The Senate has stated that as the elected representatives of the people, the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to forward the outcome of the National Conference to the National Assembly for ratification is a welcome development as it is the custodian of the sovereignty of Nigeria.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affair, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe made this known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said: “President Goodluck is in tune with the Senate’s position that National Assembly is the custodian of Nigeria’s sovereignty.”
The Senate’s spokesman noted “President Jonathan had stated the obvious when he said that the National Assembly will decide the final outcome of the National Conference.
“For the President to declare that the final outcome of the proposed National conference would be subjected to National Assembly’s ratification is in recognition of the fact that there cannot be two sovereigns at the same time.
“The Senate is consistent with the fact that it welcomes national dialogue of any kind, but that in doing that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, must be taken into cognizance.
“The Senate welcomes the president’s pronouncement and however, assures
that the wishes of majority of Nigerians would always determine the constitutional review process, which is ongoing” he added.
-Daily Sun
