(19): The Lawmaker.

MA Iliasu.

“When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service. They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people.” —Edmund Burke.

As an independent arm of government, the legislature is a deliberative body of persons, usually elective, who are empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state; the branch of government having the power to make laws, as distinguished from the executive and judicial branches of government. An individual body in the legislature is what's understood to be termed a lawmaker.

However, in a democratically-flawed political set up like Nigeria, the legislature face a number of challenges, ranging from fusion of power from it's executive and judiciary counterparts as oppose to separation of power in any ideal set up, accountableness as oppose to accountability, political manipulation as oppose to administrative fair play, dependency upon other arms as oppose to independence, political intimidation and the lack of ruthless recognition of the arm's vividly-stated powers without any politically-motivated fear-breeding gesture or favour. These challenges, among others, have seen to it that legislation in Nigeria faces vital struggles, some which could be recalled from the incessant disputes that have been taking place amongst the three arms since the country's transition to democracy in 1999.

But in an open-minded assessment, totally devoid of any acquisitions and judgements, it's only natural that the three arms of governments would always try to take advantage of one another, consciously or subconsciously. All in their bid to stamp influence towards carrying the political entity they represent forward or otherwise. And with that much being said, the major determinant that usually help the arms resist any motion of such, or take upon other arms any action of such, revolves around having unwavering, competent individuals within the respective arm, who'll join hands together to forge a fist that can't be penetrated by other arms of the government.

Therefore, lawmaking - which is the primary function of legisture - as the main subject of this analysis, has it's strength, indifferent from it's executive and judiciary counterparts, technically shrinks down to the quality of it's individual lawmakers, their functions - which is dependent on their competence, attitude, administrative flair, political and competitive prowess, etcetera. And in that instance, the said arm of government in Nigeria falls victim of the weaknesses bedevilling it's individual bodies. Some of them include corruption, incompetency, uncensored political ambition, moral hazard, lack of administrative ruthlessness, effort and patriotic spirit towards the electorate that elected them into the parliament, etcetera.

A number of cases in which a lawmaker was probed of corruption and embezzlement charges, or was caught red-handed of incompetency, or got bullied out of office due to sheer uncensored ambition, or had been presumed acting on the dictates of moral hazard to achieve politically-motivated goals, or was declared good for nothing due to relatively dormant contribution, or has been aimed to get summoned by the electorate because they no longer understood the importance of the lawmaker's presence in the parliament, etc. Any Nigerian that's on the same page with the rendition of information can testify to that assertion, specification needn't to be done.

And it's such consistent mediocrity, among other factors, that threatened to neutralize the hope of Nigerian people, of witnessing proper lawmaking. Fortunately, to no avail. For the search of a competent lawmaker continues. The one, whom not necessarily agreed by the dictates of the western world which we copy when it suits us, even though that may not be a fault in itself, and may even be a bonus to bolster competitive advantage. But a homemade, Nigerian lawmaker who carries the will and desire, the spirit and passion, the manners and mannerisms, the interests and contemporary contestations of the electorates. The one, dynamic and resilient enough to understand not only the ideals but the realistic goals, and the collective interests of not only the constituency that elected him or her into the office, but the country in general. The one who doesn't carry empty words to the chamber, and was proving pretentious in showcasing physical elegance, couple with aesthetic yet fruitless oral command that it began being mistaken for the primary duties assigned to the office in question. As it's often the case,  elegance and oral command in no way being downgraded. Which would come naturally for anyone who disrupt such status quo, people's overwhelming attention, especially if there's more to back it with. 

In responsive effort to that, devoid of  any sentimentality rather provable testimony, which are both adrift of any favor for or agenda against others that may fall within the same competence bracket whom I believe surely exist, Muhammed Gudaji Kazaure, a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives representing the Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Constituency of Jigawa State, has truly comes close to matching people's search for a workaholic and old-school lawmaker. As an outspoken figure amongst his peers, the lawmaker, widely popular for his infamous command of English language, has been a constant voice that speaks on critical issues facing the stability of Nigeria as a country. Bold and unintimidated by his lingual flaws, Honorable Gudaji proves a massive pillar whom people should be reckoned with. Fierce and old-school, sight of whom would remind anyone of his far down northern background. Blunt yet careful, loud yet sensible,  devoid of pretense and filled with vivid energy and originality, the lawmaker, who was once thought to be a laughing stock, is making gigantic difference in the red chamber. The passionate citizen of Nigeria's New World [Jigawa State], champions the primary duties assigned to his office. With any other duty coming second. Beyond that, it's amusingly becoming a norm that when a problem in the federation persists, people, most of the times not from Gudaji's constituency, would wait for when it's the Honorable's turn to raise a motion. He has proven very informed as to acknowledge any problem taking undesirable effect, and courtesy of his true nature, he would bluntly throw it at the red chamber with all the strength and passion he has gotten, with the view of calling the attention of the government.

