NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CAN’T TAKE AWAY PRESIDENT’S
ASSENT TO CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT – NWOKO
Editor's Note : Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, a frontline lawyer cum Human Rights Activist is currently
the Honourable Commissioner of
Justice/Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and is undoubtedly one of those who
were passionate about Mr. Udom
Gabriel Emmanuel’s emergence as Governor in the build up to the 11th
April election . In this interview with Anny MICHAELS he shares the story of
Udom’s victory and gives an insight on matters arising from President Jonathan’s
rejection to sign the alteration
bill sent to him by the senate.
It’s quite revealing. Excerpts!
You know the Udom/Moses
ticket was anchored on divine mandate and the people of Akwa Ibom came out in
their numbers to support the project by their votes. That’s why you can feel
the celebration, joy, excitement and general merry making as a result of the
pronouncement of Udom’s victory. He is quite a sound professional, God fearing
and public spirited. Akwa Ibom will continue to enjoy the dividends of
democracy under his watch. I must congratulate him and I see this as a well
deserved victory.
By way of insight being a
stakeholder, what should Akwa Ibom people expect from the incoming government?
The people should expect good governance. It
is because they believe in the project that’s why they voted. We will need to
be patient because the Governor will not just fly from where the uncommon
transformer stopped but will have to look carefully at priority areas that need
urgent intervention to treat first before others. With his sound judgment what
the people expect will not be an issue so we need to co-operate with the
incoming government to marshal out her blueprint for the good of Akwa Ibom
people.
Recently the Akwa IBom
caucus in the senate via a media chat called for the cancellation of elections in
Akwa Ibom by INEC, what’s your take?
That Akwa Ibom Caucus in
the senate is not people centred. Who are we talking about here – Senator Helen
Esuene of labour party who contested against Udom Emmanuel or Ita Enang who is
now speaking for APC after he couldn’t get a ticket or is it Aloysius Etuk? You
must understand the angle from which they are coming from. The issue is that,
Akwa Ibom have decided that Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel of PDP be the Governor
and that is it. Really there is no need to join issues with the said caucus.
Moving on, President
Goodluck Jonathan refused to sign the alteration bill sent to him for assent by
the national assembly questioning some grey areas, how will you evaluate the
development as a law professional?
It’s a good development in
democracy because people are not use to challenges where the executive say no
on an issue or the legislature refuse
to accept an issue. We are use to these issues being pre-discussed by the two
tiers of government but I must commend the president for the decision to reject
to sign the bill and question some areas.
He specifically queried
the clause that says the president is no longer to assent future constitution
amendments?
You see, there is no way
the national assembly will take away the president’s assent to constitution
amendment after all this is democracy where the rule of law is paramount. The
normal procedure is that when the legislature is done with a bill , the president gives assent so with
what the national assembly have done
its means they will process the
bill that is a constitution amendment and also
give assent which defeats the principles of separation of power
in democracy.
…. Does
that mean, it is a plot by the national assembly to arrogate powers?
It is obvious but they
need to also give room for expectations in democracy so that no one is raising
eyebrow. What I expect is for them to make good laws to make it easy for the president to assent.
Pundits say that the
alteration bill violates the doctrine of separation of powers, your take?
Sure, it violates the
principle of separation of powers. The president’s legal team must have studied
the document and made those recommendations with respect to the grey areas which
made the president to reject it for the overall interest of democracy.
The other issue with the
constitution amendment is allowing the national judicial council to now appoint
the Attorney General of the federation
rather than the president doing so, are you in support for against the move?
It is not right to
completely keep the president out of the appointment because just like the
other ministers he is coming to work with the President. What I will rather
advocate for is for the president to appoint the Attorney General but with
recommendations from the national judicial council.
As Akwa Ibom Attorney
General, what is you view on the alteration bill whitling down the
discretionary powers of the Attorney General of the federation?
I feel the office of the
Attorney General should be separated from the office of the minister of Justice
but care as to roles carefully analyzed. They Attorney General is quite a
needful portfolio in democracy that is not subject to debate and this must to
be projected.
Do you think the president
did well to have refused signing the alteration bill?
Yes, it’s not about President Jonathan after all
he is leaving office in a month’s time but about the office of the president in
a democracy. The incoming president should be able to assent to future
constitution amendment that is fundamental. The president acted as a statesman
to reject the alteration bill for those grey areas to be addressed. Don’t
forget if the national assembly cannot iron out those issues before the
President leaves office for his assent before 29th May, 2015 the incoming
president will do it. The president was quite bold and courageous in taking the
decision for the good of Nigerians.
The other time we talked you gave some assurances that the state ministry of justice will soon be provided with adequate law books, journals and reports to enhance service delivery, what is the situation now?
