Ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly on Tuesday, a legal practitioner and energy expert, Barrister David Adetunji Adeyeye, has allayed fears that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) contesting for leadership positions could be rubber stamps of the executive.
Adeyeye, who contested to represent AMAC/ Bwari constituency in
the House of Representatives under the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2019 general elections, said on Monday that NASS leadership goes beyond party lines or loyalty.
He said that leaders of the National Assembly were hitherto elected to represent different constituencies and have the interest of the nation at heart, hence should not be unduly exploited by the executive arm of government to serve the interest of the ruling party.
Adeyeye added that lawmakers are guided by principles they must not deviate from, saying that Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila must also be guided by their legislative duties if their eventually emerge Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
He said: “I disagree with anyone forming the opinion that the incoming 9th Assembly leadership will be the rubber stamp of the executive. As a legal practitioner who contesting for a NASS position in the just concluded general elections, I know a bit about what happens in the Senate and House of Reps and what the incoming members will face in a few days of their inauguration.
“The truth is that the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Reps will have their hands full just making laws for the generality of Nigerians, because lawmakers are representing different constituencies, so they will not be rubber stamp of the executive. Lawmakers are guided by legislative principles, so it is only those who do not abide by these certain principles that could be labelled rubber stamps.”
