By Osaze Edigin
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he business of representation and lawmaking is too expensive to be left in the hands of those who know nothing more than self, political leaders and the governor’s agenda actualization.Activists over the years have left their core place in an arm of government which is the legislature to charlatans and political jobbers, the legislature is a constitutional provision in speaking and standing for the masses. It takes true conviction to fight on the side of the masses, this comes with a lot of genuine passion for the common man.
What we have experienced in recent past is a case of a house of assembly representing the wish of the executive arm of government, self and political leaders rather than the people who elected them to speak on their behalf.
In almost all decision making, they get order/approval from the executive. In the real sense of it, the legislature is the most powerful arm of government because, that is where the power of the people resides as without any iota of doubt, sovereignty belongs to the people.
2019 will be another year for election into the Edo State House of Assembly, Edo Civil Society Organizations will be throwing up its members to be elected by the various constituencies to truly represent their immediate people and by extension the people of Edo state.
The crops of representatives we have there presently don’t have it. We cannot afford to leave this important component of governance to those who have no history of standing for the people to manage, it must be manned by those who have the pedigree for speaking truth to power over the years.
A house of assembly that voted against self autonomy have no business speaking for those they represent neither do they have the wherewithal to free the people.
Senator Shehu Sani, an activist has distinguished himself by revealing what has been a guided secret over the years. Representation is the core role of activists in engendering good governance, social justice and human rights.
The legislature should be manned by true and conscious activists who are not avaricious in their dispositions. The legislature belongs to activists.
The movement to reclaim Edo State House of Assembly has been birthed, Edo people must support this movement to bring vibrancy to our house of assembly vis-a-vis lawmaking and compassionate representation of the masses.
Activists have talked, fought, been attacked, protested but it appears their way and mindset will not change. It is time to be involved. It is a new dawn in Edo state. Politics is the super-structure of the society. Sovereignty belongs to the people.
Edo people both at home and in the Diaspora are to be part of and support this movement. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not options as the political vehicles for actualization. Activists have their political platforms.The fire of Chief Gani Fawehinmi burns in our bones. Socialism is the key!
Comrade Osazee Edigin is the Public Relations Officer, Edo Civil Society Organizations, www.edocso.org
