PDP speakers insist on constitution amendment

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Speakers’ Forum has called for an amendment of the constitution to create a true federalism.

The forum made the call at the weekend in a statement by its Chairman, John Gaul Lebo, after its maiden meeting in Gombe State.

Lebo, who is the Speaker of the Cross Rivers State House of Assembly, said the positions were necessitated by the current agitations and the economic, political and social developments in the country.

According to them, while devolution of power was unanimously considered as a priority during the constitutional review meetings, they are surprised that the National Assembly kicked against it.

The statement reads: “The constitutional review process has been ongoing in the last two years. In these two years, we have had not less than four meetings, with the last one holding in Lagos.

“It was resolved unanimously that one of the most prominent issues in the review process was that of devolution of power. The National Assembly must, as a matter of urgency and necessity, revisit the issue in the current constitutional amendment process.”

The speakers cited other issues that must be addressed to include the autonomy of the state legislatures and local governments. They stressed that they don’t want to be selfish by protecting their personal interests against those of the country, hence their insistence.

The forum also resolved to fully support the party during its December 9, 2017 National Convention in Lagos. The Speakers of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Rivers and Taraba states’ assemblies attended the meeting.