By Tai Emeka Obasi
I have been following most of the major activities of President Donald J Trump since he was inaugurated for the second time as President of The United States, POTUS.
His immigration policies and deportation style may be harsh to many but he promised to do exactly so while he was campaigning to be given the chance to Make America Great Again, MAGA. It’s tough for any immigrant, particularly illegal immigrants, but DJT is POTUS and is empowered by the Constitution to produce and sign Executive Orders into law. As long as number 47 does not violate the Constitution, anybody resident in America should respect his wishes and abide by the new laws of residency or visitation. The former number 45 was not kidding when he promised, ‘America First.’
However, what bothers me is why the Democrats challenge every policy of Trump’s, however glaringly beneficial it could be, culminating in one very big shame of conduct during Trump’s last address to the Congress. Almost like the hate exhibited during his impeachment process as number 45, the Democrats threw decency and, to a large extent, patriotism, to the refuse can by not applauding laudable policies and gestures of their president to the disadvantaged.
Then, it suddenly became clear to me, very clear. Despite the glaring excesses, strong opposition strengthens any government in power in any working democracy. I am now clearly understanding that the Democrats are only keeping number 47 in check. If the Democrats are strongly challenging policies that are clearly constitutional, President Trump dare not dive into any river flowing with constitutional breaches. But once his actions draw from the Constitution, he’ll definitely pull through even if it has to involve the Supreme Court. However turbulent the sailing is, it is clearly the usual path to functioning democracy.
Why am I just seeing clearly? Nigeria’s democracy just showed me the other side of leadership.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu woke up one morning and declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. I wondered how a president could unilaterally make such declaration and went into immediate research, rummaging the Nigerian Constitution. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, AI, such researches are so easy and swift these days.
When I was educated that any declaration as serious as that of state of emergency must pass through both arms of National Assembly ŵith ⅔ majority of approval votes before the president could get his wish, I heaved a sigh of relief. Yes, because I was not convinced that the Nigerian state in question deserved such proclamation based on the strict conditions needed to be so isolated. President Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress, APC, has not the required ⅔ majority in either chamber of NASS. And hence, what most Nigerians felt as taking power intoxication too far would be halted by Congress.
I did not bother myself with the main constitutional breach in the proclamation saga – suspending elected officers of the people and replacing with a sole administrator. I carelessly believed we wouldn’t get to that since the whole action would be nullified. It turned out I didn’t know much about Nigerian politics.
Bizarrely, both chambers of NASS gave the president express approval with, wait for it – VOICE VOTES! When the House of Representatives finished what looked like comedy by approving with voice vote, I shifted to the Senate, believing they would deliver for the people. How wrong I conjured again. The same pattern repeated!
Even after the presidential candidates of both Labour Party, LP and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the last election in Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar respectively, called their party representatives in NASS that were well over ⅓ in minority to stall the unconstitutional process, the assumed representatives of the people turned deaf. They betrayed their respective leaders without wincing. Respect to Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Seriake Dickson and Aminu Tambuwal, the rest thought nothing of their respective constituents, who gave them the mandates – and that is for the few, who truly won their mandates devoid of rigging.
I cried for my nation for the umpteenth time. And while the tears reluctantly left my eyes, the midst of what the Democrats offer here in opposition started becoming very clear to me. The whole Capitol building in America would have to be razed down first before the Democrats allowed any unconstitutional action by Trump to pass through Congress. And if ever it required a ⅔ majority to sail through, number 47 should not bother presenting it for debate.
From the mess I have been observing since last four days in my dear country, I am fully appreciating the Democrats over here for living up to their role in a functioning democracy. As much as I supported and still strongly support Trump, may he never breach the Constitution of the United States of America. If he ever tried, may the Democrats never allow it to sail through. Democracy is of the people for the people and by the people.
_Obasi writes from New York._
