House of Representatives was again thrown into a rowdy session on Thursday, forcing a hasty adjournment of proceedings .
The cause of the rowdiness was the rejection of a bill seeking to establish a South - East Development Commission
The bill failed at the session , which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr . Yakubu Dogara, after it had been debated.
A similar bill to establish the North- East Development Commission had since been passed by the National Assembly, awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, South - East lawmakers immediately protested the decision on the grounds that the House could have, at least , allowed the bill to pass the second reading for more views to be collated from Nigerians at a public hearing.
Tension had built up in the House since Wednesday when the bill was billed to be moved for second reading .
However, it was stepped down on Wednesday because the lead sponsor and Deputy Minority Leader of the House , Mr . Chukwuka Onyeama, was unavailable in the chambers .
He returned soon after the bill was stood down.
The bill was re -listed for Thursday ( yesterday) , but again , Onyeama was unavailable just as the bill was to be taken and it had to be stood down a second time in line with the rules of proceedings .
But South -East lawmakers began a loud protest, insisting that the bill must be taken.
In the midst of the rowdiness , Onyeama reappeared in the chambers, just like he did on Wednesday after the bill had been stood down.
Dogara had to bend backwards to approve a motion for the rescission of the earlier ruling stepping down the bill .
The speaker said , “ Let me clarify that it was not as if the bill was stopped . The sponsor of the bill was not around and we followed the rules to step it down.
“ Now that he is here , we will take it. Nobody will shut out anybody because we don’ t have the right to do that. ”
Dogara calmed frayed nerves and opened debate on the bill.
Onyeama, while leading the debate , said the South - East geopolitical zone needed the commission to develop collapsed infrastructure and the damage suffered by the zone as a result of the Nigerian Civil War .
“ The war led to massive destruction of critical infrastructure in the region , including roads, houses and environmental degradation , ” he said .
Onyeama added that the region was worst -hit by erosion and other ecological problems.
The lawmaker stated that the commission would be funded from seven sources.
The first is through “ 15 per cent” of the total monthly statutory allocations due to member states of the commission from the Federation Account.
The second source, he explained, would be from “ three per cent ” of the total budget of any oil - producing company operating onshore and offshore in the South - East states , including gas processing companies.
The third source is from “ three per cent ” of the total annual budget of any solid mineral extracting or mining company operating in the South - East.
The fourth source will come through “ 50 per cent ” of money due to member states of the commission from the Ecological Fund.
Five to seven of the funding sources are ” Such monies as may , from time to time , be granted or lent to or be deposited with the commission by the Federal Government or a state government , any other body or institution , whether local or foreign.
All monies raised for the purpose of the commission by way of gifts , loans, grants - in-aid , testamentary disposition or otherwise .
“ Proceeds from all other assets that may , from time to time , accrue to the commission. ”
All South - East members , who spoke , including Mr . Uzoma Nkem- Abonta, Mr . Henry Nwawuba and Mr . Toby Okechukwu, said they gave “ 100 per cent ” backing to the bill.
For instance , Nkem- Abonta argued that he believed the bill was the solution to the renewed agitation for the Republic of Biafra .
“ We have to stop the crisis that is building up in the South - East before it turns into something else, ” he said .
Members from the South -South , led by the Minority Leader , Mr . Leo Ogor , also supported the bill .
“ Every zone deserves a commission because this country needs to be restructured. We cannot continue this way, ” Ogor told the House .
Mr . Kehinde Agboola , who spoke for the South -West, said , “ History will not forgive us if today we fail to support this bill. ”
However, trouble started when all the lawmakers from the North spoke against the bill .
Members from North -West , North- East and North- Central , all opposed the bill .
For example , Mr . Mohammed Sani -Abdu opposed the bill on the grounds that it was a move to “ divide Nigeria in piecemeal. ”
He observed that coming soon after the government was trying to address the devastation caused by Boko Haram in the North -East, the timing of the bill was wrong .
Sani -Abdu recalled that after the civil war ended in 1970, government made concerted efforts to rebuild the South -East and re -integrate the people into the rest of Nigeria .
He argued that funding of the commission, using “ three per cent” of the annual budget of oil companies operating in the South - East was indirect funding by the Federal Government .
Another member from the North, Mr . Karimi Sunday , said some South - East states were already benefiting from the funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission by the oil companies.
“ Are we going to ask the same oil companies to fund the South - East Development Commission again ?
“ Are we saying that every zone should come up with its own development commission?” he asked .
When Dogara put the bill to a voice vote , he ruled in favour of those rejecting the commission. For clarity purpose , he called the votes twice before bringing down his gavel .
But South -East lawmakers began another round of protests as Dogara handed over proceedings to the Deputy Speaker, Mr . Yussuff Lasun , and left the chambers .
Lasun quickly adjourned the House as the rowdiness worsened.
Outside the chambers, South -East lawmakers continued the protest.
Onyeama threatened that he would resign his position as a leader of the House .
“ I am a leader in this House ; you can’ t just kill my bill like that. I will resign , ” he fumed.
Another member from Abia State , Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha , said her colleagues were not happy that the bill was rejected.
“ At least , they could have passed it for second reading .
“ At the committee stage , more work could have been done on it to remove the grey areas, ” she said .
One member from Rivers State , Boma Goodhead , joined in the protest, saying the North was not fair to the South - East.

