The House of Representatives at its resumption from recess on Tuesday, 26th September, 2017 deliberated on recent agitations by various ethnic groups in the country on the issue of restructuring and called for unity and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
Presenting the motion titled “Unity Of Nigeria” at the House plenary, the majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC: Lagos) noted that recent agitations across Nigeria expressed divergent views and recommendations on the country’s present institutional structures; which are key to its unity. He also mentioned that the agitations had resulted in the proscription of groups, loss of lives and even judicial pronouncements on the status of some of these groups in some instances.
In addition, he highlighted that the said events over the last few weeks would have brought Nigeria to a brink of disaster had it not been for the determination of the majority of Nigerians who expressed an unwavering show of commitment to the peace and unity of the country. Consequently, there was an urgent need for the House of Representatives to align itself to the position of majority of its citizens.
The majority leader was also of the view that it was imperative for Members whose status implies that they hold brief for their teeming constituents to drop partisan politics, ethnic and religious interests and speak in one voice to save the country from disintegration.
Consequently, the House resolved to immediately set up a high –powered Committee to liaise with stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones that would recommend practical solutions that would foster Nigerian unity. The Committee has also been mandated in the interest of national unity to revisit the subject of devolution of powers; which was infamously rejected by the Senate and House of Representatives during the voting on the Constitution Alteration Bills in July, 2017.