Hon. Gudaji Kazaure. 

His most recent motions are upon the banditry and incessant killings that have been taking place in Katsina state and it's neighboring outskirts of Sokoto, which have claimed a lot of lives, injuring many while freaking out several others into migrating to other areas deemed safer. Gudaji, though unnecessarily, employed the theory that the pandemic of Covid-19 is harmless, to make a point that the government, amidst the claims that it has been dealing with pandemic, should opt for proper tackling of insecurity in the respective northwestern states, ahead of the pandemic itself. And it was a motion well-raised. Which more or less, relieved the citizens of those areas, and has put enormous pressure on the government to do the needful. The next motion is on the issue of Rape. Honorable Gudaji, being one of the stark believers that rape is caused by pedophilia and moral corruption, openly raised a motion of castration against rapists. Which has been widely received with receptive gestures across the federation by the people who share his own view. To mention but few.

On the other hand, the lawmaker is of the claim that his salary goes to taking care of the people in his constituency. Though unconfirmed, his positive relationship with the citizens of his constituency is acknowledged, as learnt from a video going round not so long ago, showing the lawmaker parading the constituency on an old motorcycle. Which is rare. Many of his peers wouldn't dare try the same, courtesy of the rotten relationship they develop with the people that voted them into office, which is determined by the general consensus on their performance as lawmakers. In short, performance wise, Gudaji has the approval of his people. And his loudness towards publicly exonerating himself against any corrupt practices would have surely rattled any unsatisfied voter into debunking such bold claims. Which hasn't happened yet.

Not only that, being a member of the ruling party, it may be assumed that Honorable Gudaji would allow his loyalty towards the party to do his legislative biddings. As is often the case in the legislature. However, on Gudaji's part, that's totally not the case. The lawmaker has been ruthless to any interest that's not his own people's. His consistent criticisms on the conduct of both the executive and judiciary, his legislative host alike, are both encouraging and assuring. Signifying that his primary loyalty lies only to his own people. Any other is secondary. And if there's any uncensored political ambition, such would not be the case. The dictates of greed would never allow him as a politician to put the interest of people above his own party's, and I use that elementary knowledge as my evidence. Notwithstanding, that Gudaji is blunt, means he's unfit to try any exercise of moral hazard. For it just doesn't work that way. And while that may work against him sometimes, it only adds to his honest features as people's lawmaker. 

In the final notes, I would have to admit that I was one of the people who once believed Honorable Gudaji Kazaure was just a seasonal clout-chasing politician like many others who came before him. But with almost six years with him on public display, it would be fair to admit he has proved many of us wrong. Secondarily it's not the wishes of any person who admire excellence that the lawmaker speaks such poor English language, in fact, it's not proud-worthy. However, who ever is conversant with the primary duties of a competent lawmaker, would have it in heart to accept Gudaji as someone who is not perfect but is excelling anyway. With more lawmakers in the legislative body of Nigerian government like Gudaji Kazaure, the course of the poor would be championed until the end. His energy and sensitivity would allow further implementation of constitutional rights binding upon all the sectors of the government. Gudaji Kazaure has disrupted the eloquent saying of Edmund Burke; in that he is not bidding at the auction of popularity, for surely his means aren't very popular. Neither does he sit to watch as the poor gets goabsmaked. He's mainly becoming more popular and rightly so, because he learnt how to put his talents at the service of people. The lawmaker isn't a flatterer or praise singer; one can even ask oneself that with which eloquence would the honorable try that? He's just a lawmaker who goes to the parliament chamber to change his country for the better. Gudaji is slowly becoming a standard and a guide. Cheered by the ruled and amused by the rulers. After all, English, they say, is not a measure of competence.

MA Iliasu comments on politics and economics. He humbly writes from the ancient city of Kano.