Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said that lawmakers can only support issues that have substance within the confines of the law and not contrary.

Dogara was reacting the recent calls for secession by the Indigenous people of Biafra(IPOB) group. PoliticsNGR learned that he also spoke on the calls for restructuring, adding that 'credible legislative inputs that would address the issue'.

"We are all aware that during the recess, the agitation by a group of persons based in the southeastern geopolitical zone of the country and the heightened call by many groups for restructuring of the country dominated discourse in Nigeria. It is in this regard, that I wish to commend our religious and traditional rulers, leaders of various ethnic nationalities, elder statesmen, security agencies, the Governors and indeed governments of the states in the Federation for their display of statesmanship during this period.

Indeed all patriotic Nigerians rose in unison to uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens to move freely and reside in any part of the federation as they choose, without let or hindrance. It appears to me that the citizens of this great country have sounded the message loud and clear that they stand for a united, prosperous and just Nigeria.

It is necessary to emphasize that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy with a clear legal framework for resolving differences that normally arise among citizens, between citizens and government as well as between the structures and arms of government. Make no mistake, as representatives of the people, we have a duty to champion the protection and preservation of the rights of our constituents and peoples. We are very conscious and indeed jealous of the fundamental rights provided under our Constitution as well as the Human and Peoples Rights under the African Charter.

As an institution, this House stands firmly on the side of those who seek equity, fairness and justice so long as such is pursued in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we as Honorable Members have sworn to protect and preserve.

Anyone or group who assaults our Constitution will not find a partner here because our oath of office repels it, but those who stand for justice, fairness and equity will have partners in us because our oath of office compels it. We would work shoulder to shoulder with all those working within the ambit of the constitution and the law for all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity to be first class citizens as no nation can truly be first class if it harbours within its borders second or third class citizens."

On calls for restructuring

"Do we have a legislative response to the issues that have been thrown up? Is the National Assembly involved in the debate? Can restructuring take place outside the existing legal order? Indeed all the arguments about restructuring are at the end of the day, legislative issues.

It may be necessary in due course for the National Assembly to have a second look at the issues that have been thrown up. The National Assembly as a representative and product of the people cannot act contrary to the wishes and aspirations of its constituents. We need to sift all the ‘noise’ and find out what exactly a majority of our people actually want? This is a responsibility we cannot outsource.”

Going forward, it is my view that we need to revisit some aspects of the voting on Constitution Alteration. Luckily we still have the legislative window of conferencing with the Senate, where we have differences. “Honourable colleagues, it is clear that the things that bind us are overwhelmingly more than those that divide us. Indeed the individuals or groups who sow the seeds of discord and fan the embers of hate and disunity are in the negligible minority.

As representatives of the people, we must continually sensitise our people on the need to support all measures for the enthronement of a prosperous, united and just Nigeria where all citizens have equal stake under the governance of the Rule of Law. It was Martin Luther King, Jnr, who said that “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence…”

We must learn to love one another, understand each other and respect each other for Nigeria to reach her full potentials politically, socially and economically. “Of course all healthy democracies are noisy. But they are filled with noise that elicits debate, not noise that incites to violence. When speech or noise leads to debate its called free speech but when noise or speech incites to violence then that is hate speech. Hate speech has no place in a democracy and must never be tolerated or allowed.

Words are powerful and once spoken it’s difficult if not impossible to take them back. Words have the power to create the atmosphere in which we live. There is nothing that exists that was not created by or in consequence of spoken word(s). Hate speech multiplies words that have the capacity to drown the truth. In the midst of hate speech, the truth is usually the casualty.

Therein lies the real danger of hate speech. Yet, it is only in the truth that everything finds its worth. “It remains for me to charge that the prevailing situation should serve as impetus for more determined performance on our part. The genuine appreciation of these issues constitute a defining parameter for our job as we proceed in this second half of our tenure as the 8th House. Let us all resolve to get down to work and the Almighty God helping us we shall deliver."

http://politicsngr.com/2017/09/26/ipob-will-support-lawful-agitations-house-reps/

There you have it folks. He says they are incapacitated by virtue of the oath they took upon assumption of office.

I wish they could apply the same code of conduct to financial matters and and general legislative ethics.

