Stop ‘Powerful’ Politicians From Hijacking Legislature, Clark Tells Akpabio

Elder statesman and leader of the Southern and Middlebelt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Chief Edwin Clark, has cautioned the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, against allowing powerful politicians to take control of state judiciary and local governments.

The former federal minister said a group of powerful politicians have been regrouping for the aforementioned purpose.

Clark, in a statement addressed to Akpabio, said the Senate president should endeavor to halt the hijack the public debates in the various State Houses of Assembly, “where the debates will be held having regard to the powers of the State Governors and some mischievous, ambitious and “powerful” politicians over their State Houses of Assembly.”

He added, “Mr. Senate President, the information floating around town is that this dangerous, anti-democratic group in the NASS is regrouping, and want to control their various State judiciary and local governments.

“They want State account to be removed without debate as provided for in the Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution as quoted above; this group of persons have won the congresses of their political parties in their various States, and are now waiting to take over the party structures through dubious means because it is the NASS that can amend the Constitution as provided.

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“Please, this country is divided, and it is failing. This is the time for the various arms of government to perform their duties according to the law. Let us be wary of the ides of march.”

Clark said it has been observed that  an anti democratic group which does not want distinguished members to follow due process, and “it is also the reason why we have two different Bills submitted on the same subject.”

He continued, “However, please permit to bring to your attention some things that may not be handled correctly in the National Assembly, having regard to your speech in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, during the flag presentation to the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates for the forth coming State Local Government elections.

“Mr. Senate President, I am conversant with the workings of the Senate, having been a Senator myself in the 1980s, although for a few months before a military coup toppled the civilian government. As a Senator, I served as member of top Senate Select Committee, the committee saddled with the responsibility of appointing committees of the senate; this was in addition to been chair of two other senate committees.