The news that the members of Parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are in Delhi for training on parliamentary procedure has evoked its share of ironical comment in the Indian media. A cartoon has an Indian explaining to a Nigerian that the mike before each member s seat could be used for communication and also as an assault weapon. Those who have seen and remembered the unforgettable drama in the UP Legislative Assembly not too long ago will not need any further explanation. Hopefully, the members of Parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will not only abstain from throwing tantrums and mikes but also not emulate the Indian habit of rushing into the well of the House and disrupting the day s proceedings. There is also the opportunity cost of not transacting business and of vitally important Bills not being voted for approval and stalled from session to session to session.
Parliamentary democracy is less than two years old in Nigeria.
Maybe there is something in all this for Indian parliamentarians to note. And that is that democracy is not so common that parliamentary sessions can be disrupted for one reason or the other. Indian MPs who get carried away by partisan passions on one issue or the other would do well to remember that ultimately it is the people who have voted them to Parliament and that the public interest cannot be regularly sacrificed on the altar of party politics. Copyright 2000 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.