Reps Reacts For Jonathan's Refusal To Amend Constitution

The House of Representatives has responded to President Goodluck
Jonathan on the reasons he cited for withholding his assent to the
Constitution alteration Bill.

This is coming a day after President Jonathan dragged the National
Assembly to the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to nullify the
proposed amendments.

President Jonathan had argued that not less than four-fifth majority
members of each house of the National Assembly was required to amend
the Constitution and demanded that evidence be made available to show
this was complied with.

Briefing journalists in the National Assembly, the House Minority
Whip, Samson Osagie, said that the four-fifth requirement was met, as
evidenced in the votes and proceedings of July 24, 2013.

Osagie also explained why the National Assembly amended section 58 of
the Constitution which looks at the President's failure to assent to a
bill passed by the National Assembly.

President Jonathan had written to the Senate, refusing to give assent
to some sections of the Nigerian Constitution amended by the National
Assembly.

President Jonathan's letter to the National Assembly detailed the
sections which he refused to approve.

In the letter read by the Senate President, President Jonathan
rejected the alteration of section nine of the Constitution which
removes the approval of the President in the process of constitution
amendment.

President Jonathan also rejected the amendment which separated the
office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from the Minister of
Justice and the Attorney-General from the Commissioner for Justice in
the states of the Federation.
--ChannelsTV