BSO, Ekweremadu differ on Executive Order 10; 2020.

A former deputy Senate president cum senator representing Enugu West Senatorial district, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and “Bulgari Support Organization (BSO),a social political pressure group fronting President Buhari’s administration, at the weekend shared different opinions  on the Executive Order 10,adopted by the Presidency as a measure of guaranteeing financial  autonomy for  state legislatures and judiciary in the country.

While Senator Ike Ekweremadu  described the Executive Order as a mutilation of what they have passed in the constitution  and advised the state governors to meet President Buhari for a withdrawal  of the Order,  the Buhari Support Organization (BSO),commended President Bulgari for the initiative, on the reason that it will guarantee  independent  of the legislature  and judiciary  at state levels.

Senator Ekweremadu aired his views against the Executive Order at the weekend in Enugu while participating  in a live programme captioned, “Political  Voices”on Dream FM radio, Enugu.

He described  the Executive Order 10 as unnecessary,sfating that financial  autonomy for the states judiciary  and stats houses of assembly already exists in the constitution. He argued  that the Order now adds extraneous  items and directing states on how to share their money.

However, the Federal lawmaker stressed that it is when the state governors  fail to remit the money to the state assemblies that the federal government  can direct transferring  the funds from federation account straight to the state assemblies.

His words, “I think there have been  a lot of misconceptions  regarding the Executive  Order. In the first place, It was quite unnecessary. We in the Eighth Assembly  passed a constitutional  amendment,part of it regards the issue of the independence  of the legislature  and the judiciary at the state level and We believe  that rightly so they should be on the first line charge in the consolidated revenue  fund of the various states. So when we passed the legislation, the president dutifully signed them into law and they are self executing”.

“So this is why I said it’s Executive  Order,  a mutilation  of what we have passed and a mutilation  of the constitution. So I think the governors need to approach Me President and point those mistakes, so that he can withdraw the Executive Order”.

But in a press statement  issued yesterday on the same issue(Executive Order 10- 2020),the Bulgari Support Organisation (BSO), in a press statement  signed by it’s Enugu State chairman and secretary, said the Executive Order has set the stage for  adherence to fine tenets of the doctrine of separation of powers, which will lead to implementation of financial autonomy for the State Legislature and State Judiciary, ss duly enshrined in our Constitution.

The press statement read in parts, “To BSO, Executive Order 10, has set the stage for the repeal of Emperorship, a toga, which most of our governors are wearing and which is unknown to our constitution which beclouded them from optimal performance and adherence to the fine tenets of doctrine of separation of powers. Please note that a cursory genuine assessment of democracy at the state level gazettes that of Rubber Stamp legislatures and tepid state judiciary. This dampens development, creates insecurity, gross unemployment and paralysis local councils. Is that what we want?”

“It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in exercise of powers vested in him as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended), signed Executive Order 10, 2020, on May 20, 2020. The Order extends to the execution and maintenance of the Constitution, laws made by the National Assembly (including but not limited to Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), which guarantee financial autonomy of the State Legislature and State Judiciary”.

BSO further stated, “If Section 121(3) was implemented by our Governors, a.k.a. Emperors, before now, would there be any need for Mr President to sign Executive Order 10? Lets be real, there is no democracy at the State level, this is why they answer paradoxically executive governors, when there are no two governors in a state. And this is why democracy is more or less in recession in Nigeria. BSO posits that the intendment of the Order is supervisory or in other words proper supervision to ensure implementation by recalcitrant governors who fail to implement the provisions of Section 121(3) of our constitution which they swore to uphold.”

“BSO finally urges the governors for compliance with first line charge funding of state legislatures and judiciary; as it will in the long run be a win-win scenario for our collective good. We once more commend Mr President for this patriotic move of strengthening the institutions at the state tier of government, and doctrine of separation of powers, thus making them more independent and accountable in line with the best tradition of democracy as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 (as Amended).”