CONSTITUTION REVIEW; BAYELSA DEMAND 2 MORE STATES, TOTAL CONTROL OF RESOURCES

The Bayelsa State Constitutional Review Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Kimse Okoko has adopted the creation of two additional states out of the present Bayelsa as one of the common positions in the on-going constitutional review process.

Prof. Okoko announced the state’s position during the public hearing and interactive session under the auspices of the 3 senators representing the state at the Banquet Hall of Government House, in Yenagoa. 

To avoid rancor and bitterness, the chairman said the committee proposed the creation of two additional states bringing the total number of states to 3 which should be in line with the existing 3 senatorial districts.

“There should be 3 states in Bayelsa. You might say it’s impossible but that is not the issue. There are also other impossible requests from other states, so if you don’t have any from Bayelsa, what will the National Assembly members from the state do? Just sit back and watch others negotiate for the creation of additional states in their states. That is completely unacceptable. So Bayelsa is requesting for 2 additional states in order to bring the total number of states to 3. The states are Brass with headquarters in Brass, Sagbama with headquarters in Sagbama and Yenagoa with headquarters in Yenagoa”.

The people’s forum also adopted the devolution of powers to the federating states to reflect true federalism in the country.

On Fiscal Federalism, the session strongly recommended total ownership of resources of the state with payments of appropriate taxes to the federal government.

Prof. Okoko also announced the adoption of a constitutional recognition of the 6 geo-political zones in the country, state police, single tenure for the Executive Arm and rotation of executive offices among the constituent parts of the federation.

On the issue of immunity clause, the forum voted against blanket immunity, stressing that the National Assembly should institute a clause to ensure that the Executive do not enjoy immunity from criminal actions.

Though the forum was favorably disposed to the issue of residency and indigene, it suggested that the National Assembly should legislate upon it to guarantee the rights of the aborigines.

It also called for the abrogation of the Land Use and National Youths Service Acts as well as Code of Conduct from the constitution to make their amendment easier.

The forum called for the provision constitutional role for traditional rulers and recognition of gender and special interests in the constitution.

It however kicked against the allocation of any percentage to gender representation.

Speaking, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd) said expectations of the people were high, pointing out that the session was organized to enable the state fashion out a common position that would be presented at the zonal and National levels.

He commended the National Assembly members from the state for their commitment and stressed the need for synergy especially at this period to protect the collective interest of the state and the Ijaw Nation.

Earlier, the Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, who provided the guidelines for the discussion, said the outcome of the meeting would facilitate the adoption of a common position at a zonal meeting in Calabar, Cross River State.

Other senators at the forum were senator Clever Ikisikpo representing Bayelsa East and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri representing Bayelsa West.

 

  Daniel Iworiso-Markson

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa state