The House of Representatives bill seeking the creation of a House of Assembly for the Federal Capital Territory has been generating mixed reactions from the public, especially the opposition camps.
Sponsored by the lawmaker representing Konshisha/Vandeikya Federal Constituency, Benue State, Sesoo Ikpagher, the bill is one of the proposed legislations for consideration in the ongoing 1999 Constitution amendment process.
It is listed in the compendium of bills put together by the House Committee on Constitution Review chaired by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the bill seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 90 to 111 and 299 of the constitution to make provisions for the establishment of a House of Assembly for the FCT.
The sponsor of the bill argued that a House of Assembly for the FCT would help to check the activities of the FCT Administration, thus preventing it from acting beyond the limits of its powers.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH on the proposed legislation, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, said for the initiative to scale through, many sections of the 1999 Constitution would be altered.
He added that if the amendment scales through, the status of FCT in the politics of the country would be clearly defined.
“It is not a bad idea but this must lead to amendment of many other sections of the constitution which regard the FCT as a quasi autonomous entity with only one senator instead of three and which is administered by the National Assembly.
“It (the proposed amendment) must now show what percentage of the votes the president must win to become president. This will save us the problems associated with it,” he stated.
Opposing the bill, human rights activist-turned lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, described the move to create a House of Assembly in the nation’s capital as the handiwork of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
According to him, Wike’s obsession with power was the sole reason the National Assembly was considering tinkering with some clauses in the constitution to mold FCT into a semblance of a state.
He said, “The bill is about Wike’s obsession to remain a governor after leaving Rivers State. First, he got himself out of the Treasury Single Account and now, he wants to get a House of Assembly for himself.
“FCT is just a federal capital. Soon, they will demand equal numbers of representatives in the house and senators with other states. FCT is like an administrative headquarters for the country. It is Wike’s obsession.
“He has created a civil service in the FCT, acting as if the FCT is a federation inside a nation. It is just obsession with power.”
Adeyanju further chided federal lawmakers for playing to the gallery saying, “There are several important issues such as the non-justiciability of the chapter wo of our constitution which is the basis of the existence of the constitution.
“They (lawmakers) are focused on pleasing the ego of Wike. Of course, he has land to give them. They will be interested in these kinds of irrelevant things.”
Similarly, Abuja-based lawyer, Kamin Asunogie, said she was not impressed with the bill, likening it as an attempt to create another state through the back door.
Speaking with our correspondent, the legal icon described the move as “extremely laughable.”
He said, “Nigerians are crying over the duplicitous bicameral legislature already and we want to create another by making FCT a state. That’s the meaning, adding that “They will consequently have commissioners.”