Yes we are very firm about it and I’m happy to
report that we have made progress. We sat that with the permanent secretary
and other directors from the various departments in the ministry to look at the list of those books, journals
and reports that will actually aid practice not just to fill the library with
books and contract have been
signed for the supply of those
books so that service delivery can be enhanced and this
we mean to the later.
How will you assess the
justice system in the state under your watch?
It’s quite commendable as
I inherited a sound justice system and must give credit to the two Attorney Generals
before me, Chief Assam Assam and Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim and I’m consolidating
on that because the court is the last hope of the common man and there must be
value people have in the system. The good thing is that one is operating a
system in which the Governor is a lawyer himself and understands what it is to
have a dependable justice system. On the whole it’s quite commendable.
As we push to the limit of
this interview, what will be your advice to Akwa Ibom people at this period of
transition from one government to another?
I will want our people to
give the Udom’s government every support to succeed. We should look at the
greater Akwa Ibom because after elections come governance. I will like those
who are use to pulling people down as they did to Governor Akpabio which he
refused to be distracted to refrain from the act as such personal interest
negates our collective interest as a people. We should work together to
consolidate on the gains of the Akpabio’s government so that Akwa Ibom will get
greater.
Many thanks for sparing
your time for this interview?
You are welcome.
NHRC
to train transport operators
By
Victoria Apabio
National Human Rights
Commission is set to train members
of keke owners and riders
association in the State, and have them certified as Human Rights Advocate and defenders
of the fundamental human rights
of the people in the state.
Speaking recently with newsmen, the State
Coordinator of NHRC, Mr. Tony Iji said, the NHRC’s Pilot Training Workshop on
Human Rights for road transport operators in the state would commence soon.
According to Iji, the Keke
Owners and Riders Association of Akwa Ibom State (KORA) have been selected for
the pilot training, and would have its registered members trained and certified as Human Rights Advocates by the commission,
Iji stated that, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Professor, Bem Angwe would
lead the commissions team to the
activity as the Chief Resource person.
Reacting, the
president, Keke Owners and Riders
Association of Akwa Ibom State, Mr.
Jeremiah Eseme Jackson confided in the
Sensor correspondent that, his members
were happy about the news, prepared to receive high ranking officials
from NHRC, Abuja. Jackson said, KORA is the original group of Keke
Owners and Riders in the state. He also called
on all his members and other affiliate group to rally round KORA in order to reposition the transport
sector in the state.
Jackson who particularly
commended the efforts of the State Coordinator of NHRC, Mr. Iji Tony on Human
Right Advocacy, described him as a true Human Rights Advocate.
He thanked Mr. Iji for his
initiative to train members of Keke Owners and Riders in the state. Jackson
promised to abide by the principles of the commission when they are fully
integrated.
Mothers’
Day: cleric emphasizes appreciation of motherhood
By Victoria Akpabio
The 2015 Mothers’ Day
celebration has been held with a call for
Christians to respect the roles played by mothers in the church and
society at large. This was the exhortation made by the Priest in St. John’s Parish, 72 Abak Road, Uyo,
Friar John-Kenedy Okpara, during his homily, last sunday. According to Friar
Okpara, the place of women in church
building and that of the society is such that cannot be overlooked as their contributions
are usually significant.
While describing a good mother, the cleric said, she is everything to the
family; she’s one who has the heart to accommodate, people, attends to
problems, understands situations and perhaps profers solutions in times of crisis. Infact, a good
mother has no heart to hate her child for whatever reason, instead she can only
reprimand for wrong doing.
“And so, on a day like
this, I urge the mothers to keep up with their good works in the family, church and large society. Your role
is very unique such that your contribution is necessary to bring life and
warmth to human existence.”
To the men and children,
the Franciscan Capuchin stressed, “you
must learn to reciprocate in every way possible, the love and care shown to you
by yours wives and mothers. A good wife and mother should indeed mean the world
to you. I therefore call on our men in particular, to pay special attention to
their wives and treat them dearly. If you truly love them, you’ll certainly
show respect. This is one duty we all owe our mothers.”
In her remarks, the
President of Catholic Women
Organization (CWO) in St. John’s Parish, Mrs. Elsie Udofia, disclosed that he
main theme of this year’s celebration was Stewardship and Discipline-ship of
Catholic Mothers; adding that “it was a
guide to direct all our activities as wives and mothers in the family and large
society.
“Our multiple roles and
expectations of the society on us cannot be overemphasized. We’re home makers,
home builders, counselors, confidants cooks, wives and more importantly great
intercessors.”
Mrs Elsie Udofia who is the acting General
Manager of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC), however, urged the
mothers to live out their roles
successfully, assuring that with
God on their side, they will make more impacts to the family, society
and the nation at large.
No comments:
Post a Comment