SENATORS CLASH OVER REGIONAL GOVT PROPOSAL

download 13 2 jpeg

SENATORS CLASH OVER REGIONAL GOVT PROPOSAL
Nigerian Senators from both Southern and Northern regions have expressed differing views over the agitation for the return to a regional system of government.
They shared their opinions at the sidelines of a two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 Constitution, organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in Kano.
While senators from the northern region vehemently opposed the idea, those from southern Nigeria described it as a welcome development that would improve the economy, tackle insecurity, and accelerate infrastructural development.
However, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, assured Nigerians that the issue of regionalism was not part of the ongoing constitution review.
A ranking senator from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi, told journalists that his people would never support the idea because they did not experience any form of development when the system was practiced during the defunct First Republic.
Ningi said, “I have heard so much about regional government or federalism, and I have heard people canvassing for such ideas.
“For a start, no matter how you see it, the current document (1999 Constitution) is still the grundnorm. It has also stipulated how it is going to be amended.
“Having said that, it is also imperative to know that it isn’t just enough for anybody to come and say they are the representative of one ethnic group or another at the National Assembly.
“The question that arises is: when was this mandate canvassed? When was it received? You are a representative of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, at what time were you given the mandate to canvass that?
“The only people that are given this mandate to look at the Constitution and amend it are, of course, members of the National Assembly.
“Therefore, it is important for those who go about selling these ideas, false ideas in my opinion, that they are representatives of the people, to let Nigerians know where they are coming from, on whose mandate, and when was this mandate given to them.
“We have seen how the regional government was operated in the past. My part of the country that I am representing didn’t enjoy the development of that so-called regional government that was based in Kaduna.
“We aren’t going back there again! I am speaking for my senatorial district. It is either the Nigerian Federation or nothing. We can’t go along; my senatorial district will be satisfied independently with Nigeria, if that is what is required.
“As far as regional government is concerned, my constituency, my people aren’t for it. What we need is reform of the current Federal Government structure and fiscal federalism because there is nothing like true federalism.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, advised Nigerians against mistaking the establishment of zonal development commissions for regionalism.
He said the various geopolitical zonal development commissions were strictly for the social and economic development of their areas.
He said, “It is wrong for anybody to think that the development commissions being established for the six geopolitical zones are a plan towards regionalism. It is not.
“Those who are advocating for it should come up with bills through their representatives in the National Assembly and test the popularity of their proposal.”
Similarly, former Senate Leader Ali Ndume said the idea of true federalism was no longer fashionable because many countries in Africa had discarded it.
He advocated for the creation of strong institutions that would enhance good governance and curb corruption and insecurity.
“When the government puts these in place, there won’t be clamour for true federalism because there will be justice, equity, and fairness in all regions of the country.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, representing Katsina South Senatorial District, also disagreed with the proponents of regional government.
He said the essence of the ongoing retreat was to improve on the defects and anomalies discovered in the nation’s constitution over the years.
He said, “We should not have myopic thinking about ourselves. There is no section of this country that is not blessed.
“What is important is that we should have good governance and credible and responsible access to the resources that we have because Nigeria is blessed.
“We have all the comparative advantages that will move this country forward unless, of course, we are serious and determined.”
However, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial District, disagreed with those condemning the regional system of government.
Buhari said, “Recall that the regions were able to harness their resources in the First Republic.
“We were able to harness all our resources. There was no dominance of particular resources.
“In those years, the North was known for the groundnut pyramids, the South West for cocoa. We should be able to do that.
“When you make the center less attractive, you cut off corruption. You can’t wipe it off, but you can cut it down, because there is what is called ‘watch your team.’ People will watch their team within their locality or within their region.”
Asked whether the South West region had a specific agenda for the ongoing constitution review, Buhari said it would be presented at the appropriate time.
He said, “We don’t want to disclose that agenda yet, but we have agreed among ourselves that the person who will present it is the Chairman of the South West Forum when the time comes. It would be very unfair for me now as a member to start discussing that.”
However, the Senate Leader emphasized that the issue of regionalism could not be changed through a constitutional amendment.
He said, “There are some decisions in the state where an executive bill cannot come to the parliament unless there is some political consensus.
“For me, going back to a regional form of governance is something that will go beyond a bill being sponsored, either as a member’s bill or as an executive bill.
“It’s also not something that you sit down in a public hearing room and organize a public hearing to take a decision on.
“An example is when people say, ‘Oh, you are in parliament. As a parliament, you cannot discard the entire constitution. Nigeria needs a new constitution because this one cannot work.’
“It’s easy for people to make such arguments, but that is not something we can sit down in parliament and do.
“We aren’t changing the constitution because that would require political consensus, and it would also require the buy-in of the Nigerian people themselves.
“Why is it so difficult to amend even one section of the constitution, let alone discard the entire constitution?
“To amend a single provision in the constitution today, the National Assembly and all chambers have to go through this entire process, which we go through in every legislative assembly, and many of you have been a part of this process.”