To insist that northerners who asked Igbo to leave their land are afraid of restructuring is like to argue that a lion killer is afraid of a hyena.
It is the Igbo who are afraid of leaving Nigeria. When given the chance to pack and go, they started talking of referendum. I am sure if the referendum is conducted they would start asking for compensation. And if you give them compensation they would start talking about their God given mandate to remain in our lands to preach the torah! While they are misbehaving towards us thus, they would be telling the outside world that the evil Hausa people refuse ''to let my people go.''
Only senseless politicians like Atiku would repeat the trash that we northerners are afraid of restructuring. We even welcome the mother of restructuring- dismemberment.

omenka:
There you have it folks. He says they are incapacitated by virtue of the oath they took upon assumption of office.

J wish they could apply the same code of conduct to financial matters and and general legislative ethics.

trash

Who will support such fake agitation? How many agitation did u see during Gej era? I recon that those supporting them are touts and retched among them. I wonder why non of their house of reps and senator speaks at all about the agitation of that criminal and fugitive called Kanu. They know he is on his own and will carry his cross in due time. He is now a lepper that must be kept away from sane society.

K

[s]

stephanie11:
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said that lawmakers can only support issues that have substance within the confines of the law and not contrary.

Dogara was reacting the recent calls for secession by the Indigenous people of Biafra(IPOB) group. PoliticsNGR learned that he also spoke on the calls for restructuring, adding that 'credible legislative inputs that would address the issue'.

"We are all aware that during the recess, the agitation by a group of persons based in the southeastern geopolitical zone of the country and the heightened call by many groups for restructuring of the country dominated discourse in Nigeria. It is in this regard, that I wish to commend our religious and traditional rulers, leaders of various ethnic nationalities, elder statesmen, security agencies, the Governors and indeed governments of the states in the Federation for their display of statesmanship during this period.

Indeed all patriotic Nigerians rose in unison to uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens to move freely and reside in any part of the federation as they choose, without let or hindrance. It appears to me that the citizens of this great country have sounded the message loud and clear that they stand for a united, prosperous and just Nigeria.

It is necessary to emphasize that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy with a clear legal framework for resolving differences that normally arise among citizens, between citizens and government as well as between the structures and arms of government. Make no mistake, as representatives of the people, we have a duty to champion the protection and preservation of the rights of our constituents and peoples. We are very conscious and indeed jealous of the fundamental rights provided under our Constitution as well as the Human and Peoples Rights under the African Charter.

As an institution, this House stands firmly on the side of those who seek equity, fairness and justice so long as such is pursued in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we as Honorable Members have sworn to protect and preserve.

Anyone or group who assaults our Constitution will not find a partner here because our oath of office repels it, but those who stand for justice, fairness and equity will have partners in us because our oath of office compels it. We would work shoulder to shoulder with all those working within the ambit of the constitution and the law for all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity to be first class citizens as no nation can truly be first class if it harbours within its borders second or third class citizens."

On calls for restructuring

"Do we have a legislative response to the issues that have been thrown up? Is the National Assembly involved in the debate? Can restructuring take place outside the existing legal order? Indeed all the arguments about restructuring are at the end of the day, legislative issues.

It may be necessary in due course for the National Assembly to have a second look at the issues that have been thrown up. The National Assembly as a representative and product of the people cannot act contrary to the wishes and aspirations of its constituents. We need to sift all the ‘noise’ and find out what exactly a majority of our people actually want? This is a responsibility we cannot outsource.”

Going forward, it is my view that we need to revisit some aspects of the voting on Constitution Alteration. Luckily we still have the legislative window of conferencing with the Senate, where we have differences. “Honourable colleagues, it is clear that the things that bind us are overwhelmingly more than those that divide us. Indeed the individuals or groups who sow the seeds of discord and fan the embers of hate and disunity are in the negligible minority.

As representatives of the people, we must continually sensitise our people on the need to support all measures for the enthronement of a prosperous, united and just Nigeria where all citizens have equal stake under the governance of the Rule of Law. It was Martin Luther King, Jnr, who said that “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence…”

We must learn to love one another, understand each other and respect each other for Nigeria to reach her full potentials politically, socially and economically. “Of course all healthy democracies are noisy. But they are filled with noise that elicits debate, not noise that incites to violence. When speech or noise leads to debate its called free speech but when noise or speech incites to violence then that is hate speech. Hate speech has no place in a democracy and must never be tolerated or allowed.

Words are powerful and once spoken it’s difficult if not impossible to take them back. Words have the power to create the atmosphere in which we live. There is nothing that exists that was not created by or in consequence of spoken word(s). Hate speech multiplies words that have the capacity to drown the truth. In the midst of hate speech, the truth is usually the casualty.

