The
public hearing on the Constitution review in Isoko Federal Constituency
in Delta State has been trailed by a brawl, as the House of
Representatives member representing the area, Hon. Leo Ogor engaged in
physical fight with some members of the constituency.The parliamentarian was said to have thrown caution to the wind shortly after the exercise, as he engaged some of his constituent members who had besieged his home in a public fight.
But for the quick intervention of some notable persons in the area, there would have been a free-for-all fight, as thugs allegedly loyal to the lawmaker bestirred themselves to engage whoever dared to confront the lawmaker.
It was gathered that some youths had confronted the lawmaker over his alleged failure to ‘settle’ them after ‘jobs’ done for him.
The youths specifically claimed that the lawmaker had used them for security ‘jobs’ and had allegedly reneged on an agreement to ‘settle’ them monetarily.
Some other persons, including stakeholders at the exercise, also besieged the lawmaker's home, threatening to unleashed mayhem if they were not ‘settled’.
It was gathered that shortly after the exercise, which ended abruptly after some contentious issues, the youths, led by the Isoko Youth President, Comrade Isaac Ogaga Egbuwoku stormed the home of the lawmaker, demanding to be ‘settled’ over services rendered.
The situation degenerated, with the lawmaker allegedly exchanging diatribes with the youths, and this later snowballed into a physical scuffle.
It was learnt that while the confrontation was on, the member representing Isoko North Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Tim Owhofere, Special Assistant to the SSG, Mr. Mike Ogwa and the pioneer speaker of the State Assembly and Chief Adviser to the governor on legislative matters, Mr. Emmanuel Okoro tried to calm fray nerves all to no avail.
Some thugs allegedly loyal to the lawmaker later pounced on the youth leader for reportedly confronting their master.
It was learnt that the youth leader angrily left the scene with his clothes torn. His followers also left in anger without being ‘settled’.
Shortly after, the lawmaker was again confronted by some other groups of youths also wanting their own share of the ‘cake’. Sources said the lawmaker this time ‘settled’ the group of youths with money which they shared among themselves.
Some stakeholders invited to make contributions at the public hearing, however, described the action of the lawmaker as uncivilized and undemocratic.
Confirming the story later, the embittered youth leader said they were in the compound to collect their money as agreed with the lawmaker before the exercise commenced.
He said that instead of paying them, the lawmaker decided to treat them with disdain, resulting in the confrontation which they apparently had with him.
“Yes, the Honourable and I fought in his house because he lacks manner of approach”.
“The behaviour of the lawmaker who had agreed that I mobilize for him twenty youths to the arena of the public hearing was barbaric and uncivilized.
“As an honourable member of the lower chamber (of the National Assembly), he ought to have comported himself in a more mature manner rather than addressing everybody like touts working in the motor park.
“Instead of releasing the money we both agreed for the youths, he was busy ridiculing me and playing on my intelligence because I was in his house”, the youth leader said.
All efforts to reach Ogor proved
abortive as he ignored all calls put across to his mobile phone neither
did he respond to SMS sent to him.
INC calls for creation of 10 geo-political zones
INC calls for creation of 10 geo-political zones
IJAW
National Congress (INC) at the weekend advocated amendment of the 1999
Constitution to allow for the creation of 10 geo-political zones for the
country.
At the Constitution amendment public session organized by the member Representing the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, in Warri, Delta State, Legal Adviser of the INC, Mrs Veronica Bamuza- Mutu argued that the present six geo-political zones arrangement was an injustice to the minority ethnic nationalities in the country
Arguing that the six geo-political zones arrangement does not give the same political opportunities to the ethnic minorities as it does to majority ethnic groups, she said creation of 10 geo-political zones would pave way for parity amongst all ethnic nationalites in Nigeria.
According to her, the Izon nation had long demanded for a region of their own wherein they could control their own resources and pay taxes to the federal government as it is obtainable advanced countries.
Meanwhile, erstwhile Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Pastor P.Z Aginighan has decried the present principle of derivation fund sharing formula which he said makes it impossible for the people of the areas where resources are derived to have a say in how the fund should be expended.
