Lawmaker Poised To Stop Carpet –Crossing

The law maker representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe, has indicated his readiness to move a motion to stop carpet-crossing from one party to another by Nigerian legislators in order to stabilise the polity.

Making his feelings known while briefing journalists at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, shortly on arrival from Abuja, weekend, Dr. Mbadiwe, who described such practice as immoral and unethical, assured that “I have a motion to stop carpet-crossing which I am bringing before the National Assembly, because I think it is immoral, unethical and it should be stopped.”

According to  Mbadiwe, former governor, Rotary International, District 9140, “the constitution actually does not encourage it. But there is a lacuna in the constitution whereby if you discover that there is a crisis in your party, one can cross over to another party. Some people have done it in the National Assembly and the constitution gives you a leeway to escape,” he said.

He noted that the Supreme Court had decided that it was the party that won elections and not the individual.  Citing the case of Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State, he stressed that any body who wanted to join another party should go back to the electorate because he or she won election on the platform of a political party.

Mbadiwe, also reasoned that if people had commitment, loyalty and love for their party, they would not defect, assuring that he would never leave the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for another party even if he was asked to do so in “order to become Nigerian President in 2015.”

On the zoning arrangements by political parties, the former University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) lecturer said it encouraged mediocrity rather than excellence, noting  that zoning had set the country 50 years backward.

“Zoning is one of those palliatives for under-developed countries. Zoning, at the moment is to calm nerves. We should pursue excellence not mediocrity which it encourages,” he  stressed.

Mbadiwe continued that  “under the zoning system, the best man does not do the job, because of zoning.  This country is not making progress and the trend will continue until everybody attains a certain level of education.”

On state creation, Mbadiwe made a strong case for the South-East, adding that if the zone is given additional state it will address the current imbalance among the geo-political zones of  the country.

In his own opinion, Nigeria at the moment has too many states. “I feel we have too many states but the imbalance should be addressed first,” he said.

The legislator said the current National Assembly has been the best since Nigeria’s political history because it believed in the interest of Nigerians.

He also disclosed that he was presently studying major problems facing his constituency so that various communities would benefit from the dividends of democracy, noting  that social amenities such as water, electricity, massive food production and youth empowerment were some of his top priorities.