ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has urged the Nigeria’s Senate to do all within its power to address the problems facing the country through the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
He stated this when he received the Senate Committee of the Review of the 1999 Constitution during a courtesy visit at the Government House on Tuesday.
Governor Mohammed, who lamented that the North-East has been shortchanged in budgetary allocation, devastated by insecurity, humanitarian crises and many problems, called on the Senate to address the issue of nationhood in the constitution which he described as the “most contentious” issue.
“We have so many issues but the most contentious is the nationhood, we must be able to do things to create national unity, to create inclusiveness and to create a sense of belonging. Nigeria looks up to the Senate, it is the highest most responsible body”.
“For me that emerged from the Senate to national limelight, I have always known that the Senate has what it takes to make sure they provide the salutary effects, to all the problems and challenges, to all the contending issues and definitely, if you have not been conscious, you should be today”.
“The nation is looking up to you and we are very confident that after this exercise, you would have put us on the threshold of growth and development but it was never been as before.
“We always find ourselves (north-east) shortchanged as a region. We are the most devastated region, devastated by insecurity and humanitarian crises and some of the representations means they are there but surely we feel even in the budgeting and other due considerations that have not been given to the north-east,” he stated.
He expressed optimism that with the pedigree and capacity of senators from the region, the exercise presents them with an opportunity to redress all the challenges affecting the region.
Governor Mohammed, who noted that Nigeria is passing through a difficult moment and the citizens especially the youths are agitated about so many things, urged the senate to do whatever it can to make the constitution implementable and fair.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Bauchi Center for the Public Hearing on the Constitution Review, Senator Abubakar Kyari, told the governor that prominent personalities from Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states are expected to give their views and opinions in order to fill the gaps that exist in the constitution.
Senator Kyari, who represents Borno North in the Senate, said that the areas of focus of the constitution amendment are defense and security, land use act, unity of Nigeria, borders and demarcations and devolution of power.
Others include derivation and revenue sharing, local government autonomy, state police, state electoral commission, minimum wage, role of traditional councils, autonomy for state assemblies, state judicial systems, state and local government creation.
“Our mission here is simple but rather complex yet, our collective efforts will surely place is in the books of history. It is worth mentioning that our country has been hit hard in the last few years especially from insurgency and to the present state of insecurity”.
“You will agree that this is the right time we have to come together and discuss extensively on Constitutional matters and come up with a fair constitution,” he stated.
Those in the entourage were: Senators Haliru Jika – Bauchi Central, Lawal Gumau – Bauchi South, Adamu Bulkachuwa – Bauchi North, Kassim Shettima – Borno Central (former Borno State governor) among others.
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