Akwa
Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has implored the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to stop further
defection of members of Peoples Democratic Party in the National
Assembly to other political parties.
Akpabio’s position was contained in a
statement issued by the state government after Tambuwal paid him a
courtesy visit in Uyo on Monday.
It will be recalled that 37 members of
the House of Representatives elected on the platform of PDP had defected
to the All Progressives Congress.
But Akpabio asked the Speaker to take steps to convince the defectors to return to PDP.
“You must do everything humanly possible
to avoid further defection of PDP members in the National Assembly.
Even those that have defected, we want to implore you to do your best to
convince them to come back because the umbrella is not torn. The
umbrella can accommodate them and can still cover them very well.”
The governor lamented that the turnover
rate in the legislative chambers was discouraging, saying it does not
allow for continuity.
He said, “The turnover in the National
Assembly does not allow for proper enactment of laws and it wipes out
experience and this is of concern to the governors. I recall in 2007
when we came in, only 17 members who were there in 2003 made it back.
“We made strenuous efforts in 2011, but
we ended up producing only 23 per cent and that is not good enough for
our democracy. I am not saying people should stay for 40 years in the
National Assembly, but we need experienced legislators so that the
business of legislation would not have to be learnt in every session.”
Tambuwal, had earlier commended the
governor for his achievements, saying that he was in Uyo to discuss
issues of national interest.
PUNCH
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