Newspaper review: Reps vow not to surrender their powers over restructuring calls ~ Zeniths Blog

BUY AND SELL @ marttle.com

The Nigerian newspapers for Wednesday, September 27, 2017, lead with the restructuring agitations embarked on by Nigerians among other top stories.

The Nation reports that the battle for restructuring took another shape yesterday, with lawmakers insisting that the task is within their power.

In fact, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara said they would not surrender their power to make laws, including one that will pave the way for the restructuring of the country.

But a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said President Muhammadu Buhari is constitutionally vested with the power to restructure the country.

The President during his broadcast to the nation on his return from his 103 days medical vacation frowned at the level of agitation in the country and said the National Assembly and the Council of State were empowered to restructure the country.

Agbakoba disagreed. He said “The President has delegated the responsibility to restructure Nigeria to the National Assembly and Council of State.

“But, this responsibility cannot be delegated. Section 5 of the Constitution vests the President with executive powers of the federation and this includes the power to restructure Nigeria.”

But Dogara said the National Assembly would not be intimidated into abandoning its legislative duties of providing a platform for Nigerians to agree or disagree on any proposed legislative measure.

According to him, all the arguments about restructuring are legislative issues that would be dealt with through a constitution review.

He backed an equitably restructured but united Nigeria, saying those who want to agitate should do so within the ambit of the law.

Dogara spoke on the first day of resumption after a two month recess by the lawmakers.

Newspaper review for Wednesday, September 27

The Nation newspaper for Wednesday, September 27, 2017. Photo credit: snapshot from ZENITHBLOG.com

Thisday reports that fresh from its two-month recess, the National Assembly on Tuesday maintained that the country’s unity was not negotiable, adding that every Nigerian must respect the constitution.

Its position came in response to recent agitations by various groups, which have threatened the country’s co-existence.

This is just as the House of Representatives passed a resolution to immediately revisit the Devolution of Power Bill in the interest of unity.

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in his welcome remarks, challenged the upper legislative chamber to stand for the unity and indivisibility of the country amid rising agitations and calls for restructuring by various groups.

He said: “We must condemn in the strongest possible terms all forms of violence as a form of engagement. The constitution and laws have laid down tools and procedures for us to push through our interest as all democratic nations do.

“Our nation is blessed with exceptionally talented and beautiful people, we are collectively strong and indomitable and it is time for all of us to stand up for our nation.

“Our dream of a virile nation must keep us motivated and this dream is already in the horizon.”

Saraki added that the national interest must override other interests.

“As leaders closest to our people, we must rededicate ourselves to the values we have institutionalised in this chamber. In this chamber, we are first and foremost Nigerians.

“Yes, we are Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas, Fulanis. Yes, we are Muslims, Christians and traditional worshipers.

“But we must in all our conversations and decisions continue to be first and foremost Nigerians and as Nigerian citizens be our brothers’ keepers.

“Too many of our youths, too many of our families from the South to the North need a lift. Our job is to help government give them a hand and once again make them feel great again about being Nigerians. This is our mission,” Saraki admonished.

Also, the Senate, after a closed-door session Tuesday, maintained that all groups seeking any form of agitation must pursue such agitations constitutionally, adding that violators would henceforth be brought to book.

Thisday newspaper for Wednesday, September 27, 2017. Photo credit: snapshot from ZENITHBLOG.com

Punch on the other hand reports that the chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has said that the forum has resolved to rehabilitate and reintegrate members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra.

READ ALSO: Catholic priest tells FG to ban CAN, JNI

The governors, he said, decided to proscribe the activities of the outlawed group to save the lives of 12 million Igbo living in different parts of the country.

Umahi made the declaration in Ezillo, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Tuesday during the activities marking the ‘2017 Ebonyi Peace Day.’

He declared that the forum had no apology for proscribing IPOB, noting that the measure was adopted to restore peace and save the lives of the people.

“We have all agreed that some of our youths, who were misled in this direction, must be reabsorbed and reintegrated and be made to do something with their hands.

“I have asked the Ministry of Economic Empowerment and Job Creation to open a register for some of our youths in this agitation, who were misled and did not understand what was going on. By my words, we are going to rehabilitate and re-integrate them into meaningful venture,” he stated.

Umahi argued that the IPOB agitation was not about insulting Mr. President or other ethnic nationalities, stressing, however, that agitation should be by peaceful process and that “the issue of marginalisation and agitation should not degenerate into self-help.”

The Punch newspaper for Wednesday, September 27, 2017. Photo credit: snapshot from ZENITHBLOG.com

The Guardian reports that since the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) announced a plan to reconvene its constitutional confab adjourned in 2007, speculations are rife that the federal government may have instigated the development to downplay the ongoing demand for the restructuring of the country.

While a school of thought says President Muhammadu Buhari is too decent to condescend to such a level, others argue that the government may have resolved to adopt that as a strategy to buy time in the growing agitation for restructuring.

Buhari endorsed the activities of PRONACO’s constitutional conference during the administration of erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo but changed his disposition to similar agitations when he assumed office in 2015.

Those who alleged that the president may have a plan with PRONACO hinged their position on the notion that the issue of restructuring is fast unsettling the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and also making the administration of President Buhari lose popularity and credibility ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Some notable members of the ruling party, including former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, have openly canvassed restructuring as the only panacea to the nation’s challenges.

Among those who expressed reservation on whether the president would accept or reject the PRONACO option barely 24 hours after the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) canvassed a return to the 1963 Constitution, were former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, spokesman of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, National Secretary, Nigeria Summit Group (NSG), Mr. Tony Uranta and the spokesman of PRONACO, Mr. Wale Okunnyi

The Guardian newspaper for Wednesday, September 27, 2017. Photo credit: snapshot from ZENITHBLOG.com

Vanguard reports that the Senate, after a two-hour closed-door session, yesterday, declared that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.

This came as the House of Representatives resolved to investigate calls for restructuring by some sections of the country 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.

PAY ATTENTION: Watch more videos on ZENITHBLOG.com TV

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.