HOW DID NIGERIA'S NEW LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLIES RESPOND TO THE INVASION OF BAYELSA STATE?
For decades Nigeria was ruled by military fiats in which
military rulers were not accountable to anyone but themselves. The new
civilian arrangements are bicameral, featuring a Senate and a House of
Representatives. In some pale imitation of American form of federalism,
these legislative assemblies are assumed to be involved in the formulation
of national policies. They have well contested their turf with a President
who seems self-assured and who often preaches to the legislators on how
to execute their new legislative assignments.
It is rather remarkable that there is no indication anywhere
in these reports that President Obasanjo consulted with legislative leaders
on his decision to invade Bayelsa State. Rather, his all-powerful National
Security Council, a military body, took on the leading role in advising
the President. When finally the invasion had begun, the two legislatures
reacted quite differently from each other. The selections here are limited
in space, but are important in weighing the prospects of Nigeria's new
civilian regime.