Chinedum Elekwachi
African traditionalist, Dr. Ramas Okoye-Asuzu has called for overhauling of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the general good of the voting population.
He also advocated for Option A4 which he described as classical, tried and trusted electoral process for free and fair elections.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday to mark his 68th birthday, Okoye-Asuzu called for a de-tribalized electoral umpire to ensure credible polls.
“The INEC chairman should be a de-tribalized and unbiased umpire who can conduct free and fair elections to enthrone the right leaders.
“Prof. Humphrey Nwosu’s Option A4 which is a classical, tried and trusted electoral process should be adopted from free and fair elections,” he canvassed.
Dr Okoye-Asuzu expressed concern over serial abuse of immunity clause by political office holders as enshrined in Nigerian constitution.
The Igbo culture custodian called for revocation of the clause to checkmate excesses of unscrupulous persons.
He said, “People especially the political class hide under the protection of their immunity status to break the law because their immunity makes them above the law.
“For such reasons, revoke the immunity of people especially the political class to checkmate the excesses of these unscrupulous persons.”
NYSC reformation
The traditionalist described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a laudable project for national integration.
Okoye-Asuzu stressed the need for its reformation to meet with the ideals of the concept.
He regretted that corrupt officials at the helm of its affairs have corrupted the scheme.
He supported the call for the separation of powers of the executive, legislature and judiciary arms of government.
“This constitutional provision should be respected and applied as in a true democracy.
“There should be separations of powers between the three arms of government – the Executive, the Legislature and then Judiciary
“Each should be independent and act as checks and balances that ensures that no arm oversteps its limits.
“This arrangement forestalls the extravagant resources lavished by the Executive arm on the Legislators and the Judiciary.
He noted that such spending compromises the legislative and judiciary arms making them willing tools of the Executive.
This situation results in unchecked bad governance.”
Ill-equipped security military
On insecurity, the community leader lamented ill-equipped nature of the military to tackle growing insecurity across the country.
“The state of insecurity and the horrifying display of impunity by bands of bandits it becoming alarming and greatly disturbing.
“For one thing, our armed forces are ill-equipped to deal with this clear and present danger.
“Our armed forces should be trained in modern ways of combating insecurity.
He called for reform and adequate equipping of the armed forces to suit the changing times of the 21st century.
“Also, the reform will involve weeding of all the bad eggs in the Police Force that have made the country a living hell”.
