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Proposal On Regional Government In Nigeria To Be Sent To President Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmad Tinubu

 

A bill proposing a return to the regional system of government for Nigeria will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu next week.

Speaking with newsmen the drafter of the private bill, Dr Akin Fapohunda, who had earlier hinted of his intent to interface with members of the National Assembly ahead of the transmission of the bill to the parliament, said he had chosen to send the proposed law to President Tinubu, who may in turn present same to the parliament as executive bill.

The bill proposing a return to regional government in Nigeria is before the National Assembly and is expected to be passed into law before October 1, 2024.

Part of the draft Bill seen by SaharaReporters on Friday partly read: “PART I – Preliminaries: WHEREAS Nigeria, its Peoples and Government have been governed under Decree 24 of 1999 that was handed down by the then Military Government without the express consent of the people despite the preamble of “We the people.”

“WHEREAS the said Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) is not autochthonous as it does not evolve from the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian People.

“WHEREAS the Peoples of Nigeria now desire and effectively demand for a change to a Constitution based on Federal/Regional System of Government.

“WHEREAS the Federal and Regional governments are to operate within the provisions of this Constitution, it is within the discretion of the ethnic blocs within the States that constitutes a given region to aggregate or disaggregate as Provinces, Divisions and Districts, while being in control of their affairs without let or hindrance at whatever level of governance.

“Whereas the 1999 Constitution as amended is a schedule of a military decree now deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly for which the National Assembly have the powers to amend and/or abrogate as expedient.

“Whereas the National Assembly where so necessary and expedient can invoke the doctrine of necessity to resolve any point of law for the good governance of the country Nigeria.”

On PART 11 – Substitution Clause, the drafters proposed that the National Assembly shall invoke its inherent powers to expunge the schedule attached to decree 24 of 1999 often referred to as 1999 Constitution as amended from the decree, which “is now deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly to which the National Assembly have the powers to so do and replace same with a new governance model for Nigeria effective not later than October 1, 2024.”

“This amendment is subject to a yes or no vote in a Referendum by the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it proposed.

On governance structure under PART III – Stipulations for Federal Administration, the sponsors proposed that: “(1) Nigeria shall be a Federation comprising of Regional Territories and a Federal Capital Territory and shall be a Republic to be known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“(2) The territorial jurisdiction of Nigeria shall comprise the territory of the Regional members of the Federation and its boundaries shall be as determined by international agreements

“3.2 Basis of the Federation: “(1) Every Ethnic Nationality and People in Nigeria has an unconditional right to self-determination within here delineated territories.

“(2) The sovereignty, powers and authority to formulate the articles of association towards any reform of the Central Federal Government of Nigeria, at any other time shall lie jointly and severally with all the ethnic nationalities occupying their respective territories.

“(3) Every Ethnic Nationality and People in Nigeria has the right to a full measure of self-government which includes the right to establish institutions of government in the territory that it inhabits and to equitable representation in the Federal and Regional Governments.

“(4) A “Ethnic Nationality or People” for the purpose of this Constitution, is a group of people who have or share large measure of a common culture or similar customs, mutual intelligibility of language, belief in a common or related identities, a common psychological make-up, and who inhabit.”

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Kano Emirate Law 2024 Remains ,But Governor’s Action Voided

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Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero

A Federal High Court in Kano has set aside all steps taken by Kano state government to repeal the Kano Emirates Council Law.

The Kano House of Assembly had repealed the law after which Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf implemented it by dethroning Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano.

The governor also reversed the creation of four emirates, Bichi, Rano Karaye and Gaya, and sacked the Emirs appointed by his predecessor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The law was also relied upon to re-appoint the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was dethroned by Ganduje in 2020, as the 16th Emir of Kano.

But a kingmaker in the former Kano emirate, Aminu Babba Danagundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, challenged the propriety of the law and asked the court, through his counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), to declare it null and void.

In his ruling on Thursday,  Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman set aside the action of Kano government, ordering parties to maintain status quo.

The judge held that the defendants were aware of the interim order granted by the court but chose to ignore it and went ahead with implementation of the law.

The judge held that he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with his order.

However, the  judge transferred the case to Justice Simon Amobeda for continuation in view of his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

Daily Trust

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Arrest Kwankwaso Now-Group

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The Arewa Youths Merger Group has called for the immediate arrest of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party .This is contained in a press statement signed by. the chairman of the group Musa Mujahid Zantawa and made available to press.

This follows his recent statement accusing the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of fostering a new generation of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in Northern Nigeria.

Kwankwaso’s allegations have sparked significant controversy, prompting a strong reaction from the Arewa Youths Merger Group.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the association’s leader, Musa Mujahid Zaitawa, condemned Kwankwaso’s remarks as inflammatory and detrimental to national security.

Zaitawa asserted that such statements could exacerbate tensions and potentially incite violence in the region.

“Kwankwaso’s unfounded accusations against the federal government are not only reckless but also dangerous. They undermine efforts to combat terrorism and promote peace in Northern Nigeria,”

Zaitawa said. “We urge the authorities to take immediate action and arrest him to prevent further escalation of hostilities.”

Kwankwaso, a prominent political figure and former Governor of Kano State, made the controversial statement during a recent public address.

He accused the APC administration of failing to address the root causes of terrorism and instead contributing to its proliferation.

According to Kwankwaso, government actions and policies are inadvertently creating conditions conducive to the rise of a new breed of insurgents.

The situation remains tense as stakeholders from various sectors weigh in on the implications of Kwankwaso’s statement and the response from the Arewa Youths Merger Group.

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Any Plot to Arrest My Supporters Will Be Resisted – Gov. Fubara

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Governor Fubara of Rivers State

 

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that he will fearlessly lead the way to ensure that peace continued to prevail in the State while also protecting all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth.

Governor Fubara made the vow while addressing newsmen, shortly after rising from a State Security Council meeting with heads of the security agencies at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The Governor emphasised that no grand plan to arrest such patriotic supporters on trumped-up charges will be tolerated.

Governor Fubara stated that there is no extension of tenure of elected local government chairmen, adding that the law is unambiguous on it, clarifying that the court has also affirmed the position of the law.

The Governor said: “Let me also say this: I’m also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters. This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us has done. Rather, they are standing on the side of truth.

If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course,” he added.

Governor Fubara further said: “Let me assure everyone, more especially, the great and peace- loving people of Rivers State: the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure.

The court said so, and whoever that is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this State.

“I assure everyone of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that,” he emphasised.

Governor Fubara explained that the Security Council Meeting was called because of the recent threat to the peace of the State by the outgone chairmen of the Local Government Councils.

The Governor said: “You are all aware that the tenure of the council chairmen ended yesterday, 17th June, 2024, and today, we have ordered the Heads of Local Government Administration to be in charge while they await further directives.

It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of council secretariats, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the Security Council Meeting so that the needful will be done.

“We are also aware that our enemy is also planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace that we are enjoying in the State,” he added.

He thanked the media and the peace-loving people of the State for their support, and urged everyone to continue to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of the State.

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