Re: When Legislators Become Contractors!

Mr Otong Ekerude, kudos to your well articulated critique, but let’s understand that one important point in transposing political model of one country to another is that cultural component and local tradition always affect such importation, making the model adaptable to local political, economic and cultural condition of the country copying the model. There’s no absolute category. You adapt model to suit local condition.

Let’s unpack your arguments.

You argues Nigerian legislators should mirror US senators, focusing solely on lawmaking and oversight. Yet, governance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s initiatives address pressing needs in her constituency – isn’t that what representation is about?

The “Legislators as contractors” narrative overlooks context. In Nigeria’s reality, hands-on engagement can be a strength, not a weakness. What’s needed is robust accountability- not rigid role definitions. Bottom line: let’s strengthen institutions and focus on outcomes, not theoretical purity test.

The article rightly notes the blurring of roles, but what if hands-on engagement informs better policymaking? Perhaps the issue isn’t the projects, but the lack of robust accountability mechanisms.

The ‘charity vs. governance’ dichotomy is overplayed. Effective governance often involves addressing immediate needs while crafting long-term policies. Can’t it be both? The real issue is accountability, not project.

Mr. Ekerude, you argue that oversight suffers when lawmakers become project supervisors. True, but what if these projects give them insight into implementation challenges? Maybe the real issue is institutional weakness, not the legislators’ approach.

In conclusion, let’s focus on strengthening institutions and holding leaders accountable rather than imposing rigid models.

Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s impact speaks for itself – time to judge her on results, not theoretical ideals.

Mr. Ekerude your critique overlooks Nigeria’s unique context. Governance is about adapting to local realities, not importing foreign models. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s initiatives show she’s attuned to her constituents’ needs. Let’s judge her on impact, not adherence to imported ideals.

Isiaka Sadiq Fache

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