10
THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2012
NEWS CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW Yoruba Assembly slams review
T
HE Yoruba National Assembly yesterday described the proposed constitution amendment as an exercise in futility. It said the restructuring of the country can only be accomplished at a Sovereign National Conference (SNC). The group, led by Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), acknowledged that the 1999 Constitution was foisted on Nigeria by military rulers without recourse to federalism. In a statement in Lagos, the Assembly reiterated its call for an all-embracing ‘Conference of all Nationalities’ to address the structural problems and resolve the lingering national question. The group said: “Wisdom dictates that you do not amend a useless document, rather you discard it and fashion another
By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor
one. “This current effort will again serve no useful purpose, as this is clearly not what this country needs at this time. It can only take the country back to square one.” The group said Nigeria deserves a peoples’ constitution and not an imposed document achieved through an orchestrated process of consultation with the people. “The National Assembly is not constituted in a manner to give Nigeria a desired constitution. “It possesses a different mandate, which is law making, but it lacks the constituent powers to undertake the process of constitution making. We must learn from history,” it said.
•Senator Tinubu flanked by ACN leader in Lagos State Tajudeen Olusi (left) and Pa Ali at the event...yesterday.
ACN senators hold constitution review hearing •Senators Tinubu, Ashafa, Solomon to pursue party position
S
TATE police, immunity for governors and status of local councils were prominent issues at the public hearings in Lagos Central, West and East senatorial districts yesterday. Other issues included devolution of powers, creation of more states, recognition of three geo-political zones , constitutional roles for traditional rulers, removal of the Land Use Act, fiscal federalism and state police. Others are rotational presidency, gender issues, residency and indigenship, and rotation of governorship across the three zones in the state. The senatorial district sensitisation programme organised by Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Central), Gbenga Ashafa (East) and Ganiyu Solomon (West) took place simultaneously in the three districts. The Lagos Central public hearing, organised by Senator Tinubu, was chaired by a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, Pa Adekunle Ali. At the meeting, it was agreed that four committees will be set up to look at the memoranda and come up with the district’s position. The committees will be chaired by Ali, former Minister of State for Defence Demola Seriki, Wasiu Eshinlokun Samnni and Olajide Jimoh. Senator Tinubu rejected the 1999 Constitution, saying it was a legacy of the military
By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor
government which has never reflected the will of Nigerians. She recalled that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had consistently called for an overhaul of the constitution to guarantee true federalism, good governance and grassroots participation. "As the people entrusted with your mandate in Lagos , I and other members of our great party, the ACN, have made known the party's position on some issues highlighted above and consistently called for devolution of power, fiscal federalism and creation of state police.” Mrs Tinubu, who is a member of the Committe on Constitution Review, said the Southwest public hearing would hold today at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Senator Tinubu urged Lagosians to demand the listing of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the constitution and conferment of special status on Lagos. At the East forum, Senator Ashafa said the 1999 Constitution had been a source of disagreement among stakeholders. He said: “The National Assembly is aware that the 1999 Constitution is militarised, hence the decision to exchange ideas and aggregate views of stakeholders to produce a document that will truly reflect the wish of the people.”
‘Special status for Apapa’
C
ONSTITUENTS in Apapa Federal Constituency in Lagos State have resolved that a special status be accorded the constituency and state, which should reflect an increase in the grant received from the Federation Account. The lawmaker representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Babatunde Adewale, said the Federal Government should accord Apapa Federal Constituency a special status because it is the home of two seaports, which are sources of revenue for the
By Tokunbo Ogunsami
Federal Government. He said Lagos State should enjoy a special status, being the nation’s commercial capital. The constituents, however, voted against state creation because, according to them, most of the existing states are not viable. They asked for an independent local government system, state police and two terms for the president and governors. Adewale said the review was aimed at aggregating the views of Nigerians to produce a people’s constitution.