From: Ali Abare, Gombe
Speakers of state assemblies under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Speakers’ Forum have lent their voices to the call for the country to practice true federalism.
The Forum made this known, at the weekend, in a communiqué issued at the end of its maiden meeting held in Gombe.
The communiqué was signed by John Gaul Lebo, Speaker, Cross Rivers State House of Assembly, who doubles as chairman of the Forum.
Commenting on the prevailing economic, socio-political developments, coupled with agitations from the different quarters of the country, the PDP Speakers insisted on a constitution amendment process that must be holistic in order to strengthen the country’s democracy in order to create true federalism.
The PDP Speakers then called on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency and necessity, revisit the issue of devolution of powers in the current constitutional amendment process.
Lebo explained that devolution of powers was unanimously considered as a priority during one of the constitutional review meetings, but that the National assembly later kicked against it.
In his words, “The Constitutional review process has been on since the last two years. In these two ears, we’ve had no less than four meetings and the last one was in Lagos.
“It was resolved unanimously that one of the most prominent issues in the Constitutional review process was the issue of devolution of power.
“Devolution of powers was priority to all of us and we resolved on the basic items that must form the devolution of powers. Therefore, we were surprised when members of the National Assembly voted differently and rejected devolution of powers.
“Certain other items like the autonomy of the state legislature, autonomy of local governments were there. We don’t want to be selfish by protecting our interests against the interests of the country; that is why we said this devolution of powers must be part of the process,” he explained.
The PDP Speakers’ Forum also resolved to fully support the party during its December 9, 2017 National Convention holding in Lagos.
Among other resolutions reached by the Forum was the adoption of the Speaker of Cross Rivers State House of Assembly John Gaul Lebo as Head of its Caretaker Committee, with the Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly as Secretary.
In attendance at the meeting were Speakers of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Rivers and Taraba states.