“ They are using our oil money to address the issue of Boko Haram . Now , they are against this bill . It is not fair, ” she shouted and walked away angrily.


source:punch newspaper

The North is the problem of Nigeria. Any progressive move to move Nigeria forward on equity and progress are always opposed by them.

Any progress recorded by any southern leaders (OBJ, GEJ) are always reversed by them. They don't want to grow and will not allow you to grow at your pace.

When people are saying they want to restructure the country, what they mean to say is "we don't want to associate with the North".

last paragraph "They are using our oil money to address the issue of Boko Haram . Now , they are against this bill . It is not fair, ”

One Nigeria indeed. Ndi Ara. I always say it that the Northerners are the problem of Nigeria, they believe Nigeria oil belongs to them alone.

Those who said the south east legislators should speak up for the South east in NASS, I hope you guys are reading this. The storm is gathering.

The south south should be angrier.. Cos they are the biggest losers..






The north sees every other tribe as fools

What was the OMUGO Yoruba rep. Kehinde Agboola thinking supporting this bill when no single ibo rep supported Lagos to get some of the funds awarded NE? Yoruba say makan makan ni oye nkan. Don't speak up for your neighbor if he was silent through your own ordeal.

Yoruba, we need to get our acts together and start calling people like rep. Kehinde Agboola out, he's an omo ale jatijati!

Wyttcat:
What was the OMUGO Yoruba rep. Kehinde Agboola thinking supporting this bill when no single ibo rep supported Lagos to get some of the funds awarded NE. Yoruba say makan makan ni oye nkan. Don't speak up for your neighbor if he was silent through your own ordeal.

Yoruba, we need to get our acts together and start calling people like rep. Kehinde Agboola out.

so if lagos gets approval, how about Ondo, osun, Ogun, kwara, are they fools? Remi Tinubu bill is criminal, it would have made sense if it was SW development bill. Not Lagos that is already bigger than Ondo osun Ogun kwara put together

.

D's is one of d reasons why Nigeria can never move 4ward or be one
stealing from south n east to pay north

Commission/committee
The alters on which Nigeria has been sacrificed over time.
Now is the turn of the south east.

What the hell are you talking about? Lagos needs that money more than any other state because it's holding the largest population in Nigeria. Lagos should be taking part of other states monthly allocation due to the burden it's carrying from Nigeria. When Ogun, Osun and others get there they will apply for same.

tribalistseun:
so if lagos gets approval, how about Ondo, osun, Ogun, kwara, are they fools? Remi Tinubu bill is criminal, it would have made sense if it was SW development bill. Not Lagos that is already bigger than Ondo osun Ogun kwara put together

Nigeria is a dead Country.

With the adamant injustice and impunity meted out on each passing day, Nigeria can only head for abyss.

To any young man/ woman out there ..... better wrestle the reins of power from these old politicians, insist on restructuring or better jet out of that hell hole called Naija. There is so much to enjoy in one's lifetime than to hope against hope that Nigeria will ever get better under current structure.

..and they want to propose a 6 month jail term for jumping queues?
LWKMD!

The Igbos have dropped a bait for Nigeria and she fell for it. The storm gathers, the thunder rumbles. This is a perfect excuse for a referendum whether they should stay or go. Unfortunately, the Northern masters who own 80% of the oil blocs in the south will not concur. They don't know that it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. Freedom isn't given, it is taken. The night is coming when no man can work. The night is dark and full of terrors. Alaigbo, a word is enough.

