A federal lawmaker has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s political class, accusing many politicians of prioritizing presidential approval over their constitutional duty to serve citizens. Benedict Etanabene, who represents Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency in Delta State, made the assertion during a weekend television interview that has sparked fresh debate about governance priorities under the current administration.
Etanabene, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives, pointed to the recent passage of the State Police Bill as emblematic of what he described as a troubling trend. Speaking on Arise Television on Saturday, the lawmaker suggested that securing praise from President Bola Tinubu has become the primary motivation for many legislators, overshadowing concerns about effective policymaking or the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. According to Etanabene, politicians now gather to boast about their loyalty to leadership rather than debate the merits of legislation, with little regard for whether their actions genuinely serve the public interest.
The Delta State representative offered a detailed account of how the State Police Bill moved through the legislative process, painting a picture of hasty deliberation that left opposition members scrambling to review critical provisions. He explained that an earlier version of the bill had been passed months prior but was subsequently rescinded during a Wednesday session. Within 24 hours, an executive version was introduced and lawmakers were told it needed immediate approval. Opposition members found themselves working through the night, examining the document clause by clause in a frantic effort to understand its implications before the Thursday deadline.
Such accelerated legislative timelines raise serious questions about parliamentary oversight and the quality of lawmaking in Africa’s most populous democracy. Constitutional experts have long warned that rushed legislation often contains unforeseen consequences or loopholes that emerge only during implementation. When complex bills affecting fundamental governance structures like policing receive insufficient scrutiny, the risk of poorly designed policy increases substantially. Etanabene’s account suggests that even opposition lawmakers who might have supported the executive version in principle were denied adequate opportunity for meaningful debate and amendment.
The lawmaker’s comments reflect broader concerns about the balance of power between Nigeria’s executive and legislative branches under the Tinubu presidency. Critics have increasingly questioned whether parliamentary independence has been compromised by a culture of political patronage and the desire for executive favor. While supporters of the administration argue that swift legislative action demonstrates governmental efficiency and decisiveness, opponents counter that democracy requires deliberation, not merely the rubber stamping of executive proposals regardless of their content or constitutional implications.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 election cycle, questions about legislative independence and the priorities of elected officials are likely to intensify. Whether Etanabene’s critique resonates with voters frustrated by governance failures or is dismissed as partisan opposition rhetoric may well shape political discourse in the months ahead. What remains clear is that debates over how Nigerian politicians balance loyalty to party leadership against accountability to constituents continue to define the country’s democratic evolution, with implications extending far beyond any single piece of legislation.
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