Etanabene: ‘Many Politicians Are Impressing Tinubu, Not Serving Nigerians

The lawmaker representing Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives, Benedict Etanabene, has criticised some Nigerian politicians for allegedly prioritising the approval of President Bola Tinubu and other political leaders over their responsibility to serve the public.

According to IREPORTER Online, Etanabene, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the remarks during a recent interview on Arise Television while discussing the passage of the State Police Bill.

The lawmaker alleged that some political actors had become more concerned about gaining recognition and praise from influential leaders than determining whether government decisions would ultimately benefit Nigerians.

Etanabene said the situation was particularly concerning in the handling of the executive version of the State Police Bill before the House of Representatives.

He explained that some opposition lawmakers were prepared to support the proposal but wanted adequate time to examine and debate its provisions thoroughly before voting.

The PDP lawmaker stressed that members of the National Assembly should be given sufficient opportunity to scrutinise legislation, especially constitutional amendments involving major changes to the country’s security architecture.

He recalled that the House had previously considered another version of the State Police Bill before it was withdrawn and replaced by an executive proposal.

According to him, the executive version was introduced within a very short timeframe, with lawmakers subsequently expected to consider and pass it almost immediately.

Etanabene said the limited time available forced some lawmakers to study the proposed legislation overnight, going through its clauses under significant pressure.

He maintained that such an approach was not ideal for legislative business, particularly when lawmakers were dealing with a constitutional matter as important as the establishment of state police.

The lawmaker argued that thorough debate and careful examination of proposed laws were necessary to ensure that legislation served the interests of Nigerians rather than the political interests of individuals or groups.