Many Nigerians, including myself, object to President Bola Tinubu. I do not oppose him mainly for his politics or policies. Instead, I question the authenticity of his identity and background. What he claims about his past contains gaps—from Lagos to Chicago. These doubts make it difficult to trust his leadership.

Emergency Declaration Raises Constitutional Concerns

Last week, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. This move shocked many observers, including legal experts and citizens. On the surface, the decision violated the Nigerian Constitution. The law outlines clear conditions before such declarations can occur. However, perhaps Tinubu had access to classified intelligence.

Even if he believed the decision was right, it must still meet constitutional standards. According to Nigeria’s Constitution, the National Assembly must serve as a check to presidential power. Unfortunately, last week, both legislative chambers failed in their duty. They rubber-stamped the decision without proper scrutiny or due process.

Bribery Allegations Discredit the Legislature

Reports from FRONTPAGE, Peoples Gazette, and SaharaReporters suggest that lawmakers took bribes to support the emergency rule. These reports allege that the executive branch offered legislators up to $25,000 each. In return, lawmakers supported Tinubu’s use of Section 305 to suspend Governor Simi Fubara and dismantle Rivers State’s democratic structures.

According to SaharaReporters, lawmakers received the funds at Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s guest house. On Tuesday night, 45 senators reportedly received $5,000 each. On Wednesday night, 42 others allegedly got $10,000 each. As of Friday, no senator or representative had publicly denied these accusations.

Legislative Decay Began Long Ago

This failure is not new. I’ve criticized the National Assembly’s decline before. In January 2022, I described it as a collapsed institution. Although the body still exists, it no longer functions as a real legislative branch. It mimics the form of democracy without substance.

In 2002, I published an article titled “How to Buy a Senator.” That piece revealed how senators allegedly demanded N300 million to abandon their impeachment threat against President Obasanjo. This was just one of many shameful episodes.

Lawmakers Continue to Prioritize Wealth Over Service

In 2012, the Senate spent N1.2 billion on Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicles. In 2016, each senator received a new SUV worth over N35 million. These vehicles became symbols of waste and greed. During the same period, Nigerians endured poverty and infrastructure collapse.

By 2019, watchdog group BudgIT revealed that lawmakers had allocated N1.752 trillion to themselves over 17 years. Their budget rose from N23.5 billion in 2003 to N135 billion in 2018. In October 2023, during another economic crisis, both chambers received Toyota Land Cruisers worth over N100 million each.

Checks and Balances Have Disappeared

Today, Nigeria barely operates under a functioning democracy. When a party gains power, the legislature often merges with the executive. During the PDP era, the Assembly served the presidency. Now, under the APC, it acts in the same way.

This dangerous pattern explains why last week’s emergency declaration bypassed all legal requirements. Neither Senate President Akpabio nor House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas demanded a recorded two-thirds vote. They ignored established procedures meant to protect citizens from executive overreach.

Lack of Transparency Compounds the Crisis

The National Assembly’s poor record-keeping continues to undermine accountability. Its website is outdated and empty. There are no detailed records, archives, or accessible data. Compared to legislative websites in other countries, Nigeria’s site is a disgrace.

This lack of transparency allows corruption and incompetence to thrive unchecked. Citizens cannot track proceedings or hold lawmakers accountable. Without reform, the legislature will remain a weak link in Nigeria’s democracy.

Conclusion: Nigeria Now Has Just One and a Quarter Arms of Government

In truth, Nigeria no longer operates with three functional branches of government. The executive now controls the legislature. Only the judiciary still stands with some independence.

However, unless citizens push for real accountability, even the judiciary could fall under political pressure. The time to act is now. Nigerians must demand legislative integrity, transparency, and full respect for the Constitution.