Ebonyi Gov Backs Rotational Presidency

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has advocated that the office of the president be rotated amongst the six geo-political zones for equity and fairness.

Nwifuru, who described the constitutional review as necessary, called for the creation of additional states in the South East region to address the imbalance in the geopolitical structure.

The governor spoke when he received the members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution at the New Government House, Abakaliki.

“To end regional squabbles permanently, I urge the National Assembly to ensure marginalisation and structural imbalances are constitutionally addressed.

“Öf the six geopolitical zones in the country, only this region has five states, a development that can trigger resentment among the people.

“That the South East geo-political zone has not occupied the position of the president since 1999 is an injustice. What is the essence of the geo-political zone structure for, if the office of the president cannot be occupied by all the zones?” the governor queried.

He stressed the need to review Section 308 of the Constitution to also grant immunity to the Senate president, deputy Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, deputy speaker, as well as speakers and deputy speakers of State Assemblies.

The governor used the occasion to renew his call for constitutional backing for state police, dismissing the insinuations that governors would misuse them.

Earlier, the Leader of the team and deputy chief whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, said they are in the zone for a public hearing on the review of the constitution.

“Due to growing concerns that there is a need to further review the constitution to meet the demands of Nigerians, the public hearing was conducted. I don’t need to tell you much about it because in the previous exercises you participated actively as the then speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.”

He assured that members of the Review Committee would ensure that no section of the country was shortchanged in the review process.