Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) intend to use the ongoing constitutional amendment to vest power on Chief Justice of Nigeria to set up a panel to hear an appeal from election tribunals.
And concerned about this inordinate scheme, the governor has urged members of the National Assembly to shun partisan politics and primordial sentiments and work for the interest of Nigerians.
Governor Wike made this assertion when the Senate sub-committee on constitutional amendment for the South-South zone led by Senator George Sekibo paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor asserted that he has uncovered a plot by the APC to hide under the guise of constitutional amendment to deprive the President of the Court of Appeal the power to constitute a panel to hear appeal cases from election petition tribunal.
He further frowned at the attempt by the ruling party to also use the Electoral Act amendment process to deny State High Court from hearing pre-election matters. According to him, the APC is scheming to vest power to exclusively hear such matters on Federal High Court.
Governor Wike emphasized that it is important at this crucial period of the nation’s history, that the National Assembly should use the opportunity of amendment to correct a lot of anomaly in the 1999 Constitution.
He observed that though no constitution can be described as perfect, concerted efforts must be made by Federal lawmaker to deliver a better constitution for Nigeria.
Governor Wike urged the members of the National Assembly from the South-South geopolitical zone to canvass for an upward review of the 13 per cent derivation to 50 per cent.
He further tasked them to press for the devolution of power, creation of state police and strengthening of the federal character. According to him, the prevailing situation where only persons from a certain section of the country are appointed to sensitive positions is unacceptable.
“I think this is an opportunity for members of the National Assembly to say they are working for the interest of Nigeria and not for the party they belong to. Because at the end of the day, if anything happens to the country, you will all be affected.”
The Rivers State governor called for the creation of an additional state in the South East geopolitical zone in order to correct the current imbalance in the six geopolitical zones.
“There is no way the South-East should continue to have only five states. It is very unfair. Since other regions have six states, South-East should be made to have six states.”
Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on amendment of the Constitution which cover Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River, Senator George Sekibo said the National Assembly has virtually completed the first processes of the review of the 1999 constitution.
“The House of Representatives and the Senate alone cannot amend the constitution of the great country, so we have come to reach out to our people to collate their views, and inputs they will make in the constitution.
“The constitution actually is supposed to be a law that is made by the people and so, we are here to collate views from major stakeholders in these three states and when we get back to Abuja, we will see how we can harmonize their views and those of other stakeholders already sent to us.”
Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Congress has canvassed for the upward review of the derivation formula, calling for a return to the Hick-Phillipson formula which allocated 50% to the production areas.
This was contained in the position and recommendations presented to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Port Harcourt, chaired by Senator Betty Apiafi by the NDC on Thursday.
The NDC stated its support for the restructuring of the country to pave way for economic and political autonomy for the Niger Delta peoples. The NDC called for, amongst other recommendations, the removal of 45 items from the Exclusive Legislative list, including the Police, arms and ammunition, mines and minerals, and ports.
The NDC also proposed a return to the derivation formula as proposed by the Hicks-Phillipson which states that 50% should be for the production area, 35% to the state, and 15% to the Federal Government. This derivation formula is what was in place as at 1st October 1963.
The NDC, nonetheless, said it noticed the glaring unseriousness of the committee from its processes and the conduct of the committee members.
It stated that its appearance at the public hearing was to fulfil all righteousness and to put on record the stance of the Niger Delta regarding the 1999 Constitution.
“We would like to categorically state that the NDC is against the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended and calls for a brand new constitution. We would also like to state that the fate of the Niger Delta peoples which the NDC represents is not dependent on the actions or inaction of the committee, but is in our hands as a people.
“Consequently the Niger Delta peoples do not plan on waiting on the committee to address the existential issues affecting the people and region. The Niger Delta peoples through the Niger Delta Congress has taken its future into its own hands. We call on all Niger Deltans to keep hope alive and anticipate the Niger Delta Peoples Conference to be held in October 2021 where our people will take far-reaching decisions on our collective future as a people”.
