State police, immunity for governors and status of local
councils were prominent contentious issues that agitated the minds of participants at the public hearings held at the Lagos Central, West and East Senatorial Districts in Lagos State.
Other issues discussed by participants included devolution of powers, creation of more states, recognition of the three geo-political zones in the constitution, constitutional roles for traditional rulers, removal of Land use Act, fiscal federalism and the police. Others are rotational presidency, gender issues, residency and indigenship, and rotation of governorship across the three zones in the state.
Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Ganiyu Solomon and Gbenga Ashafa said that the interest of Lagosians would not be compromised during the constitution review. Also, House of Representatives members; Hakeem Muniru (Oshodi/Isolo Constituency), Deji Jakande (Somolu), Abike Dabiri-Erewa (Ikorodu), Dayo Alebiosu (Kosofe) James Faleke (Ikeja) and Lanre Odubote (Epe) who held similar public hearings in their constituencies, said they would not work against the interest of ACN on the floor.
It was clear that many participants at the public hearings lacked adequate knowledge and understanding about the core issues. For example, at the East District public hearing held at the Grand View Hall, Magodo, Senators Olorunnimbe Mamora and Chief Bisi Adegbuyi had to spend some time to explain the implications of all the items and issues being considered for the review to participants before taking any decision.
The senatorial district sensitisation programme organised by Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Central), Gbenga Ashafa (East) and Ganiyu Solomon (West) took place simultaneously in three locations in the three districts where stakeholders, including teachers, local government workers, politicians and members of the civil society organisations submitted memoranda on their position on the proposed constitution review.
The Lagos Central public hearing organised by Senator Tinubu was chaired by a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, Pa Adekunle Ali. However, at Mrs. Tinubu’s senatorial office, Yaba venue of the exercise, the senatorial leader, Olusi, and people of the district agreed to set up four committees to critically look at the memoranda and come up with a position that will reflect the popular views of the district. The four districts were chaired by Pa Adekunle-Ali, former Minister of State for Defence Demola Seriki, and former state legislators; Wasiu Eshinlokun Samnni and Olajide Jimoh.
Also at the public hearing were Alhaji Mutiu Are, Abegunde Oloko, Alabi Macfoy, Lanre Oshun, Tajudeen Ajide, Wale Adeniji, Abayomi Daramola, Akinyemi Obe, Yetunde Arobieke, Bamgbopa, Toun Adediran, Modupe Johnson, Sola Adetomiwa and Adegbenga Adebayo.
Explaining the justification for the proposed review, Senator Tinubu rejected the 1999 Constitution, saying that it was a legacy of the military government which has never reflected the collective will of Nigerians. She recalled that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had consistently called for the complete overhauling of the constitution in a way that would guarantee true federalism, good governance and grassroots participation in government.
Senator Tinubu, who is a member of the Senate Committe on Constitution Review, disclosed that the committee had scheduled the Southwest public hearing for the Lagos Airport, Ikeja, today, adding that it is also an opportunity for Lagosians to express their opinions.
She added: “As people entrusted with your mandate in Lagos central Senatorial District and indeed, in the entire Lagos State, I and other members of our great party, the ACN, through several fora, have made known the party’s position on some issues highlighted above and consistently called for devolution of power, fiscal federalism and creation of state police”.
Senator Tinubu urged Lagosians to use the constitution review to demand for the listing of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the constitution and conferment of special status on Lagos.
Olusi called for state police, saying that it is long overdue. He said: “We need state police. If they say we are not ripe for state police, we are therefore, ripe for marauders who will come to knock our doors”..
The ACN leader also opposed the removal of immunity from the constitution, saying that it governors would be distracted by political foes. He said erring governors can still face the wrath of the law after leaving office.
Adekunle-Ali called for both structural and constitutional changes, adding that the constitutional issues are better discussed at a national conference. Quoting the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he said: “A constitution is a lame duck, unless it is energised. What we have now is not a federal constitution, but a unitary-federal constitution. We want our LCDAs to be listed in the constitution”.
Seriki called for the scrapping of the minister of state portfolio, advising the President to appoint ministers based on the 36 state structure.
At the East forum, Senator Ashafa reasoned that the 1999 Constitution had been a source of disagreement among stakeholders, adding that the leadership of the National Assembly should be commended for mooting its review.
He stressed: “The National Assembly is quite aware of the popular agitation and perception that the 1999 Constitution has been militarised and it was written by a few chosen people, hence the decision to cross-ferterlise ideas and aggregate views of stakeholders across political, sectoral, social and religious divides to articulate a document that will truly reflect the wish of the people.
Ashafa said the constitution amendment would enhance transparency, credibility, and good governance in the polity to the betterment of the people. He assured that the National Assembly would also consider the views expressed in taking decisions on critical issues, including state police, revenue sharing, state creation, devolution of power, immunity and status of local government.
In his memorandum, former Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, canvassed regional autonomy, constitutional recognition of the six geo-political zones, and retention of two tiers of government, and creation of state police.
Agunsoye said people needed enlightenment about federalism, pointing out that there are only two tiers in federalism. He also cautioned those calling for autonomy for local governments, saying that local government is a creation of the state Houses of Assembly.
Agunsoye said: “In any federal set up, we only have two tiers; the federal and state. In America and Europe, local governments are never listed in the constitution. Federalism is federalism, but we only talk of true federalism here because of the unitary way and manner the federal system is being run”.
The former commissioner rooted for state police, chiding those against it as those evading reality. He added: “We need state police and community police. People who are not familiar with an area should cannot effectively police that environment. This is critical to security”.
