BY JUDE OKWE
The ripples generated by the letter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan are yet to settle, as the Senate has stated that it will investigate the allegations contained in the letter when it resumes from the yuletide break.
Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, who said this when he spoke to THISDAY yesterday, said though Jonathan had responded to the former president, the allegations concerning security issues in Obasanjo's letter are weighty enough to prompt the Senate's investigation.
He debunked rumours that the legislature was compromised, insisting that the allegations made in the letter were too weighty to be glossed over hence the Senate would probe those allegations within its jurisdiction and leave those that had to do with crime and fraud to the relevant agencies.
Ndoma-Egba, who represents Cross River Central Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, stated that it was not true that the legislature was avoiding the probe of the content of the letter, noting that the allegations contained therein were of national interest and could not be overlooked.
He said on resumption from the Christmas recess, the letter would be considered as lawmakers are aware that Nigerians are awaiting their action on the Obasanjo bombshell and advised Nigerians to be patient as everything was being done to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations.
However, he made it clear that the legislature was not interested in persecuting anybody but to know who is telling the truth, as even Jonathan's reply would also be considered. Time, he added, had passed when prominent Nigerians made allegations and they are swept under the carpet.
On the proposed National Conference, the Senate Leader said there was nothing wrong if Nigerians decide to meet to voice their opinion on issues they are concerned about and finding a solution to them, stressing that if Nigerians through their delegates agree to resolve differences in the polity, the job of the National Assembly would no longer be tedious.
He said the National Conference could not take the place of the legislature because the latter is constitutionally empowered to make laws for the good governance of the country, while the former would be set up to allow Nigerians give their opinions on knotty issues and proffer solutions to them. Reacting to calls for a unitary system of government given that the presidential system is expensive and operates a bicameral legislature, Ndoma-Egba said the federal system which Nigeria operates is the best for the country, considering that Nigeria is diverse and heterogeneous.
A bicameral legislature is good for a country that is diverse in nature. Nigeria is made up of major and minor tribes. This means the majority tribes have a higher numerical strength than the minorities. If this is allowed to prevail, the minorities will not be able to produce a legislator, governor or president. "Federalism and by extension the bicameral legislature, which we practise, guarantees the political rights of the minorities as they are free from oppression and domination by the majority tribes. Those who say the bicameral system is a waste of resources are ill-informed.
"A country that is as diverse as Nigeria needs representation that will reflect its makeup for peace to prevail," he said.
Ndoma-Egba called for the devolution of powers to states and local government councils to truly reflect the federal system of government practised in the country, adding that the centre has too much power at its disposal, a development that does not allow the federating units have a say especially in the management of the country's resources.
He said once power is devolved, true federalism will begin to be practised leading to healthy economic competition under the principle of comparative advantage which in the main would see states and local government areas looking inwards rather than always waiting for handouts from the centre.
On the alleged cold war between him and Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, the Senate leader said he had no issues with the governor as rumoured and that he had always participated in state functions involving the governor whenever he is in the state.
He pointed out that if all was not well between them, he would not have participated in the 2013 Calabar Carnival where he walked and danced on its 12 kilometre route.
He also said at no point did he endorse anybody as governor of the state for the 2015 election, let alone introduce anyone to Aso Rock for endorsement, adding that he and Imoke were not at loggerheads over the latter's successor as had been speculated in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, recently.
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