Therein lies the real danger of hate speech. Yet, it is only in the truth that everything finds its worth. “It remains for me to charge that the prevailing situation should serve as impetus for more determined performance on our part. The genuine appreciation of these issues constitute a defining parameter for our job as we proceed in this second half of our tenure as the 8th House. Let us all resolve to get down to work and the Almighty God helping us we shall deliver."

http://politicsngr.com/2017/09/26/ipob-will-support-lawful-agitations-house-reps/

[/s]
Trash from unity begging terrorists as expected.

Igbos are peace loving TERRORIST GROUP

.

Beta speaker.

before Idrop my comment, let me make it clear that Iam not a member of IPOB, neither am Ia yoruba guy nor a northerner. Iam just speaking objectively.

now...please tell us what is unlawful about how the ipob protests. lets start from here. #factsonly

IPOB has always been lawful. Their may be careless talks and outburst of emotions. But believe me IPOB has been lawful.

Mtcheeeew!!! can anything good comes out of those criminals in d house of rep

Nxt thread Pls

It's like has successfully jolted every region to reality.

Na Restructuring be the new song.

�I broke up with my girlfriend at a restaurant and she started crying, everyone thought I had proposed so they started clapping����

Nigeria is a fall State from on set.

IPOB is a joke.

Haaaaaaaaaaaa iPODS & biafrats wont sleep well tonight

omenka:
There you have it folks. He says they are incapacitated by virtue of the oath they took upon assumption of office.

I wish they could apply the same code of conduct to financial matters and and general legislative ethics.

What's this one saying? Next please

So because of BREXIT, no British citizen will remain in Europe? Please visit Yaba left immediately !!!

Bari22:
To insist that northerners who asked Igbo to leave their land are afraid of restructuring is like to argue that a lion killer is afraid of a hyena.
It is the Igbo who are afraid of leaving Nigeria. When given the chance to pack and go, they started talking of referendum. I am sure if the referendum is conducted they would start asking for compensation. And if you give them compensation they would start talking about their God given mandate to remain in our lands to preach the torah! While they are misbehaving towards us thus, they would be telling the outside world that the evil Hausa people refuse ''to let my people go.''
Only senseless politicians like Atiku would repeat the trash that we northerners are afraid of restructuring. We even welcome the mother of restructuring- dismemberment.

This people know the truth but still talk rubbish.
Pls telle what is unlawful abot ipob.


OOH GOD PLS WHY WAS I BORN INTO THIS COUNTRY OF HEARTLESS, BABARIC AND WICKED...SOULS.

iConductor:

Trash from unity begging terrorists as expected.

Just look at this thing? By their posts ye shall know them! Empty, devoid of logic, fact or reasoning and looking for any opportunity to throw dry insults and grunt in frustration! No wonder their igor looking fraud of a leader described them as such....

And let me guess, only Northerners can determine what is "lawful agitations".

If not that Kanu decided to become a fool by building his platform on hating Yorubas, we won't be listening to these Northern fools talk nonsense.

I don't support IPOB because they're hateful and are build on hate speeches. I will support another secession group that unites the Southern, MB and Northern secession groups; by doing so, all regions will be agitating in no time.

YOUR THIEVES HAVE SPOKEN

So asking for a Referendum is unlawful.?



Nigerians are just deceiving themselves


You can't achieve Unity through the barrel of a gun

Bro you can only wish but it wont happen because its not in their favour.

omenka:
There you have it folks. He says they are incapacitated by virtue of the oath they took upon assumption of office.

I wish they could apply the same code of conduct to financial matters and and general legislative ethics.

What do you expect the man benefiting from the Skewed structure to say? Rhetorics that status quo ante be maintained.

Ehyaaaa

Bari22:
To insist that northerners who asked Igbo to leave their land are afraid of restructuring is like to argue that a lion killer is afraid of a hyena.
It is the Igbo who are afraid of leaving Nigeria. When given the chance to pack and go, they started talking of referendum. I am sure if the referendum is conducted they would start asking for compensation. And if you give them compensation they would start talking about their God given mandate to remain in our lands to preach the torah! While they are misbehaving towards us thus, they would be telling the outside world that the evil Hausa people refuse ''to let my people go.''
Only senseless politicians like Atiku would repeat the trash that we northerners are afraid of restructuring. We even welcome the mother of restructuring- dismemberment.

You do realize that restructuring the country will have very minimal effect, if any at all, on the Igbos living in the North, right? What's that got to do with anything?