Just twenty four hours after the House of Representatives approved for a second reading the bill that seeks to remove immunity from the Vice President, governors, and their deputies, and directing that it be sent to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further deliberation, the Green Chambers has reversed its decision.
The move which came after the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere introduced a motion on Thursday, leading the lawmakers to reconsider their stance was intended to amend Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
Recall, during Wednesday’s plenary session, the House, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, approved the bill for a second reading and sent it to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further deliberation.
The bill, however, proposed keeping immunity for the President.
Reports indicate that supporters of the bill, including its sponsor Solomon Bob, had insisted that ending immunity for these officials would strengthen the fight against corruption and promote good governance.
Meanwhile the Senate has finally thrown out prayers contained in a motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe seeking to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
The motion re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after lawmakers threw it out on Wednesday had
called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The proposal which sparked a heated debate once again, saw the lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Supporting the proposal, Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
According to him, “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
In his contribution, Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
Rejecting the presentation, Senator Jimoh questioned why someone who failed to announce the results should be honoured.
Arguing on the same path,, Senator Cyril Fasuyi noted that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
Senator Sunday Karimi, on his own, criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he thundered.
Hanto Daily News reports that after intense deliberation, the motion was rejected through a voice vote.
However, the Red Chamber agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family.
