…Mark votes for zoning, others
By IHEANACHO NWOSU and ADETUTU FOLASADE KOYI, Abuja
Nigerians have endorsed the creation of additional states by the National Assembly in the on-going Constitution amendment, but they rejected calls for rotatory presidency and single term of five or six years for president, governors.
These positions were contained in the House of Representatives report of public sessions presented in the House yesterday.
The sessions were held in 360 federal constituencies on November 9,2012 to elicit grassroot views on issues that should be included in the Constitution amendment. Deputy Speaker, Hon Emeka Ihedioha is the Chairman of House Adhoc committee on Review of 1999 Constitution.
Also, Senate President David Mark yesterday made a case for zoning of political offices in the Constitution. The presentation, chaired by the Speaker, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday, was graced by eminent Nigerians and groups including the representatives of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), civil society organisations , National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), students and international agencies.
Reeling out the 43 items report, rights activist and Consultant to the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo, said that though 120 of the 360 constituencies voted for creation of more states, 134 opposed agitation for giving the six geo-political zones equal states.
He said the question posed to people on whether rotatory of presidency between the North and South should be included in the Constitution was overwhelmingly rejected No fewer than 275 constituencies said that it was not in the interest of the country for the power rotation to be included in the Constitution while 80 areas supported it. They also opposed the zoning of governorship in states.Similarly, he said that 212 constituencies frowned at the inclusion of six geo- political zones in the Constitution while 134 voted for it. Nwankwo said that majority of Nigerians rejected the amendment of section 180(2) of the Constitution to allow for five, six or six years single term for president and governors.
On the controversial joint account between local and state governments, Nwankwo said that Nigerians backed the stoppage of the joint account arrangement even as they supported the withdrawal of monthly allocations to councils that are run by caretaker committees.
The report said majority of Nigerians favoured the granting of financial autonomy to local governments, but kicked against the inclusion of indigeneship in the Constitution. The report also touched on other vital areas like gender balancing, minorities rights and the less priviledged Nigerians.
Speaking on the report, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly , Senator Joy Emordi, said the document deserved commendation by all Nigerians. She said it was the first time that a deliberate effort was made to involve the grassroots in Constitution amendment. On his part, Tambuwal said that the public sessions was part of the resolve of Nigerians to take them along in the Constitution amendment.
Revealing the experience of the lawmakers in the exercise, he said, “it was also clearly evident that on several issues we, as representatives of the people, must employ the opinions of the vocal majority with circumspection. Some items on the template, which from the preponderant opinion of the media, suggest general acceptance as desirable were completely rejected by the ordinary Nigerians and that with plausible arguments and justification.”
Earlier, Ihedioha said: “This process may not be perfect, but I dare say, that it is the first time in the history of this country that Nigerians at the grassroots have been made part of the Constitution review process in a practical and transparent manner.
“We promised Nigerians that we shall be transparent and accountable. Indeed, we made a commitment to do things differently in our legislative agenda, unveiled at the beginning of the Seventh House of Representatives. This public presentation is a fulfillment of this commitment and promise,” he said. Meanwhile, Senate President Mark said creation of new states should be for deserving areas.
He stated this while addressing the Congregation of Anioma Congress from Delta State led by the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, who visited him. The Senate President suggested that the present Constitution review, must take into cognizance the anxieties, agitation and future of minority groups to provide the needed elixir for peace, unity and security under a united Nigerian federation.
He said that one of the ways to address the imbalances would be the creation of additional sates to deserving areas and facilitating development to all nooks and crannies of the country. “I strongly believe that we truly need to create more states to meet the needs of agitators, bring a sense of belonging to the people, promote healthy competition among the federating states, as well as guaranteeing peace and security in the land,” he said. Senator Mark, however, canvassed that should state creation not be immediately considered, zoning or rotation of top political offices such as governor of a state should be inserted into the Constitution forthwith.
This, he contended, would douse tension, agitation or feeling of marginalization by some minority groups. He pointed out that a situation where “some sections of a state are permanently confined to playing second fiddle is not good for harmonious co-existence among the people.”
Earlier, the Asagba of Asaba enumerated efforts by the Anioma people of Delta State to have a state of their own since 1983 without much success. He noted that the proposed Anioma state is endowed with enough human and material resources that would make the state viable.
The monarch, who led other traditional rulers from Delta North demanded that the zone should be allowed to produce the next governor in 2015, pointing out that in the spirit of fairness and equity, other zones which had got the opportunity should cooperate with Delta north to have a shot at the governorship.
