The Senate on Thursday condemned the proposed Imo State Government policy on the issuance of identification cards to northerners residing in the state as a way of preventing attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents.
The senators’ rage over the contemplated policy, was sequel to a motion moved against it by the Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central), who quoted relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, which the proposed policy contravenes.
Consequently the upper chamber called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the security agencies not to partner Imo State government in the implementation of the policy.
They also called on the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, to stop the policy immediately.
Ningi’s motion was titled, “The Issuance of Identification Cards to northerners residing in Imo State – Urgent call for policy reversal.”
He noted with serious concern, the recent government policy statement issued by the state government , which directed all northerners residing or staying in the state to be issued with an identification card.
He argued that the policy contravened the provisions of section 41(1) and 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The section guaranteed among others, free movement of Nigerians from any part of the country to the other and right of residence without any inhibition or condition whatsoever.
He added that the policy if not reversed was tantamount to gross abuse of the citizens’ rights and if not checked, could throw the country into chaos and threaten the survival of the nation’s democracy.
Supporting the motion, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, (PDP Cross River Central), described the policy as wrong-headed, unconstitutional and discriminatory and blamed Okorocha for “ever contemplating such a policy at this level of our nationhood.”
He said, “Right away, Nigeria is passing through the most difficult period of our history even worse than the civil war going by the kind of anxiety enveloping the country presently as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“That should not be used as a licence by any governor or anybody to go out of our constitutional provisions in coming up with a policy to tackle the problem.
“This policy is discriminatory and unconstitutional and must be rejected from the onset by all concerned Nigerians.
“I condemn it in its entirety and urge all stakeholders coming up with any policy to address the security challenges facing the nation, to tackle them within the confines of our Constitution.”
Also, Senator James Manager, (PDP Delta South), condemned the policy in its totality by describing it as evil and dangerous for the survival of Nigeria as a nation.
He said, “The situation in Nigeria presently is not that of China or Hong Kong where people are discriminated against when moving from one part to the other. People of Imo state are different from the government that came with this obnoxious policy and they must join other Nigerians outside their state to condemn it.”
Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North), who threatened northern retaliation of the policy if not reversed, likened the proposed policy to the past apartheid regime in South Africa where the blacks were expected to carry cards in form of pass, to access white-dominated areas.
He said, “The policy is abominable, unacceptable and certainly driven to cause disunity in the country. We, northerners, will not accept this. If you do this to us in Imo, we shall definitely retaliate.”
Senator Chris Anyanwu, who is from Imo State said, “Today, the Governor of Imo State has drawn an unusual attention to himself because he failed to respect the constitutional provision of free movement, free association, free worship which are well cherished by our people.
“Our people are the best travelled and most liberal-minded in the world. We are highly accommodating, we are a people that are very friendly to the extent that we have a settlement for the Hausa people in Owerri who had been living there for generations.
“I have some of the Hausa children, most of whom are speaking better Igbo language, on my scholarship scheme while I have been sending some of their parents on hajj.
“However, someone, somewhere, who doesn’t respect the Constitution of Nigeria, who doesn’t respect the law, who doesn’t believe in due process, and who doesn’t understand our people suddenly wakes up one morning and introduced a policy that tends to create enmity between us and our beloved neighbours.
“We cannot plead on his behalf because we did not believe in his policy and he is a governor that doesn’t listen to the advice of his people.”
The Deputy Senate President Ike Ekeremadu, who presided over the session, commended the senators for being very patriotic in the contributions over the matter.
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It will be reversed when they stop Terrorism........Useless people....Imo State is a peaceful state and we can never give them such chance to Terrorize our beloved State
ReplyDeleteFirst what is the oppinion of northerners living in imo bcos there is no constitution in a chaotic state and senate itself is a terror,they will politicise this issue now bcos d gov. is in d opposition.
ReplyDeleteNigerianeye asked for my thought on the proposed ID card to every northerner living or doing business outside his territory. I will say its a good development since it also implies every igbo or yoruba who is doing business in the north will also hang an ID card on their neck. Well honestly, they will not lose much because the oil that Nigeria is surviving on is not in the north. Please implement it quickly because it will mean the concoction called Nigeria is gradualy nearing it end; and the earlier it reaches it end, the better for us all.
ReplyDeleteChris anyanwu is making herself unpopular. We know all she did under Amadi Ikweche. The ID card is a good step in the right direction. Are the senators lords over Imo state? Rochas please go ahead with your plan. We are with you.
ReplyDelete