parties claim to have evidence incriminating the other of wrong doing. Their supporters do not help matters much as they would fight on the streets at the slightest insult, real or perceived, aimed at their leaders. The fact that the process to be followed for a recall has not totally been transparent or reliable has not helped matters in Kogi State. What is supposed to give people confidence in the democratic process has turned out to be not as effective as imagined.
Hon. Kyari Gujbawu, 49, former member, House of Reps, Abuja
Recalling a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives is constitutional and just an extension of democracy. The fact that the people have voted you to represent them is not a guarantee that you can last for four years. The people can recall you when they feel you are not performing as expected. It is just a way to make sure that there are instruments of check and balance in democracy.
Rashidat Balogun, Student, Abuja
If a Senator or a member of House of Representatives is not doing what he or she was elected to do, then voters have the right to recall them because they are the ones that elected them. Besides, it is their duty as representatives of a constituency to represent the people and not themselves.
Murjanatu Musa Maidawa, 37, Broadcaster, Bauchi
I support the attempt to recall some of our lawmakers because of their non-performance, either at the National Assembly when they fail to bring up motions that will better our lives, or failing to carry out projects or empower their constituents.
Some of these lawmakers are bench warmers who hardly speak on the floor of the National Assembly. Some don’t even bother about what they were elected to do. What they only care about are their interests. So, recall for some of our lawmakers has been long overdue. They should come back so that people who are competent and have the wellbeing of the electorates at heart can take over.
Sani Mu’azu Illelah, 42, Civil Servant, Bauchi
It all depends on how one sees the situation. Threats of recall of lawmakers are sometimes based on political gimmicks, not necessarily because a lawmaker committed an offence against his constituents. What one should do in this situation is to look at the whole thing objectively.
We have been hearing about people planning to recall their lawmakers and the threat always ends there. Recalling an elected representative is not an easy task and most or a greater percentage of Nigerian electorates don’t even have the knowledge of how to start the whole process. They may threaten a lawmaker with the recall, but the process is so cumbersome and may not see the light of the day like what we have recently seen in Kogi when Kogi West threatened Melaye and the Senate tried to arm-twist INEC into submitting to its blackmail and so INEC had to backtrack.
Let the electorates decide after every four years when they go to the ballot. Anybody who betrays them will be driven out and replaced.
Ibrahim Adamu, 57, Business man, Adamawa
If he or she is not performing well, it is good that the people recall such an individual. But in a situation where a Senator or a member of House of Representatives is doing what he or she was elected to do, I see no reason why he should be recalled.
Miss Elizabeth Joy, 24, Fashionist, Abuja
Left to me, I don’t think recalling a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives is a good idea, because we have had Senators there for many years and there have not been any changes. What is the guarantee that the next person that is going to be elected after the recall will do a better job? The only condition that will make me opt for a recall is if there will be a platform for the Nigerian people to scrutinize the Senators and make sure they don’t elect someone to misrepresent them again. If not, there is no point.