James Emejo in Abuja
A bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to enable the National Assembly remove a governor or deputy governor of a state suffered a setback wednesday as it was not only opposed but stepped down by the sponsors amid a heated debate.
Specifically, the bill, sponsored by Hon. Edward Gyang Pwajok (Plateau, PDP) and Hon. Ali Isa (Gombe, PDP), was moved and read for the second time.
It seeks “to delete the proviso to Section 11(4) of the constitution to enable the National Assembly to remove a governor or deputy governor of a state in appropriate circumstances and for other related matters.”
In clear terms, the bill was seeking to delete the existing powers which the constitution confers on the National Assembly to take over state Houses of Assembly in times of crisis and replace same with the powers to remove the governor or deputy governor of a state.
But House members who vehemently expressed their opposition to the bill, argued that it was unnecessary because the constitution has already empowered the National Assembly to intervene in any state of the federation whenever appropriate.
House Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos, APC), said the bill was vague and defective as the constitution has already established that a federal system of government is in practice and National Assembly enactment is bound to cover the federation.
Hon. Nicholas Ossai (Delta, PDP) said the constitution has already cured concerns raised in the rejected bill.
Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha opposed the bill, adding that whosoever has personal scores to settle in his or her state should go there and resolve it.
Others said allowing the bill to scale through could signal a dangerous precedent.
Also, Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Yusuf Sulaiman Lasun, who chaired the plenary, wondered why the bill was listed in the Order Paper in the first place.
He added that it shouldn’t have been debated at all.
At that point, a subdued Edward Pwajok, in a face saving effort, thanked his colleagues for the resourcefulness in analysing the bill and stepped it down.
