ELECTION TIMETABLE: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DIDN'T ERR – AKOGUN

Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Tunde Akogun, has said that the National Assembly adhered to the amended constitution in fixing election timetable for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Akogun spoke with Daily Sun in Aiyegunle, Edo state, during the graduation of natives of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, trained in various skills acquisition by his wife, Dame Tumi Akogun.

According to Akogun, 'the constitution was amended to enable the National Assembly to take certain actions that had to do with the conduct of elections, especially from the point of view of what INEC should do. So, what we have done is constitutional.'

On the refusal of the National Assembly to take the constitution to the President for assent, Akogun said, 'it was in the constitution. 'There is no provision in the constitution for taking the amended constitution to Mr. President for assent. It is not just there. That is why we have said that anybody, who is in doubt can go to court and let the court interpret it.

'The President, I believe, is convinced that the constitution needed amendment and I also believe the President is not against the distance we have gone. So, happily, if we send it to him, he will assent to it. What I am saying is that you don't overdo things. If it is not necessary, then don't take it to him, he added.

Asked to comment on the jumbo salaries of legislators in the face of severe economic hardship, Akogun said, 'I don't know anything about jumbo salaries. They get what they are entitled to.'

While describing the event as a wonderful one, Akogun further gave thanks to God that 50 years after independence as a nation, Nigeria still remained one country.

'We hope that it is indeed one and indivisible, indissoluble and political entity. So far, so good that after 50 years, we remain a country, strong, united and peaceful.' The event, which was packaged by NINGIM Hope Alive Foundation, had women and girls numbering 50, trained in tie and die, beads stringing, Asoke weaving, event decoration and garri making.