By IHEANACHO NWOSU and ADETUTU FOLASADE KOYI, Abuja
Nigerians have endorsed the creation of additional states by the National Assembly in the on-going Constitution amendment, but they rejected calls for rotatory presidency and single term of five or six years for president, governors.
These positions were contained in the House of Representatives report of public sessions presented in the House yesterday.
The sessions were held in 360 federal constituencies on November 9,2012 to elicit grassroot views on issues that should be included in the Constitution amendment. Deputy Speaker, Hon Emeka Ihedioha is the Chairman of House Adhoc committee on Review of 1999 Constitution.
Also, Senate President David Mark yesterday made a case for zoning of political offices in the Constitution. The presentation, chaired by the Speaker, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday, was graced by eminent Nigerians and groups including the representatives of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), civil society organisations , National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), students and international agencies.
Reeling out the 43 items report, rights activist and Consultant to the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo, said that though 120 of the 360 constituencies voted for creation of more states, 134 opposed agitation for giving the six geo-political zones equal states.
He said the question posed to people on whether rotatory of presidency between the North and South should be included in the Constitution was overwhelmingly rejected No fewer than 275 constituencies said that it was not in the interest of the country for the power rotation to be included in the Constitution while 80 areas supported it. They also opposed the zoning of governorship in states.Similarly, he said that 212 constituencies frowned at the inclusion of six geo- political zones in the Constitution while 134 voted for it. Nwankwo said that majority of Nigerians rejected the amendment of section 180(2) of the Constitution to allow for five, six or six years single term for president and governors.
On the controversial joint account between local and state governments, Nwankwo said that Nigerians backed the stoppage of the joint account arrangement even as they supported the withdrawal of monthly allocations to councils that are run by caretaker committees.
The report said majority of Nigerians favoured the granting of financial autonomy to local governments, but kicked against the inclusion of indigeneship in the Constitution. The report also touched on other vital areas like gender balancing, minorities rights and the less priviledged Nigerians.
Speaking on the report, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly , Senator Joy Emordi, said the document deserved commendation by all Nigerians. She said it was the first time that a deliberate effort was made to involve the grassroots in Constitution amendment. On his part, Tambuwal said that the public sessions was part of the resolve of Nigerians to take them along in the Constitution amendment.
Revealing the experience of the lawmakers in the exercise, he said, “it was also clearly evident that on several issues we, as representatives of the people, must employ the opinions of the vocal majority with circumspection. Some items on the template, which from the preponderant opinion of the media, suggest general acceptance as desirable were completely rejected by the ordinary Nigerians and that with plausible arguments and justification.”
Earlier, Ihedioha said: “This process may not be perfect, but I dare say, that it is the first time in the history of this country that Nigerians at the grassroots have been made part of the Constitution review process in a practical and transparent manner.
“We promised Nigerians that we shall be transparent and accountable. Indeed, we made a commitment to do things differently in our legislative agenda, unveiled at the beginning of the Seventh House of Representatives. This public presentation is a fulfillment of this commitment and promise,” he said. Meanwhile, Senate President Mark said creation of new states should be for deserving areas.
He stated this while addressing the Congregation of Anioma Congress from Delta State led by the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, who visited him. The Senate President suggested that the present Constitution review, must take into cognizance the anxieties, agitation and future of minority groups to provide the needed elixir for peace, unity and security under a united Nigerian federation.
He said that one of the ways to address the imbalances would be the creation of additional sates to deserving areas and facilitating development to all nooks and crannies of the country. “I strongly believe that we truly need to create more states to meet the needs of agitators, bring a sense of belonging to the people, promote healthy competition among the federating states, as well as guaranteeing peace and security in the land,” he said. Senator Mark, however, canvassed that should state creation not be immediately considered, zoning or rotation of top political offices such as governor of a state should be inserted into the Constitution forthwith.
This, he contended, would douse tension, agitation or feeling of marginalization by some minority groups. He pointed out that a situation where “some sections of a state are permanently confined to playing second fiddle is not good for harmonious co-existence among the people.”
Earlier, the Asagba of Asaba enumerated efforts by the Anioma people of Delta State to have a state of their own since 1983 without much success. He noted that the proposed Anioma state is endowed with enough human and material resources that would make the state viable.
The monarch, who led other traditional rulers from Delta North demanded that the zone should be allowed to produce the next governor in 2015, pointing out that in the spirit of fairness and equity, other zones which had got the opportunity should cooperate with Delta north to have a shot at the governorship.
No comments:
Post a Comment