SENATE PRESIDENT:Nigeria’s unity not negotiable – Senate

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The House also said it will constitute a committee to aggregate the issues raised by agitators towards addressing the demand for restructuring of the country, as well revisit aspects of the constitution, dealing with power devolution. The Senate position followed a briefing from chairman of the South-East Senate caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. The Senate also said it will encourage agitators in the polity to seek peaceful means towards resolving their grievances. While the Senate was on break, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which is seeking secession of the South-East,

was declared a terrorist organisation by the military and proscribed by governors of the region. Although, the government later procured a court order to legitimatise its action after Senate President Bukola Saraki faulted the proscription of the group, saying it was unconstitutional. He said the senate would investigate the issue when it resumed. In the House, the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, at the resumption from the seasonal holiday, yesterday, also indicated the readiness of the National Assembly to revisit areas pertaining to devolution of powers that were stepped down during the recent voting exercise. Meanwhile, chapters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, yesterday,

threw their support behind the restructuring of the polity towards giving more powers to the states. In his opening address, while welcoming members back from the holiday, Dogara recalled issues that stirred the polity while the House was on vacation. Among the issues he noted were agitations against marginalisation in the South-East, recovery from recession, among others. On a possible way out of the agitations, he said: “We are all aware that during the recess, the agitation by a group of persons based in the South-East geo-political zone of the country and the heightened call by many groups for restructuring of the country dominated discourse in Nigeria. “Indeed all patriotic Nigerians rose in unison to uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens to move freely and reside in any part of the federation as they choose, without let or hindrance. It appears to me that the citizens of this great country have sounded the message loud and clear that they stand for a united, prosperous and just Nigeria. “Do we have a legislative response to the issues that have been thrown up? Is the National Assembly involved in the debate? Can restructuring take place outside the existing legal order? Indeed all the arguments about restructuring are,

at the end of the day, legislative issues. It may be necessary in due course for the National Assembly to have a second look at the issues that had been thrown up. The National Assembly as a representative and product of the people cannot act contrary to the wishes and aspirations of its constituents. We need to sift all the ‘noise’ and find out what exactly a majority of our people actually want? This is a responsibility we cannot outsource. “Going forward, it is my view that we need to revisit some aspects of the voting on Constitution Alteration. Luckily we still have the legislative window of conferencing with the Senate, where we have differences.

” Following Dogara’s remarks, the House Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Surulere, Lagos) moved for the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to probe various issues raised by ethnic nationalities across Nigeria. He observed that “events of the last few weeks brought Nigeria close to the precipice but for the determination of Nigerians in their various show of commitment to the peace and unity of the country. Hence the urgent need for the intervention of the House of Representatives.” Ruling in favour of the motion, Speaker Dogara said: “There’s no need to debate this matter until the investigations have been concluded. I’ll, therefore, put it to vote.” Immediately he pronounced it, the ayes carried the day without any dissenting voice.

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