National Assembly may oppose dialogue, says lawmaker
From Adamu Abuh, Kano
INDICATIONS emerged at the weekend that activities of the recently constituted Committee on National Dialogue may be opposed by the National Assembly.
According to a member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Nasiru Dantiye, only the legislature has the legal powers to dialogue on issues of national interest.
Apparently heeding to request for the Convocation of a National Conference, President Olusegun Obasanjo last week constituted an eight-member National Dialogue Committee headed by Governor Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna State.
Arguing that members of the two chambers of the National Assembly represent the divergent ethno-religious and sectional interests in the country, he stressed that the Makarfi-led committee cannot claim to represent the interest of the political class because its membership was drawn from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The lawmaker, who represents Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), admonished the President to hold on to the idea of a national conference until the National Assembly wound up its work on the review of the constitution.
He noted: "It doesn't make sense to constitute the committee. Apart from the composition, we are talking about something that affects the whole country. I believe that the legislative arm is the best form of representation that can handle any matter of national interest.
"If you see the composition of the dialogue committee, you will see that the President did not intend it to succeed. All the eight members are from the PDP, nobody is from the ANPP or any of the registered parties. I don't think it is wise for the President to limit the membership to the PDP".
Dantiye, who spoke with reporters in Kano, added: "The President is just in a hurry because of pressure. He should have waited for the constitutional review committee to finish its job. If we can't solve the country's problem through that means, then he can go ahead with the conference idea. But for now, what he is doing is misleading and confusing".
The legislator, who remarked that the constitution is deficient, expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work by the Constitution Review Committee, saying it leaves an impression that the National Assembly will not be capable of tackling the country's problems.
Dantiye, who a sub-committee chairman on Communication and Appropriation, faulted government's resolve to renew Pentascope contract with NITEL, saying it is contrary to the principle of transparency and quest to revive the activities of NITEL.
He said contrary to widely held views, investigations by the House Committee on Communication revealed that Pentascope lacked the financial strength and technical expertise to turn around NITEL.
