Indications emerged on Saturday that the seventh
National Assembly which will be inaugurated tomorrow will start off in
controversy following the recent amendment of the house rules to reserve
top positions for returning members.
Already, a member-elect of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Mr. Chike Anyaonu, has described the move as “ranking nonsense” just as some prominent Nigerians said it was improper.
Anyaonu told Sunday Punch in Awka on Saturday that the amended rule was a clear violation of the Constitution and would not stand.
“I see it as a contrivance, a connivance and a conspiracy by the older members against the new members.”
Anyaonu said members, both old and new, should be allowed to vote and be voted for.
He recalled that there was no such ranking in 1999 when the Fourth Republic was inaugurated, yet they elected their leadership.
But a former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said it was unconstitutional and improper.
He said, “It is clearly arrogance and it is unbecoming of experienced politicians. It is up to the new members to accept it or not because it is unconstitutional. The new members can kick against it, declare it illegal and refuse to accept it.”
Human Rights activist, Mrs. Ayo Obe, noted that though the move was not a matter of law, it was up to the legislators to decide on how they would operate.
Chairman of Afenifere in Lagos State Chief Supo Shonibare advised the lawmakers to entrench democratic practices that would strengthen democracy and not adopt procedures of other jurisdictions to determine the best practices.
He said, “The only document that is sacrosanct is the Nigerian constitution. The rules of the National Assembly is not binding on any subsequent parliament and as such the rules can be changed. The will of the majority is what will prevail.”
By Emmanuel Obe and Emmanuel Onyeche Courtesy Of: Punch
Already, a member-elect of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Mr. Chike Anyaonu, has described the move as “ranking nonsense” just as some prominent Nigerians said it was improper.
Anyaonu told Sunday Punch in Awka on Saturday that the amended rule was a clear violation of the Constitution and would not stand.
“I see it as a contrivance, a connivance and a conspiracy by the older members against the new members.”
Anyaonu said members, both old and new, should be allowed to vote and be voted for.
He recalled that there was no such ranking in 1999 when the Fourth Republic was inaugurated, yet they elected their leadership.
But a former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said it was unconstitutional and improper.
He said, “It is clearly arrogance and it is unbecoming of experienced politicians. It is up to the new members to accept it or not because it is unconstitutional. The new members can kick against it, declare it illegal and refuse to accept it.”
Human Rights activist, Mrs. Ayo Obe, noted that though the move was not a matter of law, it was up to the legislators to decide on how they would operate.
Chairman of Afenifere in Lagos State Chief Supo Shonibare advised the lawmakers to entrench democratic practices that would strengthen democracy and not adopt procedures of other jurisdictions to determine the best practices.
He said, “The only document that is sacrosanct is the Nigerian constitution. The rules of the National Assembly is not binding on any subsequent parliament and as such the rules can be changed. The will of the majority is what will prevail.”
By Emmanuel Obe and Emmanuel Onyeche Courtesy Of: Punch
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