Wyttcat:
What the hell are you talking about? Lagos needs that money more than any state because it's holding the largest population in Nigeria. Lagos should be taking part of other states monthly allocation due to the burden it's carrying from Nigeria. When Ogun, Osun and others get there they will apply for same.

did the north clamour for only Bornu state? Use your head. Then allow illiterate abokiii to be wiser than you.

when we say we want Biafra you people don't understand. Now this is one of the reasons.

let them take their development to sambisa and afonja land,BIAFRA will develop Biafra land.
Tomorrow,afonjas will be jumping into Biafra matter.
Lord, let the 10 plagues you sent to Egypt, visit any individual or tribe that is and that will be against the actualization of Biafra. Amen

Members from the South -South , led by the Minority Leader , Mr . Leo Ogor , also supported the bill .
“ Every zone deserves a commission because this country needs to be restructured. We cannot continue this way,

This is the perfect excuse and time for the South (south south, East and west) to push for restructuring or a referendum.

South East leaders need to be proactive. Somebody should push the bill or motion. Who will bell the cat

Suurulere:
The Igbos have dropped a bait for Nigeria and she fell for it. The storm gathers, the thunder rumbles. This is a perfect excuse for a referendum whether they should stay or go. Unfortunately, the Northern masters who own 80% of the oil blocs in the south will not concur. They don't know that it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. Freedom isn't given, it is taken. The night is coming when no man can work. The night is dark and full of terrors. Alaigbo, a word is enough.

u talk am.

Wyttcat:
What the hell are you talking about? Lagos needs that money more than any other state because it's holding the largest population in Nigeria. Lagos should be taking part of other states monthly allocation due to the burden it's carrying from Nigeria. When Ogun, Osun and others get there they will apply for same.

So you agree that Lagos is more populated than kano? I just don't understand afonjas...in one breath they are here and in another breath they are there....when biafrans say, the north cheat everybody and want their separate way, you people will be singing in favor of the north, yet want biafrans to support you in your diabolical agenda

Wyttcat:
What the hell are you talking about? Lagos needs that money more than any other state because it's holding the largest population in Nigeria. Lagos should be taking part of other states monthly allocation due to the burden it's carrying from Nigeria. When Ogun, Osun and others get there they will apply for same.

U lie here. If we are to go by the recent census Kano holds the largest population in Nigeria. The right thing that should have been done was to propose a SW development commission bill and not just for Lagos that already have the money.

Why should Ogun, Osun and others wait when a bill can be sponsored to accommodate all of them?

Every other zone sponsor bill that covers all states in their region, NDDC, NEDC and Remi couldn't do same for SW but rather sponsored for Lagos alone. That seems selfish. Guy be reasonable.

icedfire:


This is the perfect excuse and time for the South (south south, East and west) to push for restructuring or a referendum.

South East leaders need to be proactive. Somebody should push the bill or motion. Who will bell the cat

Stop lumping SW with your agenda, who among your folks support the Lagos bill?.

dis among many evil things in dis satanic infested con3 is d reason why Biafra will soon materialize.
it is a norm world wide dat after fighting (war) is over, reconstruction follows immediately to rebuild damaged infrastructure destroyed during d war. dis is no special treatment. it is standard practice worldwide.

* after d american civil war in 1865, abraham lincoln set up reconstructions govts in key states of southern confederates to help build d region.

* after d second world war in 1945, america set up marshal plan to help rebuild europe. d marshal reconstruction plan by america was key to western europes recovery after d devastation of d second world war. today western europe is an economic power house.

d purpose of reconstruction is not just rebuilding damaged infrastructure, but to help reconcile d affected region back. but here in nijeriya it was a different ball game. not only was d biafra region neglected after d civil was, biafran wealth n properties wia confiscated. if not wickedness n injustice why will anybody oppose d rebuilding of a war-torn area
ar northern born to rule extremist not vigorously pushing for d reconstruction of north east region after d devastation by their pet project boko arams? why reject dat of south east? wickedness of d highest order! yet they expect Biafrans to remain in dis shiit-hole fruad call nijeriya God forbid!!!!

thunder74:


When people are saying they want to restructure the country, what they mean to say is "we don't want to associate with the North".

Oh good to know!

Ironically it is this same northern majority votes that you need to restructure, and its still this northern majority military you'll face if you choose the violent path.

Cure yourself of this self-defeating hatred. What a myopic thoughtless lot.

Good luck!

South east needs an independent mega plan for it's development, enough of this federal government rubbish.