  • Dons Eze

    DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

    Related Posts

    NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS – DOGARA

    NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS –DOGARA A former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has attributed the North’s current state of backwardness to its leaders. He also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in transforming the nation through the tax reform bills currently awaiting the endorsement of the National Assembly. Dogara spoke as a guest speaker at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria. The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising”, addressed issues surrounding governance and development. The former Speaker lamented that Arewa political leaders mismanaged opportunities to lead Nigeria for over 40 years, leaving the region plagued with poverty and underdevelopment. According to Dogara, northerners should resist the temptation to blame President Tinubu for the North’s current plight. He emphasised the need to unite in supporting the tax reform bills, which he said were designed to bring transformation to the North and Nigeria as a whole. “We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders,” Dogara said. Speaking on Value Added Tax (VAT) and federal allocations received by states, Dogara asked, “We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.” He also cited the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, initiated by the Shagari administration, which was 98 per cent completed but was later allowed to deteriorate. “The project was almost finished, yet it was left to rot,” he said. Dogara urged northerners to support President Tinubu’s efforts to transform the country through the tax reform bills currently in the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN), Reverend Joseph John Hayab, stated that the organisation was established in 2007 to provide platforms and opportunities for Christians to explore effective ways of participating in Nigeria’s national life, particularly in areas related to spiritual, social, and economic growth. Hayab urged Christian leaders to deliberate on the issue of tax reforms currently being considered by Nigeria’s legislative arm.

    INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NOT WORK IN NIGERIA

    INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NEVER WORK IN NIGERIA The growing concern in some quarters over the inability of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free, fair and credible elections again gained gravitas last week in the wake of Ghana’s successful presidential elections. Without prejudice to the introduction of technology (card reader and co) by the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC which conducted the general elections of 2011 and 2015, and the outcomes of those elections, Nigerians have largely expressed disappointment at the elections conducted in 2019 and 2023, as evidenced by the barrage of pre- post-election litigations. Apart from the 2015 presidential election which saw incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, conceding defeat, almost all presidential election results in Nigeria have suffered the embarrassing discounts of distrust and lack of integrity. Last week in Ghana, even before the completion of final collation of results of its presidential election, incumbent Vice President and candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, Mahamudu Bawumia, called his opposition candidate, John Mahama, to concede defeat. Madam Jean Mensa is the chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission and she announced the results later.Based on wide-range consultations and interviews, seven major issues have been codified as reasons BVAS may not work in Nigeria as it does in Ghana. The critical difference between elections held in Ghana and Nigeria using BVAS -1). Integrity of Electoral ManagersGhana: The integrity of electoral officials in Ghana is a cornerstone of the country’s success with the Bimordal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS. Transparent practices, accountability, and a genuine commitment to credible elections have ensured the smooth implementation of the system. The leadership prioritizes the credibility of elections over personal or political interests. Nigeria: In Nigeria, the human factor has been a significant hindrance. Electoral managers have often been accused of bias, corruption, and complicity in sabotaging the BVAS process. These failings erode public trust and compromise the efficiency of the system. -2). Appointment of Non-Partisan OfficialsGhana: Electoral officers in Ghana are appointed based on merit and neutrality, ensuring that those overseeing the electoral process are not influenced by political affiliations. This reduces the likelihood of human interference in technological operations like BVAS. Nigeria: In contrast, Nigeria frequently appoints individuals with political affiliations or connections to influential politicians. Some are card-carrying members of political parties or relatives of political officeholders. This blatant partisanship creates an environment where BVAS can be intentionally misused or sabotaged. -3). Retention of Proven CharactersGhana: Ghana values continuity and institutional memory, retaining proven leaders who have been conducting credible elections and whose know-how are applied to future ones, fostering trust in electoral management. A typical case in Ghana was Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who was the first substantive chairman of the commission from 1993 and was retained up to 2015 because of his track record of honesty and integrity which has eventually transformed the Ghanaian electoral landscape. At the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Economic Affairs, IEA, in Ghana, in 2014, Professor Jega said: “We in Nigeria have a lot that we owe to Dr. Afari Gyan. No doubt he was the longest-serving electoral commissioner on the continent of Africa and…He’s done a lot to restore stability in the electoral system in your country (Ghana). “We (Nigerians) have learned a lot listening to him, understanding the challenges he faced, how he addressed them and how we could do better than he had done because it was very important for us to be able to do that.” Nigeria: In Nigeria, electoral officials, with a reputation for integrity, are often removed or sidelined. Between 1993 and 2015, for instance, several chairpersons of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who resisted undue influence were replaced. Such as Humprey Nwosu, to other known Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs,…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    20 FEARED DEAD IN ANAMBRA COMMUNITY AS RICE DISTRIBUTION CAUSES STAMPEDE

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 71 views

    PETER OBI OFFERS TO MEET DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL CONDITIONS

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 56 views

    WE’VE ACHIEVED 80% SUCCESS AGAINST KIDNAPPING – RIBADU

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 29 views

    THERE’RE HONEST POLICE OFFICERS IN NIGERIA

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 28 views

    PH REFINERY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AFTER $1.5BN REHABILITATION

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 29 views

    NIGERIA’S MOBILE SUBSCRIPTIONS HIT 157.3 MILLION IN OCTOBER, MTN AIRTEL GAIN

    • By Dons Eze
    • December 21, 2024
    • 29 views