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Nigerian Senators Clash Over Regional Government Proposal

Published

11 months ago

September 29, 2024

Nigerian Senators from both Southern and Northern regions have expressed differing views over the agitation for the return to a regional system of government.

They shared their opinions at the sidelines of a two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 Constitution, organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in Kano.

While senators from the northern region vehemently opposed the idea, those from southern Nigeria described it as a welcome development that would improve the economy, tackle insecurity, and accelerate infrastructural development.

However, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, assured Nigerians that the issue of regionalism was not part of the ongoing constitution review.

A ranking senator from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi, told journalists that his people would never support the idea because they did not experience any form of development when the system was practiced during the defunct First Republic.

Ningi said, “I have heard so much about regional government or federalism, and I have heard people canvassing for such ideas.

“For a start, no matter how you see it, the current document (1999 Constitution) is still the grundnorm. It has also stipulated how it is going to be amended.

“Having said that, it is also imperative to know that it isn’t just enough for anybody to come and say they are the representative of one ethnic group or another at the National Assembly.

“The question that arises is: when was this mandate canvassed? When was it received? You are a representative of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, at what time were you given the mandate to canvass that?

“The only people that are given this mandate to look at the Constitution and amend it are, of course, members of the National Assembly.

“Therefore, it is important for those who go about selling these ideas, false ideas in my opinion, that they are representatives of the people, to let Nigerians know where they are coming from, on whose mandate, and when was this mandate given to them.

“We have seen how the regional government was operated in the past. My part of the country that I am representing didn’t enjoy the development of that so-called regional government that was based in Kaduna.

“We aren’t going back there again! I am speaking for my senatorial district. It is either the Nigerian Federation or nothing. We can’t go along; my senatorial district will be satisfied independently with Nigeria, if that is what is required.

“As far as regional government is concerned, my constituency, my people aren’t for it. What we need is reform of the current Federal Government structure and fiscal federalism because there is nothing like true federalism.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, advised Nigerians against mistaking the establishment of zonal development commissions for regionalism.

He said the various geopolitical zonal development commissions were strictly for the social and economic development of their areas.

He said, “It is wrong for anybody to think that the development commissions being established for the six geopolitical zones are a plan towards regionalism. It is not.

“Those who are advocating for it should come up with bills through their representatives in the National Assembly and test the popularity of their proposal.”

Similarly, former Senate Leader Ali Ndume said the idea of true federalism was no longer fashionable because many countries in Africa had discarded it.

He advocated for the creation of strong institutions that would enhance good governance and curb corruption and insecurity.

“When the government puts these in place, there won’t be clamour for true federalism because there will be justice, equity, and fairness in all regions of the country.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, representing Katsina South Senatorial District, also disagreed with the proponents of regional government.

He said the essence of the ongoing retreat was to improve on the defects and anomalies discovered in the nation’s constitution over the years.

He said, “We should not have myopic thinking about ourselves. There is no section of this country that is not blessed.

“What is important is that we should have good governance and credible and responsible access to the resources that we have because Nigeria is blessed.

“We have all the comparative advantages that will move this country forward unless, of course, we are serious and determined.”

However, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial District, disagreed with those condemning the regional system of government.

Buhari said, “Recall that the regions were able to harness their resources in the First Republic.

“We were able to harness all our resources. There was no dominance of particular resources.

“In those years, the North was known for the groundnut pyramids, the South West for cocoa. We should be able to do that.

“When you make the center less attractive, you cut off corruption. You can’t wipe it off, but you can cut it down, because there is what is called ‘watch your team.’ People will watch their team within their locality or within their region.”

Asked whether the South West region had a specific agenda for the ongoing constitution review, Buhari said it would be presented at the appropriate time.

He said, “We don’t want to disclose that agenda yet, but we have agreed among ourselves that the person who will present it is the Chairman of the South West Forum when the time comes. It would be very unfair for me now as a member to start discussing that.”

However, the Senate Leader emphasized that the issue of regionalism could not be changed through a constitutional amendment.

He said, “There are some decisions in the state where an executive bill cannot come to the parliament unless there is some political consensus.

“For me, going back to a regional form of governance is something that will go beyond a bill being sponsored, either as a member’s bill or as an executive bill.

“It’s also not something that you sit down in a public hearing room and organize a public hearing to take a decision on.

“An example is when people say, ‘Oh, you are in parliament. As a parliament, you cannot discard the entire constitution. Nigeria needs a new constitution because this one cannot work.’

“It’s easy for people to make such arguments, but that is not something we can sit down in parliament and do.

“We aren’t changing the constitution because that would require political consensus, and it would also require the buy-in of the Nigerian people themselves.

“Why is it so difficult to amend even one section of the constitution, let alone discard the entire constitution?

“To amend a single provision in the constitution today, the National Assembly and all chambers have to go through this entire process, which we go through in every legislative assembly, and many of you have been a part of this process.”

News

JUST IN: DSS Writes X, Wants Sowore’s Account Deactivated Over Tweet Targeting Tinubu

Published

10 minutes ago

September 7, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has petitioned the Chairman and CEO X Corp., Elon Musk’s controlling company managing the popular social media app, X (formerly Twitter), over a tweet by activist Omoyele Sowore.

The Nigeria’s intelligence security agency, in a petition addressed to the Chairman and CEO of X Corp. Bastrop County in Texas, United States of America (USA) and dated September 6,2025, accused Sowore of targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a disparaging and ridiculous tweet capable of creating political tension and threatening the country’s national security.

