Nigeria’s centenary celebration splits reps

The request by President Goodluck Jonathan to secure a convenient date to brief both Chambers of the National Assembly on the proposed programme for Nigeria’s Centenary celebrations sharply divided the lawmakers at the plenary on Wednesday.

The debate in both houses began after the presiding officers of both chambers read the president’s letter at the separate sittings. The President had indicated that the appearance will enable the Presidency lay bare its proposal for the centenary celebration as well as enable the legislature contribute to the framework of the preparation for the celebration.

On January 1, 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria were formally amalgamated into one country – establishing modern day Nigeria. January 1, 2014 marks 100 years as a nation.

While the letter was received without questions at the Senate, it however sparked off a debate in the lower chamber.

Some of the Reps who kicked against the celebration insisted that Jonathan has no justification to seek audience with them after refusing their earlier invitation meant to interface with Jonathan on checking rising terrorism.

House Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had read at Wednesday’s plenary Jonathan’s letter dated January 10, 2013 requesting the House to allow the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, to brief it on the preparation for the centenary celebration.

But coming under personal explanation, Deputy Minority Leader, Samaila Kawu (Kano/ANPP) stated that letter was in breach of privilege of the House because the President had refused to honour invitation from the House last year.

“Mr. President had refused to honour our invitation in the past, so we cannnot honour his own too.” Kawu said.

In the same vein, House Minority Leader/Leader of Opposition Femi Gbajabiamila(Lagos/ACN) described the planned centenary celebration as an economic drain. He called on the House to disregard the proposal from the Presidency, as payback for his ‘refusal’ to appear before the House over insecurity.

“A centenary celebration could cause this country billions. If we are saying there is no money to implement budgets, so I don’t see why a centenary celebration should be a priority.

“Respect should be reciprocal. We should ignore the letter the way he ignored our resolution last year summoning him to come and brief us insecurity in the country, because respect begets respect”.

But Reps Emmanuel Jime (Benue/PDP), Abike Dabiri (Lagos/ACN) and Linus Okorie (Ebonyi/PDP) differed.

Jime, told lawmakers that there was no need to be negative about the centenary celebration as the event provided an opportunity for Nigerians to celebrate the country’s unity.

Dabiri posited that “there was no big deal or an issue to be made out of the decision by the Presidency to mark 100 years of our unity”.

Okorie on his part warned that “the House should not constitute itself to an opposition against the presidency on every issue”.

Ruling on the matter, Tambuwal urged his colleagues to exercise patience pending the time a resolution was taken on the matter.