Senate Urges Governor Rochas Okorocha To Reverse ID Card Policy For Northerners Residing In Imo State!

The Senate on Thursday urged the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, to rescind its policy on mandatory issuance of Identification cards to all northerners residing in the state. The upper chamber also advised President Goodluck Jonathan to direct security agencies not to cooperate with the governor and the Imo State Government in the implementation of the policy.

These resolutions followed a motion moved by the Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), entitled: “The Issuance of Identification Card to Northerners residing in Imo State – Urgent call for policy reversal.” Ningi in his lead debate urged the Senate to note with serious concern, the recent government policy statement issued by the Imo State Government, directing all northerners residing or staying in the state to be issued with an identification card.

He argued that the policy contravenes the provisions of section 41(1) and 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which guarantee amongst others, free movement of Nigerians from any part of the country to the other and right of residence without any inhibition or condition whatsoever. He insisted that the policy is tantamount to gross abuse of the citizens’ rights. He said the development if not urgently checked, could throw the entire country into chaos and threaten the survival of the nation’s democracy.

Senators in their contributions condemned the action of the governor, allegedly aimed at preventing Boko Haram insurgents from infiltrating the ranks of northerners in Imo State. Rising in support of the motion, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba (Cross River Central), described the policy as wrongheaded, unconstitutional and discriminatory, He flayed the governor for ever contemplating such a policy at this time in the nation’s development. Source: www.thenationonline.net