Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, spoke in Abuja at a media dialogue with editors on the constitution amendment process organised by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP in collaboration with his office.
Dr Abati said President Jonathan was working hard with the National Assembly to produce a workable document that Nigerians will be happy with while at the same time deepening the nation’s democracy and good governance.
He said the constitution of a people was sacrosanct and that all efforts were being made to give people opportunity to make their inputs on the issues that require amendment in the 1999 Constitution.
Most of these issues already in the public domain, according to the presidential aide include the issue of tenure of the president, “whether it should be single tenure or not, the system of governance, state creation, and the justifiability or non-justifiability of chapter two of the 1999 Constitution, revenue formula, among others.”
Abati said there had been efforts to amend the nation’s constitution since the return to democracy in 1999 and that the Federal Government was passionate about the ongoing review process in order to bequeath to Nigerians a workable document.
He said there was a nexus between a workable constitution and democratic stability, just as he added that democracy was key to the progress and development of any nation.
Abati stressed that Nigeria has a lot to learn from the victory of President Barrack Obama of the United States of America in his re-election bid.
Dr Abati said: “President Jonathan has just (Wednesday) issued a statement congratulating President Obama. He described the election as historic. He sees this as an opportunity to further strengthen and deepen relationship with United States and Nigeria, between United States and African Union.
“He said Nigeria and United States enjoyed a very robust relationship in the first term of President Obama. And President Jonathan looks forward to a continuation of that robust relationship.”
“In terms of implications for developing nations, President Jonathan says clearly and that is what should be carefully underlined; that the election shows that democracy is the key to the building of progressive and successful society and you know that should resonate with us here very well in Nigeria.
“All of us should see that since the return to civilian rule, Nigeria has continued to make great progress and under President Jonathan the country is being transformed better and for the good of the people,” he said.
He thanked the UNDP for providing the platform, saying he was glad many of “our colleagues have traveled down to Abuja, while those in Abuja are also here,” adding that this was a demonstration of the passion the media have for the country.
The Presidential spokesperson said the media were critical to the success of the constitution review exercise.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe has said there would be no restricted area as debates and discussions begins on the proposed constitution amendment next week.
He made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Senate plenary on Wednesday.
According to him, no subject would be excluded as Nigerians were free to express their views on every subject within the purview of the 1999 Çonstitution.
“The essence is to give room to all shades of opinion. The reason is to
make a constitution that would be as comprehensive, wide and as detailed as possible,” he said.
He, however, said that there would be no room for referendum, noting that the National Assembly position on the issue was guided by the provisions of the constitution.
Senator Abaribe also said the Senate would not be holding its usual plenary session for one week as members were expected to go to their various constituencies for interactions over the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
According to him, the one-week break became essential to give room to all shades of opinions from the various constituents.
He said the senators would have the opportunity of interacting with their constituents at two levels namely, the state and zonal levels.
Explaining the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), he said the Senate was not in a hurry to pass the bill.
“Nobody should become worried. We are not in a hurry to pass the bill which is going to make a fundamental change in how business is being done in the oil sector.
“The worry over the seeming delay is understandable, but we are working on the bill in the National Assembly and it shall soon be passed into law,” he said
Source: tribune
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