The imperative of the institution of the parliament across the world has increased and improved over the years making representative governance and democracy the ideal system to beat. This is because no democracy grows beyond the level of its legislature. The success of every democracy rests squarely on the quality of the parliament hence the need to always have in place a solid legislature with sound players.The legislature as the first arm of government makes the laws while the executive implements them. The judiciary adjudicates and settles disputes. The nation’s return to democratic rule in 1999 came with attendant blessings because there has not been any military interregnum to distort its processes. This has enabled the legislature to develop and diversify itself to meeting the growing needs of the increasingly democratizing polity. That has helped democracy to consolidate in structure and content and be the darling of governance across the globe. Nowhere in the world that governance is carried without regulations stipulating the boundaries of power(separation of powers), authority(checks and balances) and responsibilities( rule of law and due process). It is in this wise that MELTING POINT looks at the performance of some key political players who have contributed immensely in giving shape and life to the institution of the legislature since the return to democratic rule over 20 years ago. Close monitors of democracy can testify that the Nigerian parliament is undoubtedly one of the best in the comity of democracies around the world.
The quality of the legislature determines every direction that government policies go and are implemented. This is because aside making laws, the legislature oversights the execution of the laws. And because of these vital constitutional roles, the legislature has provided solid foundation to the pillars that hold democracy everywhere it is practiced.
The current deputy Speaker of the Federal House of representatives, Rt Hon Idris Maje Wase is no doubt, a household name on the Plateau and in the politics of the state and within the legislative community in Nigeria. He is one of the current legislative players and leaders of our time today. He delved into the complex waters of politics in 2007 under an opposition platform and since then remains a force to reckon with in the legislative schemes of the nation and the world at large. He is not just DSP, but also the deputy speaker of the ECOWAS parliament.
Idris started his politics under an opposition in a state dominated by the PDP and survived all through, serving his people meritoriously for years in the green chambers of the apex legislature. At a point, he was the only opposition member of the lower chambers from Plateau. He is quite an interesting person. He is a man easily misunderstood because of his quite nature. His quite composure sometimes makes it difficult to harmonize his politicism with his personality. Serving with him in government in the 7th assembly ( myself a state assembly member then) and 8th House of representatives together under the leadership of Rt Hon Speaker Yakubu Dogara was a pleasant memory to behold. Though of different political parties, we met all the time as Plateau Caucus to discuss issues across party lines. Due to his humility, he gladly submitted himself to the leadership of his ranking colleague Hon Beni Lar to lead the caucus as leader while he respects and abide by every decision taken under her leadership.
As legislators, what comes to mind while assessing ourselves is not the platforms we occupy but what we do for our people, our capacity for debates, oversight, representation, lobby and persuasions to attract democratic dividends to our respective constituencies. Truth be told, Hon Idris Wase is today one of the best federal legislators that has built experience and a wall of solid political friendship with other political players across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. There is no state of the federation that he has no friend or that he has not helped one way or the other. I admire this legislative giant because of the numerous things he has done, not just for his immediate Wase community but the whole of Plateau State. The nature of politics and democracy is such that people can only assess a legislator from where they are standing, especially those who watch from afar. He talk less about his achievements and won’t blow his trumpets, yet performing very well. Idris Wase has a lot of achievements to his credit. His rise to the leadership of the house of representatives first as deputy majority leader in the 8th assembly and deputy Speaker of the 9th assembly speaks volumes about him. It was a testimony of the collective confidence of his colleagues. He was unopposed as deputy Speaker , a situation that has never happened in the history of the 360 -man legislative chamber. His ranking status in the house, no doubt, granted him this privileged entitlement.
Apart from late Senators Wash Pam and Ibrahim Mantu, both former deputy senate presidents( of blessed memories),Wase is the only person to occupy the exalted position of a presiding officer of the green chambers of the national assembly from Plateau State. Who knows what God is planning for him next? For those of us who have been legislators, we know the many advantages these positions can offer. And to God’s glory, Wash Pam, Mantu and Wase have not disappointed us on the Plateau regarding the attraction of key projects. They may not have achieved to everyone’s satisfaction, but evidently, the situation has greatly improved from where we were.
As the nation’s deputy Speaker, he has dutifully lobbied and attracted a number of key projects to the state such as : the establishment of the National Orthopedic Hospital Jos( the only one in the whole of the north central), the recently approved National Cancer Centre domiciled at the University of Jos in which 3billion naira has already been released for take off , the National Open University campus in Wase, Universal Basic Education Smart School Bashar, Wase, Mobile Police Squadron Kadarko as a response to the security challenges of the area, Police Secondary School Bashar, etc. All these came through the sponsorship of bills which were rigorously and painstakingly passed into law and assented to by Mr President.
Other projects achieved by the hardworking and efficient deputy Speaker include the construction of Jarmai-Bashar in Plateau to Karim Lamido in Taraba State, Bashar-Nasarawa- Yola Wakat road, countless number of bridges, rural roads, motorized and handpump boreholes, skill acquisition empowerments, sponsorship of medical treatment for patients within and outside the country, provision of relief materials, etc. The Federal Medical Centre, Wase is presently awaiting presidential assent. Idris Wase has not forgotten his former place of work, the popular and prestigious College of Education Gindiri where he left as Director of works.. He provided the school with over 250 computer laptops and a one kilometer tarred road. A forth term legislator, Hon Wase has no doubt, proved his mettle as a sound, experienced, courageous, charismatic and gentle legislator, always calm and focused.
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