ExpdonaLoaded.blogspot.com (+2348097205188): Expdonaloaded News; Igbo group tackles FG over NASS leadership in court

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Expdonaloaded News; Igbo group tackles FG over NASS leadership in court

Ahuman rights group under the auspices of Igbo Youth Democrats, Kingdom Human Rights Foundation has said Southeasterners are not slaves and cannot play second fiddle in the National Assembly.In a statement signed by the president of the youth socio-political organization, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, said the group decided to institute an action in the Federal High Court, Abuja, invoking the interpretative jurisdiction of the court on the issue of federal character and equitable zoning of political offices in the country.

In suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/567/2015, the plaintiffs are contending whether or not zoning of elective political/appointive offices in Nigeria is constitutional and should be strictly followed in the appointment, election, selection, nomination or endorsement of principal officers of the House of Representatives and other political offices in Nigeria. They relied on Section 14 sub-Sections 3 and 4, and paragraphs 7 and 8 of Part One of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 5 and 6 of the Federal Character Commission Act.post by expdonaloaded.blogspot.com.
The group is also asking whether or not the Federal Character Commission Act was to ensure fairness, equality and justice in the distribution of political offices and in the composition of the government at all levels against domination of one ethnic group over the others.
It further cited Section 224 of the 1999 Constitution, insisting that it has made it a duty for the programmes as well as aims and objectives of a political party to conform to the provisions of chapter 11 of the Constitution.
The plaintiffs said the combined effect of the above sections of the constitution was nothing but zoning.
“The Igbo must not be zoned out of the principal positions in the House of Representatives, and this is the reason we are in court, as the last hope of the oppressed. Few individuals are not greater than the Constitution of Nigeria. The Southwest cannot hold two principal offices why the Southeast has none, in addition to the Vice Presidency.
“If Gbajabiamila must hold a principal office in the House of Representatives, then the Deputy Speaker who is from the Southwest must resign and the position comes to Southeast. This is the only way out of the present political quagmire. Nigerians should stop reminding us that we fought and lost the civil war. Injustice breeds violence and peace is desirable,” the statement read in part.