As the call for creation of state police and state Independent Electoral Commission INEC, by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and some stakeholders at the recent public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution held across the nation, rages on a prominent Chief in Rivers State, HRH Chief Owabie Tobin has kicked against such move.
It would be recalled that during the public hearing Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the governor of Rivers State had suggested that the constitutional review committee and national Assembly should include state police in the amendment to enable the state governors tackle the insecurity situation effectively.
Similarly, some stakeholders who spoke at the public hearing suggested that the states should be allowed to continue to be incharge of its Electoral Commission and other electoral matters in their domain.
Chief Tobin in an interview with The Newswriter in his residence, said inclusion of state police in the constitutional amendment would create avenue for incumbent’s governors to intimidate their opponents which will create violence in the state.
The Royal Father also opposed allowing the states to have their own electoral commission to conduct election in their state, stressing that it encourage electoral malpractices. He suggested that such power should be given to the federal government alone to handle election matters across the nation, to avoid intimidation and violence.
Chief Tobin who is also the coordinator of CFON Port Harcourt chapter, further kicked against creation of state prisons and advocated for creation of two more states in Rivers State, as well as create more states in those geographical zones that do not have equal states like other major ethnic groups in the country.
The Royal Father who urged President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator David Mark the senate president to work out modalities for a nice constitution that would bring smiles on the faces of Nigerians.
The Royal father further suggested that a law to ensure that the federal government allocation to the local government goes directly and not through the state government should be included in the constitution to enable the LGAs Chairmen execute their projects effectively.
On the suggestion of some women at the public hearing that the federal government should create a particular elective position for women to participate.
The Royal father condemned such move, stressing that no particular elective position should be reserved for women alone, rather all elective positions should be contested by both men and women to participate.
He commended Mrs. Blessing Nsiegbe, the lawmaker representing Port Harcourt Constituency II in the Federal House of Representative for the manner in which she coordinated the recent public hearing on the Review of 1999 constitution in her constituency.
According to him, Mrs. Nsiegbe gave all the stakeholders who wished to participate in the constitutional amendment to opportunity air their views and there was peaceful atmosphere at the venue of the ceremony, he added.
The Royal Father lauded Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his good leadership qualities, especially for the commencement of the town hall meeting to seek people’s opinion on how to govern the state effectively, praying that God should give him more wisdom and strength to get his target of ensuring that the state becomes the best in the federation. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