The DSS, in its petition, also accused Sowore of spreading misleading information and willful intention to furthering an ideology capable of serious harm, incitement to violence, cyber crime, hate speech to discredit Tinubu, therefore calling on the social media company to ban or deactivate the verified X handle of the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).

The agency, while referencing the tweet, said those words are personally targeted at Tinubu with the president’s X handle mentioned by Omoyele Sowore, stating that the tweet is against the transparency on X and Government has frowned at it and found it extremely dangerous, false, and privacy violation behavior.

The petition, signed by B. Bamigboye, on behalf of DSS; Director General State Services, reads:

“We detected and monitored with dismay and consternation a widely condemned publication/trending Tweet by Omoyele Sowore on his X official handle page @YeleSowore on 25th August, 2025 about 11:38 PM local time (2338 hours) WAT disparaging and ridiculing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Tweet read: “This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”

“Those words were personally directed at Mr. President through his official communication channel @officialABAT which is the known X handle of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The said tweet is herewith attached and will be referenced on herein for emphasis and necessary action.

“The said tweet is still in circulation and has attracted widespread condemnation by majority of Nigerians, some of whom may resort to unwholesome activities to vent their grievance over it, especially supporters of the President who have started taking to the streets in protest, thereby creating political tension and threatening the country’s national security. This is in addition to the disparaging effect the tweet has on the reputation of Mr. President and the country before the comity of nations.

“The tweet under reference is against the transparency on X and Government has frowned at it and found it extremely dangerous, false, privacy violation behavior that manipulate and negatively impacts on the person of the President and the Country.

“It is pertinent to bring to your knowledge that under the Nigerian Law, these quoted tweets/words constitute offence punishable in Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act Cap.77 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, which prohibits publication of false information; Sections 19,22 and 24 of the Cyber Crimes Act 2025 which prohibits and makes it an offence to spread fake news or publishing content that is deliberately misleading or deceptive, posting content that is rude, vulgar, offensive, or indecent, especially with the intent to embarrass or humiliate others, provoke ethnic, religious, or tribal hatred through online or offline statements; amounting to domestic terrorism. The Law also makes the offender and the medium through which the offence is perpetrated/propagated culpable and criminally liable too. The author and purveyor of the inflammatory online publication against Mr. President is very much aware that the publication is also prohibited by Section 2(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and other relevant Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is not in doubt that the words employed by Mr. Omoyele Sowore is misleading information, online harassment and abuse, willful intention of furthering an ideology capable of serious harm, hate speech, cause disunity, discredit/disparage the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria within the Comity of Nations to damage the image of Nigeria and cause serious threat to national security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is against the above highlighted backdrop that we make an immediate and urgent demand on your Corporation to as a matter of its own policy, immediately TAKE DOWN the tweet and its attendant re-tweets.
This demand is unequivocal with its attendant consequence. Should you fail, neglect and refuse to comply with the command in this notice, the Federal Government will be compelled to take far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures through our Organization, whose mandate covers such criminal acts.
In the light of the above having been made official to you, 24 hours is sufficient enough to take necessary action.”

News

W’Cup Qualifiers: Super Eagles Edge Rwanda 1-0 To Revive Qualification Hopes

Published

13 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

In a high-stakes 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria secured a vital 1–0 victory over Rwanda, breathing new life into their qualification hopes.

The only goal of the match came in the 51st minute when Tolu Arokodare capitalized on a loose ball in the penalty area, slotting it past Rwanda’s goalkeeper to give Nigeria a crucial lead.

The first half ended goalless, with both teams cautious in their approach. Nigeria’s defense, marshalled by Calvin Bassey, held firm despite Rwanda’s tactical shifts in the second half.

News

NCDC Alerts Nigeria As DR Congo Declares Ebola Outbreak

Published

13 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following the confirmation of a new Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

As of September 4, 2025, the DRC has reported 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, in the Kasai Province.

The Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the agency will continue to monitor the regional and global situations as there are no cases of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria, as of now.

However, the NCDC is taking proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease, and it is working closely with relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Partners to strengthen preparedness and response measures in Nigeria.

Idris urged Nigerians to practice good hand hygiene by washing their hands regularly with soap under running water or using hand sanitisers. He also advised Nigerians to avoid physical contact with anyone showing symptoms of infection or an unknown diagnosis.

Additionally, individuals should handle animals with gloves and protective clothing, and cook animal products thoroughly to reduce the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission.

Furthermore, people should avoid direct contact with the blood, saliva, vomit, urine, and other bodily fluids of suspected or confirmed EVD cases.

The NCDC advises Nigerian citizens and residents to avoid all but essential travel to countries with confirmed Ebola cases. Those with recent travel history to affected areas who experience symptoms should promptly call the NCDC hotline (6232) or their State Ministry of Health hotline for assessment and testing.

They should also shelter-in-place to avoid further spread through shared transport systems and await dedicated responders for assessment and possible transport to a treatment centre.

The NCDC is strengthening surveillance across the country, including borders and airports, and enhancing laboratory capacities for quick testing of suspected cases.

Idris assured that the agency will continue to provide periodic updates on the situation as the Ebola outbreak in the DRC is caused by the Zaire strain, with a mortality rate estimated at 57%.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has deployed experts to support response efforts, and the DRC has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.