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Can two work together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3)
Brotherhood as Prerequisite for Quality Legislative Output: The Abia State Example
Since the inauguration of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly and the emergence of Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji MNSE, as Speaker on June 10, 2019, the House has carried on its legislative businesses with single mindedness, the type required for the success of any establishment.
The usual news in this part of the world is that members of the legislative arm whose parties are in the minority are treated with levity, disenfranchised, isolated, and mostly orphaned by members whose parties are in the majority. This system surely causes strife and mutual suspicion, but more importantly, alienates the constituents of the minority representative from enjoying dividends of democracy that come with having representatives in the Assembly.
It is for these reasons, and more, that the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, said on his day of inauguration that: “…once we gather to deliberate on issues, we do not have party divides and partisan leanings. The welfare of the people of Abia State is always our watchword. I am aware that Members were elected to this House under the platforms of different political parties but I call on my colleagues to… eschew partisan rancour and continue to allow us speak with one voice for the good of the people of Abia State”.
Earlier in the same speech, the Speaker had said, “We are one family, and we will remain so”.
“Love one another” was the command our Lord Jesus Christ gave His disciples of which we all are. The Speaker founds his leadership ideals on scriptural principles of humility, sacrifice, love, unity etc, and that is why the 7th Abia State House of Assembly has recorded no rancour or strife whatsoever since its inception, close to two years ago. It has rather engendered the spirit of selflessness among the Members who have excelled in their legislative duties to the point of providing dividends of democracy to their constituents in a manner never experienced in the legislative history of our great State.
As peaceful and highly progressive legislators who understand that “A threefold cord is not easily broken” (Eccl. 4:12b), they will not succumb to divisive tendencies as their primary focus is how to continue to leverage on the bond of brotherhood in the House to continue to provide quality legislations and other dividends of democracy to the people.
Jude Chijioke Ndukwe
