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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives has appealed to the House of Representatives to intervene in the crisis rocking the Benue and Zamfara states houses of assembly.
Agbese made the call while laying a petition by a group of 200 lawyers, calling on the parliament to intervene in the crises in the two states, before the House, in the interest of the country’s democracy.
The lawmaker said: “I bring to your attention a distressing petition received in my office, highlighting the precarious situation in Benue and Zamfara states. The petition, endorsed by over 200 lawyers, fervently urges the House of Representatives to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard democracy in Nigeria.
“Your Excellency, I’m afraid but the inaction of this parliament in the Rivers State affair led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a precedent that we must not allow to recur. If we continue to remain passive, we risk perpetually ceding our constitutional responsibilities to the executive, thereby, reducing our role to mere rubber-stamping.
“Mr Speaker, the alarming developments in Benue and Zamfara states, characterised by rampant impunity, anarchy and lawlessness, as well as a blatant attempt to usurp the powers of a coordinate arm of government, demand our prompt and decisive intervention.
“The petitioners are, therefore, praying the House, after its investigation, to invoke Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to urgently take over the functions of the Benue State House of Assembly and the Zamfara State House of Assembly, respectively, with a view to restoring constitutional order, upholding the rule of law and ensuring the protection of fundamental human rights in the affected states.
“Your Excellency, time is of essence, and I urge you to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and gravity it deserves.”
After the petition was laid, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary referred it to the Committee on Public Petition.
