Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, says his administration supports amendments of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria that will enhance the nation’s unity and prosperity in an environment where justice, fairness and equity shall prevail.
He stated this in Enugu while declaring open, the zonal public hearing of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), for Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states.
The Governor urged all relevant Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, Stakeholders and Enugu State citizenry to avail themselves the opportunity of the public hearing to participate in the national conversation. He thanked the senators for organising the event, saying
“I particularly acknowledge the leader of the team and Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District in the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Distinguished Senator Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, CFR. I also recognise in a special way, Distinguished Senator Chuka Utazi who represents me and the people of Enugu North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.
“I extend my reverential greetings to other Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who are here on this important national assignment, to wit: His Excellency, Senator Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Iyom, Senator Dr. (Mrs.) Uche Lilian Ekwunife, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District and Senator Joseph Obinna Ogba, representing Ebonyi Central Senator Ovie Omo-Agege disclosed that the Senate decided to adopt a bottom-up approach by first listening to Nigerians at the geo-political level before the National Public Hearing because of “the critical importance the Constitution Review Committee places on the subnational levels of governance in Nigeria.”
In his address, presented on his behalf by the former Deputy president of Senate and senator representing Enugu West senatorial zone, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said that topical issues like Judicial and Electoral Reforms, Local Government Autonomy and devolution of powers are prominent in the agenda to be addressed in the constitutional amendments.
Omo-Agege, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, said: “If we get those items through constitutional processes of alteration successfully, then our Constitutional Democracy will be set on the right pedestal, and ultimately, Nigeria will take its pride of place among the enviable constitutional democracies in the world.
” This ongoing review provides a platform for the good people of Nigeria to express their opinions on the fundamental law that governs our lives through proposals that will lead to the highest good for the greatest number of our people”, he said.
According to Omo-Agege, the focus of the Committee is how to manage the review exercise in a fair, inclusive, credible and transparent manner in view of “diverse and differing views on the different themes of the exercise”, He disclosed that they have already received a lot of memoranda on a broad range of issues and proposals.
“Fellow Nigerians, distinguished , the memoranda you have already submitted and those that may come forward arising from this hearing and all the deliberations and engagements that will come forth from them will be the lodestar of our work as a Committee”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues from Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi, assured the people of South-East geo-political zone that the states’ legislature will first seek their opinions before adopting the outcome of the constitutional review by the National Assembly.
The Speaker said that constitution alteration is a continuous exercise.
He commended the 9th National Assembly for taking up the task again, and thanked Ugwuanyi for providing the enabling atmosphere for the event.
Ubosi urged the Senate Committee to fast-track the process so that the aim of the exercise will be achieved before the end of the present administration.
In his vote of thanks, Ekweremadu commended Ugwuanyi for his immense contributions towards the hosting of the zonal public hearing in Enugu.
“I want to thank you (Ugwuanyi) especially for making this possible and in putting this arrangement together in South East. In fact as far as the other Senators are concerned, we are sure that this is one of the best across the nation”, he said.
The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, other Principal Officers and Members of the three State Houses of Assembly were among the dignitaries at the event.
