The people of Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State joined other Nigerians to make their voice heard on the review of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
While welcoming the people to the Public Hearing session, the Honorable Member, representing the Constituency at Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, Hon. Sunday Karimi, noted that the leadership of the 7th National Assembly is determined to give a brand new constitution to the country, stressing that the public hearing session is crucial to the process that will guarantee that the people of Nigeria have a constitution they can truly call their own, not the military manipulated document currently used now.
He charged the people to be attentive and follow the process so as to know when to vote ‘Yes or No’ on crucial issues relating to them as similar public hearing session was taking place across the 360 federal constituencies in the country to collate the input of the people on how the country should be governed.
The event which was held at the Isanlu Town Hall, have people from all works of life in attendance, including the royal fathers, politicians, captain of industries, student union bodies, youth groups, women groups, political parties, trade unions, labor unions, artisans, academicians, activists, legal luminaries, government officials at all levels and representatives of the disabled.
Meanwhile, the people voted strongly against the state and local government joint allocation formula, creation of state police, removal of immunity clause for the President, Vice – President, Governor and Deputy Governor and inclusion of the traditional rulers in the National Council of State.
They voted in favor of the autonomy of the local government and the state legislature, removal of the State Independent Electoral Commission to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission conduct all elections into the national, state and local government and rotation of all elective positions among major section of the country, state, senatorial, constituencies etc.
While they also canvassed for the creation of more local governments in the constituency, the people called for true federalism where state have control of their resources, positing that the situation where federal takes all the money and release a very paltry amount for the state and local government is no longer acceptable.
However, many individuals and groups submitted memoranda already prepared to the secretariat of the public hearing session.
Speaking to journalists after the event in Isanlu, Hon. Karimi commended the people on the way they conducted themselves before, during and after the public hearing session which was fruitful.
According to him, he is happy that the people of Yagba have contributed their quota into the new constitution billed to come on board soon, adding that they have stated their positions categorically about issues relating to their wellbeing.
He promised to continue to represent the constituency in a very good manner that will bring more dividends of democracy to the people, stressing that the Obajana – Kabba – Egbe road that is critical to the social economic of the people of Yagbaland will receive attention courtesy of the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency, (FERMA) as serious work is expected to commence any moment from now.
While the immediate past, House Member that represented Yagba East Constituency at the Kogi State House of Assembly, between 2007 – 2011, and a one time chairman of the local government area, Hon. Ganiyu Salaudeen aka Erukutu Yagba, commended the leadership of the current National Assembly for their good intention to give Nigerians a constitution they can truly call their own, he stressed that carrying the people along is very critical as the people remain the focal point of any government.
He said, the people have already spoken, urging the National Assembly to reflect the input collected from the people.
He also commended the media for their positive role in providing adequate information to the people on the way forward, adding that the cream of journalists present at the public hearing session to cover the event shows the very great love they have for the Yagba people.
Barr Bamidele Suru in his own contribution was not opposed to retaining the State Independent Electoral Commission and three years tenure for the Local Government in the spirit of true federalism, he however commended the process and call for more such of forum to meet and discuss the political way forward.
