Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has denied that he conspired with a member to “sneak in” a bill that would expand the application of Sharia law in Nigeria.
Abdullahi Salame, representing Gwadabawa/Illela federal constituency, Sokoto state, had promoted a bill which would expand the criminal aspects of the Sharia as well as make it applicable nationwide, and not just in the 12 northern states that adopted the Islamic legal code.
Dogara, a Christian from Bauchi state, had been accused of allowing the bill to go undebated in “collusion” with Salame.
But responding to inquiries on his twitter handle @Speakerdogara Friday evening, the speaker said “bills are always gazetted before they are scheduled for Second Reading and Gazettes are public documents”.
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He described as “crass ignorance” of the legislative process for someone to insinuate that a Bill could be sneaked in and passed.
He said the bill in question only seeks to amend the provision of the constitution to make some criminal aspects of Sharia applicable.
The speaker explained that being a constitutional amendment Bill, the “Bill is not a regular Bill that can be said to have passed second reading, passing it only meant it’s in the mill.”
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According to him, “all such Bills are read and referred to the House Special Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review for Legislative fireworks”, and that “only the House Special Ad Hoc Committee on Constitutional review can propose a final Bill on constitutional review.”
“As it is there no proposed Bill from the Ad Hoc committee yet. So the Bill in question is just a working document. Those talking about sneaking a bill are either ignorant of the process or plainly mischievous.”
“The Special Ad Hoc committee is bound to consider it just like all other references to the Ad Hoc committee. In real sense it’s only when the said Ad Hoc committee proposes it to the House that we will have the Bill to vote on.”
The Ad Hoc committee is free to recommend or reject it and where it rejects it the Bill dies there and as such “it’s no use allowing debates on such Bills that are for reference.”
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He assured that the bill will be thoroughly debated and examined by “our in-house experts serving on the Special Ad Hoc Committee.”
“If it passes the Ad Hoc committee, it will now be debated by the House in plenary nd be subjected to 2/3rd vote.”
“In any case, recommendations from the public on constitutional amendment are accepted by the House without debate,” and advised those concern to get a copy of the bill as it is a public document having been gazetted.
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4 comments
We are watching with keen interest. Any ungodly bill is doomed to crash. The earlier those promoting such bills retrace their steps the better for them. Else, they will find themselves fighting against the living God. No one has ever stood against Him and lived to tell the story. A word is enough for the wise.
So, the bill was meant to promote dead God?
Any “god” that is so week that his followers will have to take up arms and ammunition to defend his cause is not worthy to be called a living God. If he is alive, let him rise up in defense of his adherent and not the other way round.
Nigeria is a secular state as clearly stated in our Constitution. Hence, imposition of sharia (an Islamic penal code) on anyone else through the backdoor is immoral, ungodly,….. nauseating etc. Some of us, though have great respect for our muslim brothers and sisters (as well as those who believe in other deities) will resist the ungodly imposition with everything we’ve got (intellectually, physically,…. and more importantly SPIRITUALLY)
The speaker is a Christain and who ever wants to destroy his political career will only find himself promoting him. Becouse the Speaker’s position is divinely ordained by God not man and therefore no man will prevail over God’s ordinance. We pray for peace in Nigeria. God bless Nigeria & the speaker, federal house of representatives.