Constitution Review: I Never Called for Scrapping of Senate, Akeredolu
- Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo has reacted to viral reports claiming he called for the abolishment of the Nigerian Senate
- Akeredolu through the state's commissioner for information and orientation, Donald Ojogo, said his position was misinterpreted
- The governor said what he was only calling for was a unicameral Nigerian legislature in order to cut the cost of governance
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Akure, Ondo state - The governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, has disassociated himself from claims that he is agitating for the scrapping of the Senate.
Speaking through Donald Ojogo, the Ondo state commissioner for information and orientation, Akeredolu on Wednesday, June 2, described the report as a product of interpretative error.
Ojogo, setting the record straight, clarified that the governor, like many other right-thinking and well-meaning Nigerians, is calling for a functional and single legislative body so as to reduce cost, The Nation reports.
Source: Facebook
The commissioner said:
“Succinctly, Governor Akeredolu’s view, which is the official position of the Ondo State Government is that, adoption of the Unicameral Legislature, and making it part-time would not only cut cost of governance but has the potentials of enhanced performance and altruistic services to Nigerians.
“Therefore, ascribing or misinterpreting this proposal to isolatedly, depict a call for the scraping of the Nigerian Senate is erroneous. The call for a part-time Unicameral Federal Parliament remains and shall be pursued with all vigour.”
Akeredolu was reported to have said that the upper chamber of the National Assembly should be scrapped amid the ongoing process of amending the 1999 Constitution.
The Punch reports that the governor stated this on Tuesday, June 1, at the southwest zonal public hearing on the review constitution, held at the International Cultural and Event Centre, Akure.
Akeredolu who was represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, also called for a unicameral legislature for Nigeria.
According to the governor, the assembly should be on a part-time basis in other to reduce the cost of governance, Daily Trust reports.
Aiyedatiwa speaking further said the governor's position of the state was for the federal government to be reduced in weight and responsibilities.
He said:
“The position of the Ondo State Government has been made public. We advocate for a Federal Government largely reduced in size and scope of engagement. We want to see a Constitution that will enhance the performance of public office holders at all levels."
House of Reps suspends constitution review hearing
Meanwhile, the planned zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution scheduled for Imo and Abia states has been postponed.
The House of Representatives suspended its constitution review hearing in a statement issued by Idris Wase, the deputy speaker of the House.
According to Wase, on Sunday, May 30, the hearing scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 1, and Wednesday, June 2, was suspended until further notice.
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Constitution review a waste of public funds
A pan Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere, has stated that the ongoing public hearing by the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 constitution would not solve the myriad of challenges confronting Nigeria.
The group, which stated this on Thursday, May 27, emphasised that the constitution review was an exercise in futility.
The general secretary of the group, Sola Ebiseni, said that Afenifere decided not to submit a memorandum at the public hearing because the session of the two arms of the National Assembly, since 2007, did not yield results.
Source: Legit.ng
Onyirioha Nnamdi Onyirioha Nnamdi is a graduate of Literature and English Language at the University of Lagos. He is a Politics/Current Affairs Editor who writes on news and political topics for Legit.ng. He brings into his reporting a wealth of experience in creative and analytical writing. Nnamdi has a major interest in local and global politics. He has a professional certificate from Reuters and was awarded the editor with the best listicle for 2021. Contact: 08062988054, o.nnamdi@corp.legit.ng
Oluwatobi Bolashodun Oluwatobi Bolashodun is a journalist with six years of working experience in the media industry. She graduated from Babcock University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication. Oluwatobi is a former Legit.ng Current Affairs Editor, mostly writing on political, educational, and business topics.
