In every society both ancient and modern, edicts, decrees, pronouncements, laws or executive orders are made for the sole purpose of giving ‘order’ a definition. It is also essential to note that as laws differ in different societies, so also they are modified to suit certain needs of the day. Nigeria for one is a perfect example of a nation state whose foundation upon which its laws were created in the first place is abominably faulty. The 1999 constitution created by the military which ushered in our democratic dispensation, could best be described as an ‘aberration’ when critically perused and evaluated and cannot be placed on same ‘pedestal’ with other so called ‘democratic’ nations. Little wonder why the vacuum created by the fight against corruption by the Buhari led government is at snail’s speed. The laws under which we operate are being used by lawyers (who know their onus) to play ‘ping pong’. From stay of executive, interlocutory injunctions, change of trial judges, indefinite adjournment, even boldly bribing the judges and registrars to tamper with witness documents; the fight against corruption was long lost before it even started because of our obsolete system and standards. Truly, corruption is not just fighting back, but also winning the war declared on it.
It is even more disappointing to find that the law-making arm of Nigeria whose responsibility it is to make laws are obviously and shamefully resolved to provide more arsenals for corruption to keep winning. They have quietly frustrated the executive by making sure the anti-corruption bill sent to them is not attended to, and as we speak right now, the bill is gathering dust somewhere in chambers of our ‘legislooters’. It is this brick wall and swamp Buhari has found himself I believe left him with no option than to pronounce the now controversial ‘executive order 6’.
It is pertinent to note that the executive order which was announced about this time last week has elicited lots of unnecessary uproar from the media, lawyers, and politicians alike claiming it has no powers to usurp the powers of the legislators and judiciary. What the antagonist fail to understand is that our constitution recognises the power of the executive to pronounce executive order within its purview and it went quiet on how the judiciary or legislature can react in a situation where the executive pushes its luck too far. After all, Black’s Law Dictionary defines an Executive Order as “An Order issued by or on behalf of the president usually intended to direct or instruct the actions of executive agencies or government officials or to set policies for the Executive Branch to follow”. With this definition, it is quite obvious to state that since that Order had to do with the agencies and ministry under him, then he’s done nothing wrong. To even add sugar on tea, the judiciary has given its backing; so why is everyone screaming ‘Baba Bubu’ is promulgating a decree? Abeg make una park well!
If we are being honest and tell ourselves the truth, instead of pointing that one accusing finger at Buhari for using the order to gag and strangle his opponents especially the opposition members of People’s Democratic Party, we should observe where the remaining fingers are pointing toward – the ‘legislooters and Ju-thief-ciary’. While the judiciary whose integrity has been called to question save few judges who have stood head above shoulders to assist the executive to fight corruption, same cannot be said of our ‘Beer Parlour Gisting’ lawmakers, who words like integrity, honesty, ethics and values are strange to them, in fact they fall into a state of trance whenever they hear those words. The joke now is on them, no screaming or shouting can undo the order, the only option before them is to go to court if they so wish.
And as for those screaming it is a further witch hunt this government has been on towards its opponent, please spare me all that. The facts have been established, the PDP government stole us dry especially the last administration, and we’re yet to recover from it, so if you’re a witch, please simply enjoin your exorcism and leave us alone, after all ‘lazy Nigerian (jobless) youths like me never got a share when you were busy munching the ‘national cake’. So please allow me enjoy my popcorn while I observe the political drama about to unfold.
My advice to average citizens like me is that we should allow the two elephants to fight, leave the ground for them, don’t get in the middle because they don’t care about you, their end game is their interest and never that of the citizen. A word is enough abi?
Conclusively let me state that the ‘executive order 6’, no matter how we look at it, is a shame upon our institutions whose failure to take responsibilities to fight corruption now mirrors our shortcoming. If this order does not prick our conscience, nothing else will. The order reminds us that we cannot benefit from our sins. A stolen asset under investigation must be removed from the alleged thief while the investigation lasts. They cannot be using the proceeds from the stolen assets to fight back or compromise on the war against corruption. The assets can be returned to them if in the process they prove that those assets were legitimately acquired, so let justices take its course. Executive Order 6 is here to stay, else, see you in court.
By Greenvolution
