Thursday, May 20, 2010

Nigeria: Anglican Bishop Decries Non-Passage of Foi Bill


From All Africa-

he Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, Rt. Rev. David Onuoha, has lamented that the refusal of the National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill, ten years after it was presented to them, calls for serious concern.

The Anglican cleric, who expressed his displeasure while addressing Anglican faithful at Ihitte Uboma, also wondered why the lawmakers were reluctant to accept most of the vital recommendations of the Justice Uwais report on electoral reform.

"It is not surprising that the National Assembly is not in favour of any radical change in our Constitution, because the status quo favours them," Bishop Onuoha said.

He wondered whether, "most them, who were beneficiaries of our flawed electoral system, can actually give the nation an enduring constitution that can put things right.

"Given the fact that the present Constitution was a product of the military, and also in view of the fact that most members of our various assemblies are not in the true sense of it representing the people, it is therefore, absolutely necessary that a sovereign national conference be convened to give this nation a Constitution that will adequately address our problems."

He also said that for the war on corruption to succeed, the laws must be hard and biting enough.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201005190991.html

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