By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

Abeokuta—Participants at the just concluded retreat organised by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have expressed divergent views on the imperatives of the constitution amendments with regard to the unity of the country.

Speaking to Vanguard in Abeokuta, Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, said the real challenge facing the country was the nation’s constitution, adding that it should be in conformity with present day reality.

He said: “As we go along, we keep seeing challenges that rear their heads on continuous basis, so, guided by the fact that the provision of Section 89 has vested on us the responsibility of amending the constitution in the interest of the Nigerian people, we should do everything within our powers to make sure that the constitution is reviewed on continuous basis to address some of the challenges that are confronting us as a people.”

House of Representatives

We should resort to resource control— Mrakpor

In her contributions, member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State, Onyemaechi Mrakpor, said what the country needed was resource control by various states and regions.

She said: “I think it is a wonderful one and like the governor of Ogun State said, we should resort to resource control and pay taxes to the centre. That is my take on the whole amendment.

We need to sit and talk—House Whip

Also speaking, Deputy Majority Whip, Pally Iriase, said:  “It is better we jaw-jaw than to war-war and what that means is that we should sit down to talk on behalf of Nigerians, after all we are the elected representatives of the people and that is precisely what we are here to do, to collate the views of our various constituents of every nook and cranny of the country and make something out of it so that the constitution may be amended accordingly.

Constitution amendment critical—A-Ibom Speaker

The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, said constitution amendment was critical, especially with the present challenges in the country.

He said:  “Whatsoever we are going to do, especially at a critical point like this we are facing challenges as a country, is to engage in this constitutional amendment in such a way that Nigeria must remain one.”