Tambuwal dismisses call for referendum in constitution amendment

Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal
| credits:

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has foreclosed subjecting ongoing constitutional amendment process by the National Assembly to a referendum.

Speaking with journalists on arrival at the Benin Airport on Saturday, Tambuwal described calls by the President, Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), to allow for input of Nigerians in the constitution amendment process via a referendum as unconstitutional.

He said, “Referendum is unconstitutional. I am a lawyer too like the President of Nigeria Bar Association, and I tell you referendum is unconstitutional. I know that referendum is not in Nigeria’s constitution.”

Tambuwal, however, assured Nigerians that the constitution that would be produced by the National Assembly “at the end of the day will be a peoples’ constitution.”

Also, the House of Representatives, through its spokesman, Zakari Mohammed, described the NBA’s call for referendum as unrealistic.

NBA had criticised the process by the National Assembly. It described lawmakers’ decision to go ahead with the process despite the delay by President Goodluck Jonathan in submitting the Justice Alfa Belgore Report on Constitution Review, as disorderly.

Speaking on national security, Tambuwal who said he was in support of calls for dialogue between the Federal Government and members of the Boko Haram sect, said the call for the inclusion of three-time presidential candidate, Mohammadu Buhari, in the proposed meeting should not be misconstrued.

He said, “What the country needs now is peace. People should leave Buhari alone; I will not speak for him on whether he should accept to dialogue with the Federal Government on behalf of the sect. The decision is entirely Buhari’s to make.”

Meanwhile, Tambuwal, said constructive criticisms of government activities would deepen the country’s democracy.

Speaking at the Ila-Orangun Day celebration which held on Saturday in Ila, Tambuwal commended the National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Bisi Akande, for leading a formidable opposition in the country.