Senate to honour Buhari with special session, Wednesday

The Senate is scheduled to hold a special session on Wednesday this week in honour of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

It explained on Tuesday that the session, dedicated to tributes, would reflect on his legacy and contributions to nation-building, having served as Nigeria’s number one citizen twice.

Buhari died at the London Clinic on July 13 at the age of 82.

He led Nigeria twice at the highest level — first as a military Head of State from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985.

On May 29, 2015, he returned as a democratically elected President and was re-elected for a second term, which lasted from May 29, 2019, to May 29, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Senate has distanced itself from reports suggesting it recommended the creation of 12 new states as part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.

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It stated that no new states had been recommended or created and urged Nigerians to disregard such reports.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, made the clarification during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, after Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) raised concerns over widespread social media reports alleging that the Senate had approved the creation of 12 new states.

Believing the reports to be true, some Nigerians have reportedly begun holding meetings to strategise on the development of their purported new states.

Reacting to the claims, Akpabio said, “I have seen over 42 proposals, but not one has gone through full deliberation.

“The process of creating a state is very rigorous and has not been completed in any instance.”

He further explained that amending the constitution itself is a similarly demanding process, requiring proposals in the form of bills, public hearings, recommendations to the floor, and approval from the 36 state Houses of Assembly, followed by presidential assent.

He added that, as of today, the process remains incomplete and advised Nigerians to ignore all social media speculation regarding state creation.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE