Should we say No to Immunity?

Some days ago, news broke about the Immunity and Life-Pension Bill being proposed for Principal officers of the National Assembly. This means that they would get paid till they die (bearing in mind that some of them already enjoy some sort of pension from their states, being ex-governors), they’d also enjoy immunity from all sorts of probe, arrests, investigation, jail. Hmmmm…

Let’s remove the fact that asking for pension for life is immoral and outrageous considering the financial status of our country; do they really need the pension?? These people are already super rich!, now they also want to get paid for life?! Isn’t that the height of greed and insensitivity??(To think that the Senators came up with this proposition after attending a retreat where they were meant to look into the amendment of the 1999 constitution and think of ways to move this nation forward. Smh)

They also propose immunity for the Principal Officers; now I don’t know if it’s immunity for life, or while they’re in office. However, whatever the case may be, I’m glad that Nigerians from all works of life have raised their voice against it with the #StopImmunityPensionBill trending for the past few days. With the cases against them in various court already, one can imagine the impunity with which they’d be acting if they know they've immunity.

I personally have an issue with granting immunity to Governors and the President even. Why? Because we know how our people are, they always abuse whatever power given to them. They hide under the guise of immunity to do evil and cover it up. The knowledge that nothing can happen to them gives them the impetus to do the unimaginable while in office.

 Ekiti state Governor has raised an alarm that the EFCC froze his personal account thereby flaunting his immunity as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution; I'm not in support of what EFCC did (disregarding the constitution and all), however, what if the money in that account belongs to the people of Ekiti state where workers haven’t been paid in months?? Should the Governors and the President be left to do whatever they like with public funds while in office because of Immunity? If we say they can be arrested when they leave office, how do we do that when they always try to ensure that they install a successor who will protect and defend their interests? EFCC has however said they have the right to investigate a Governor (and President, I hope) whose account is being used to siphon public funds, or carry out any financial crime.

I don't know about you, but personally I feel they should scrap this immunity for all of them, if not, they should as well grant all Nigerians Immunity then. It has always been abused by those with the privilege of enjoying it, and it is high time we say No to it!!

Hugs...