A former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has called on the 10th National Assembly to do away with Section 315 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), (hereinafter referred to as the Constitution) confers on the President the power to modify federal laws while a State Governor similarly has the power to modify state laws.
Agbakoba said against the backdrop that it was a creation of the military, the section has become obsolete.
Speaking Thursday in Abuja at a Lecture/Colloquium in honour of the 61st birthday of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, the Guest Speaker said that the country has a legal failure and it must be re-written.
The theme of the event was “Legislative Agenda for National Development.”
According to him, the current Supreme Court should wake up and do its work, as Nigeria must adopt the Rwanda model in order to have good legal system.
Read also: Godswill Akpabio: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow For His People
On the need for Nigeria to tackle insecurity, peace and security must be developed, he queried: “The first question is: how can we find peace? Is it by armed forces? It will be by executive and legislative processes.
“We can’t win, in my opinion, the war by armed forces. So, I will suggest to the National Assembly to consider the possibility of inviting the ethnic nationalities, the owners of Nigeria.
“The traditional rulers that are being ignored, I believe they have a hand in the constitutional process. If this is done we will achieve peace.
“Together with our traditional rulers, who I think are being ignored in the process, we might be able to resolve these Boko Haram, IPOB.”
Agbakoba called on the National Assembly to unbundle the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying it was doing far too much and has nothing with printing of papers.
“INEC is doing far too much. In the Uwais report, we recommended creating the Electoral Offences Commission.
“The Electoral Act makes a mockery of democracy, so we can correct that by passing all the recommendations of the Uwais panel.”
Speaking too, President Bola Tinubu pledged to work with the National Assembly to achieve nationhood and belief in one country in putting Nigeria on the right path.
Tinubu described Akpabio as a man who is committed to the values of national development.
He said: “The opportunity you (Akpabio) offered us to listen to the lead speaker and his recommendations will definitely be looked into towards deeper legislative activities and collaboration with all of us.
President Tinubu described Akpabio as a man who is committed to the value of national development.
The President said: “The opportunity you (Akpabio) offered us to listen to the lead speaker and his recommendations will be definitely looked into a more deeper legislative activities and collaboration with all of us.
“We will work together. While we consider the affairs of this country, the nationhood and the belief in one country will put us on the right path. Having you as a partner, I think Tajudeen Abbas as a partner, as the Speaker, is good enough for me to succeed.
“Insha Allah, we will succeed. I appreciate Godswill Akpabio, God will help you, God will guide you.
“I believe in the person of Godswill Akpabio, he is truly God’s will. I know him as as a governor, as a commissioner in Akwa-Ibom. We share a vision even though he was a commissioner, he is extremely inquisitive.
“He transformed Akwa Ibom tremendously. He built one of the most effective drainage systems in Akwa Ibom. Today, up till now, no matter how heavy the rain is, you will never find casualties.”
Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau who was also the host of the event said that the colloquium was the culmination of events to mark the 61st birthday of Akpabio.
On his part, Akpabio said that the renewed hope agenda of the current administration “is real and this government is a correcting government.
‘“Our legislative agenda is going to be people-centred.
‘‘We have taken note that we should unbundle INEC, we have taken note that we should involve our traditional rulers,’’ the celebrator stated.
