Politics
Constitution Amendment: Mbah canvasses for state creation, state police, rotational president
By Our Reporter
As Nigerians lend their voices in the current reviw of the 1919 constitution governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for the creation of an additional state for the South East, to place it at par with the other six geopolitical zones.
Mbah also made a case for rotational presidency and state police to give every part of the country a sense of belonging and secure the nation better.
He spoke on Thursday evening when he received in audience members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment, who were on a courtesy visit to him at Government House, Enugu, ahead of the regional public hearing on constitution amendment holding at the International Conference Centre, Enugu during the today(Friday).
“One that excites us most is the idea of state policing. We have advocated ardently that there is need for states to create state police services, just as you have the the federal police, but with defined jurisdictions and operational parametres.
“We think that this is overdue and there could not be better time for that given the fragilities we have in our various communities. The state police will be a truly welcome development in our Constitution.
“The South East suffers injustice. The fact that across the different geopolitical zones, the South East is the only one with five states. So that is also what we believe will be corrected in this process of amendment.
“Of course, the idea of rotational presidency is important too. We think that, that obviously would provide South East and every other region a chance at the presidency.
“So, these are areas we believe are commendable and we will be presenting our position formarly in the hearing tomorrow and the subsequent days,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Senate Deputy Chief Whip and leader of the delegation, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, said the Committee was in Enugu to get the inputs of the people of the South East into the constitution amendment process.
“It goes without saying that the 1999 constitution has received a lot of criticism from Nigerians, including that it is the product of military dictatorship and, as such, does not represent the intrest of all the segments that make up Nigeria. As a result of these criticisms. There is a need to alter the constitution from time to time.
“We pray that this engagement will afford us the people of South East the opportunity to right some wrongs as a result of the position of the 1999 constitution, which we the people of South East are crying foul that we are being marginalised in so many areas, particularly as it relates to the number of states, juxtaposing same with other geopolitical zones of Nigeria,” Nwebonyi stated
By David Owei, Bayelsa
Governor Ademola Adeleke is not defecting to African Democratic Congress (ADC) nor aligning with anybody within the ADC ahead of the 2026 state elections, his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed has disclosed.
Responding to media publication and enquiries, the Spokesperson affirmed that Governor Adeleke remains in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is going to win, with wide margins, the 2026 governorship elections on the platform of the PDP.
The statement reads further: “Our attention has been drawn to news reports and media enquiries about the imminent defection of Governor Adeleke to the ADC or alignment with ADC big wigs ahead of the 2026 governorship race. There is no truth in those publications and speculations.
“First of all, we, the PDP Osun, have already adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, so there is no alliance with ADC.
“Secondly, Governor Adeleke has no alliance with anyone in ADC. He remains in PDP, will run in PDP, and needs no alliance with ADC to win with a wide margin in 2026.
“The Osun electorate supports Governor Adeleke because of his impressive performance since he came to office. That good work is still ongoing and Osun people are committed to sustaining the delivery of good governance by re-electing Governor Adeleke in 2026”, the Spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Governor Adeleke urges PDP members to forge ahead with the ongoing strengthening of the party structures across all levels to prepare for fresh victory next year”, the statement from the Spokesperson concluded.
By David Owei,Bayelsa
The umbrella body of Ijaw Elders, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rejected the Bill in the Senate seeking to permanently elevate the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto as the exclusive Co-chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council.
The INC said the move would be at the expense of apex traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical divides.
The Second Vice Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Alabo Nengi James (OON) said, in a statement on Sunday in Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area of Bayelsa State, the proposal is a continuos infringement on Traditional Rulers in Nigeria.
Alabo Nengi James describes the provision of the Bill as unacceptable and against the Rights of the indigenous People across tribes, Religion, Culture and Customs.
He said the Bill should be reviewed to include clauses such as No permanent Chairmanship for Sultan and Oni only must be allowed in the ongoing bill being discussed in the Senate.
He advocates that the National Assembly should allow the National Council of Traditional Rulers to Appoint their Leadership themselves, rotationaly and based on Federal Character.
“Include the Role of Traditional Rulers into the Constitutio and No Traditional Ruler from another tribe or religion is superior to another.”
“The National Assembly should Step down the Provocative and dehumanizing offensive Bill that will cause a serious rift and breach of peace in Nigeria.”
Chief James called the attention of the Senate President, Rt. Hon. Godswill Akpabio, urging him to immediately step down what he termed a “highly insensitive and dangerous bill.”
He emphasized that traditional rulers across the country must be given equal recognition and should be allowed to choose their national leadership through internal mechanisms that reflect rotational leadership and the federal character system.
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