By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA FCT – October 1 obviously signifies the day of national significance in our history as a federation of 36 states and Federal Capital Territory. For us all, it is a day of double celebrations when Nigeria will mark her 64th anniversary of political independence and celebrate her 110-year existence as a single political formation.
With these milestones, Nigeria has indeed come a long way despite challenging and turbulent times she has gone through within these periods. Yet, we are a nation undergoing socio-economic and political transformation, which I believe, will soon bring forth desired outcomes, the statement from Directorate of Media and Public Affairs,
Office of the Senate Leader, said on Monday.
After 64 years of political independence and 110 years of corporate existence, onus now rests upon us all to focus our energy and intellect on what majorly unites us as a federation rather than what will further divide us along our ethno-political and religious faultlines.
At this trying time, we must be deliberate to decisively address what easily divide us and heat up our polity in order to build a resilient federation that works for all. It is important for all leaders, political or socio-cultural, religious or traditional, community or professional, to close ranks and come up with consensus on how to end heinous challenges undermining our collective prosperity, national harmony and political stability.
Such a united front has now become imperative at this auspicious time when the review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is underway at the National Assembly. There is no better time to review our federal governance structure than now with a view to creating a federation that is more efficient, functional and responsive.
We have already received 37 fresh memoranda from different interests nationwide. We are also revisiting 16 constitution alteration bills inherited from the Ninth National Assembly. Before public hearings on the constitution review take off January 2025, we are open to more memoranda from all interests.
Among others, we have received memoranda on the need to establish state police; adopt diaspora voting; entrench financial autonomy for local government councils; deepen independence of the judiciary; provide special seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly and create the National Council of Traditional Rulers. More memoranda are welcome.
The process for the review of the 1999 Constitution is unambiguous as enshrined in Section 9(2)(3). It is a collective approach that requires the input of not all the federal and state legislature, but also the contributions of all interests across the federation. As we proceed with the review, we promise not to leave any interest behind in the task of forging a new path for our beloved fatherland. And Nigeria shall be better for it.
Happy 64th Independence Anniversary.
By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA FCT – The 10th senate is spitting fire and brimestone over the plot by faceless and disgruntled elements to rubbish the hard earned reputation of the Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, vowing to deploy all its contacts and powers to unravel those behind the glaring mischief.
Senate gave the warning on Friday in a statement signed by the Directorate Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader made available to Precise Post in Abuja.
The statement reads in full:
We have noticed with grave concerns diverse vicious attempts to pitch the public against the Senate, its leadership and that National Assembly at large. The latest of such attempts was a petition supposedly addressed to Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) against the Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, CON.
The petition, signed by Convener, Public Procurement Transparency Group, David Udoh, accused Senator Bamidele of intimidating and pressurising Chief Executive Officer, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu to award contracts to some companies linked to him contrary to the Public Procurement Act, 2007. This allegation is not only baseless, but also without any evidence in support of its claims.
Already, REA has issued a statement, disputing all these vicious claims. Specifically, its management noted that it was never under any pressure “to compromise the integrity of its procurement process. Rather, it always upholds transparency, fairness, and due process in all its activities, including procurement.”
We have endured enough all sorts of cheap blackmail by faceless groups and individuals using some bloggers and social media to feed the unsuspecting public with falsehoods and fallacies capable of causing further damage not just to the image of the National Assembly, but also to the public perception of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially among comity of nations.
Our preliminary background checks reveal that the Public Procurement Transparency Group has no record with the Corporate Affairs Commission; its Convener, David Udoh, faceless and his phone contact is practically inactive and non-functional. Further checks showed that this faceless group never submitted any petition to ICPC. Nevertheless, its sole aim was to use the social media to blackmail Senator Bamidele
Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and Federal Capital Territory governed by the Constitution, Acts of National Assembly and judicial precedents. Henceforth, we shall no more treat cases of cheap blackmail against the Senate, its leadership and the National Assembly lightly. But we shall treat such infractions within the confine of extant laws and whoever found guilty in the process shall face the full wrath of the laws.
Directorate Media and Public Affairs,
Office of the Senate Leader,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
30th August 2024.
