Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar(rtd), Senate President David Mark and Governor of Kogi State, Ibrahim Idris yesterday declared their support for the removal of the immunity clause from the 1999 constitution in the impending constitution review.
Abdulsalam whose regime midwifed the 1999 Constitution that contains the clause said he will support the current move by the National Assembly to delete the immunity provision if its removal will make electedleaders of the country accountable to the electorate and restore the dignity of democracy in Nigeria.
In the same vein, Senate President, David Mark said the Senate would move for the removal of the controversial clause by the time the constitution review gets underway.
Mark said the immunity clause would be removed during the amendment of the constitution, stating that it is a wrong impression that if the clause was removed governors would be taken to court every day.
The former Head of State, who spoke to THISDAY at his Maizube Farms, Minna, said Nigerians deserve responsible leadership that can deliver on its mandate, adding that the immunity clause seem to havebecome a license for all sorts of corruption and impunity in the corridors of power. “I think this immunity has been bastardized. You can see how Nigeria is losing face. Every day we hear of one scandal or another it doesn’t tell good of us at all we have become a laughing stock everywhere we go in the world.
“As soon as they see you and you are a Nigerian, the first task is for you to prove that you are not corrupt. You have to prove that you are an honest man. It doesn’t do us well. If removing the immunity clause from our constitution will assist us in curbing corruption and bringing back the good image of this country, I am for it.
"You can hear all the scandals. One way or the other somebody stole this, somebody did that and he has not developed the area that was entrusted to his care. If we have to remove immunity to make sure that our leaders do their own job well and refrain from dipping their hands into the public offers, I am for it,” Abdusalami said.
The Senate President, who spoke at a book presentation to mark the silver jubilee anniversary of the Episcopacy of the Archbishop of Abuja, Dr. John Onaiyekan however said that Nigerians should also prove that they would give governors the chance to govern when the clause was removed.
“I simply don’t believe on the immunity clause. People should be made to answer questions. We don’t have to fear because the general impression is that if you remove it, then the governors will be in court every day is not correct. I don’t think so. I thinkthe issue of the immunity clause is that the clause should really go. he said.”
The ex-military ruler also noted that there were a lotof things to be done to improve politics in Nigeria,adding that despite all the political reforms of therecent years, Nigerians still played politics ofbitterness. He enjoined the political elite to playpolitics of give and take instead of the current trendwhere it is winner takes all.“Unfortunately, in developing countries and in Africawe see a lot of these very sad things that arehappening when it comes to politics and electionswhere people manipulate elections and the same peopleyou are hoping to rule or serve get killed. So whenyou finish killing all of them whom are you going toserve or when are you going to rule?"
" So I hope that our politicians are listening, they are watching and they are learning. The Kenyan situation is very sad. You can see a country, which used to be the pearl ofdemocracy in Africa – see what is going on there now.Everybody is killing each other. It is very sad whenyou are supposed to be your neighbour’s keeper, nowyou end up being his killer. It is very sad. I hopeour politicians in Nigeria are seeing what ishappening in Kenya. I pray and I beg them not to sow aseed of discord that will put this country on fireagain,” he said.
Lending his weight to the debate, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, who was at the event told newsmen that he was not worried about the proposed removal of immunity clause.“As far as I’m concerned, whatever comes up is inorder. If they say it has to be removed fine, if theysay it has to remain, fine. I’m not bothered at all.”,he said.
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