Presenting his papers at the public session, Aginighan called for an arrangement that could deny state governors direct control over the derivation fund, to allow for rapid development of the communities where resources are being exploited.
Igbo group seeks eight states for each zone
At the Constitution amendment public session organized by the member Representing the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, in Warri, Delta State, Legal Adviser of the INC, Mrs Veronica Bamuza- Mutu argued that the present six geo-political zones arrangement was an injustice to the minority ethnic nationalities in the country
Arguing that the six geo-political zones arrangement does not give the same political opportunities to the ethnic minorities as it does to majority ethnic groups, she said creation of 10 geo-political zones would pave way for parity amongst all ethnic nationalites in Nigeria.
According to her, the Izon nation had long demanded for a region of their own wherein they could control their own resources and pay taxes to the federal government as it is obtainable advanced countries.
Meanwhile, erstwhile Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Pastor P.Z Aginighan has decried the present principle of derivation fund sharing formula which he said makes it impossible for the people of the areas where resources are derived to have a say in how the fund should be expended.
Presenting his papers at the public session, Aginighan called for an arrangement that could deny state governors direct control over the derivation fund, to allow for rapid development of the communities where resources are being exploited.
Igbo group seeks eight states for each zone
AHEAD
of the planned review of the nation's 1999 constitution by the National
Assembly, a socio-political organisation, Odinma Igbo, has suggested
that each of the geo-political zones in the country should be made to
take-off with an initial eight state structure.
It further declared that the six regions should, subsequently, be left to delineate by themselves without any federal interference in the number of states or sub-regional structures making up the region.
The Odinma Igbo, comprising leading Igbo political activists, captains of business and industries, intellectuals, and leaders of organised groups, made the suggestion at the weekend in a press statement signed by its Secretary-General, Mr Maxi Okwu.
It also made a case for the enhancement of the present six geopolitical zones by making them the constituent units with the centre as the federation.
According to the Odinma Igbo, which has its major base in Enugu, "It is our position that the present six geopolitical zones be enhanced by making them the constituent units with the centre as the federation.
"The zones should get constitutional recognition as political and administrative Regions
"In the first instance, the principle of zonal equality must be understood and respected. All Regions would take off with an initial eight state structures. Subsequently the six regions shall be left to delineate by themselves without any federal interference the number of states or sub-regional structures making up the region.
"The irreducible minimum of democratic structures at all levels must be respected.
"That substantial powers shall be devolved to the regions and subsequently to the states in the areas of agriculture, education, health, administrative structure, policing and state security.
"That the central government shall be invested with define powers restricted to foreign policy, national army, customs and excise, monetary policy and standardization", it said.
It further declared that the six regions should, subsequently, be left to delineate by themselves without any federal interference in the number of states or sub-regional structures making up the region.
The Odinma Igbo, comprising leading Igbo political activists, captains of business and industries, intellectuals, and leaders of organised groups, made the suggestion at the weekend in a press statement signed by its Secretary-General, Mr Maxi Okwu.
It also made a case for the enhancement of the present six geopolitical zones by making them the constituent units with the centre as the federation.
According to the Odinma Igbo, which has its major base in Enugu, "It is our position that the present six geopolitical zones be enhanced by making them the constituent units with the centre as the federation.
"The zones should get constitutional recognition as political and administrative Regions
"In the first instance, the principle of zonal equality must be understood and respected. All Regions would take off with an initial eight state structures. Subsequently the six regions shall be left to delineate by themselves without any federal interference the number of states or sub-regional structures making up the region.
"The irreducible minimum of democratic structures at all levels must be respected.
"That substantial powers shall be devolved to the regions and subsequently to the states in the areas of agriculture, education, health, administrative structure, policing and state security.
"That the central government shall be invested with define powers restricted to foreign policy, national army, customs and excise, monetary policy and standardization", it said.
The group has, however, mandated Chief Ralph Obioha and Barrister Maxi Okwu to guide it in presenting members' views throughout the constitution review exercise at national, regional and other levels.
Source: Compass News
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