The Heads of the Executive Arm and the Legislative Arm, President Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Ahmad Lawan along with Femi Gbajabiamila, are allegedly planning a quick passage of the Water Resources Bill on Wednesday during plenary.
Newsoline reports that sources from House of Representatives said the leadership of the National Assembly plans to use the Wednesday sitting slated for passage of the Appropriation Bill for 2023 to clandestinely pass the Water Resources Bill.
West Africa Weekly in their report alleged that the motive was to give the president, Muhammadu Buhari the Water Resources Bill as a parting gift for the Fulani ethnic group to which he belongs.
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According to sources in the House of Representatives that spoke with West Africa Weekly the leadership of the National Assembly wants to capitalize on the Christmas break of most Southern legislators who will be aware on Wednesday plenary to pass the bill and quickly transmit for Buhari’s assent.
Sources that spoke to the news medium, however, said Southern legislators who have not travelled are rallying round those who have travelled for the Christmas break to be present on Wednesday plenary to work against the plot.
One of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told the West Africa Weekly, “You know that we are already in the Christmas and New Year mood and festivities and many lawmakers especially Christians have travelled out of Abuja. Many have even travelled outside the country with their families and only very few of us are still around. Ordinarily, the National Assembly did not go on recess because of the need to pass the 2023 Appropriation Bill and that is why some of us are still around.
“But during the weekend, we heard that our colleagues especially from the North were being mobilized to turn up for plenary on Wednesday where we are billed to pass the 2023 budget. The plot is that the leadership of the House of Representatives will bring up the Water Bill during the plenary and ensure that it gets an accelerated passage after which it will be forwarded to the president for assent.”
Another source and an All progressives Congress (APC) HoR member said that Southern Caucus of the National Assembly are united against the Water Bill irrespective of religion.
He said that the bill is sponsored by Northern legislators with the aim to take what belong to the South and determine its usage.
He added that Southern legislators see it as a plot by Northern colleagues to come to the South and take the land and water of the Southern people.
The HoR member who prefers anonymity said, “We at the Southern caucus of the National Assembly believe that the Water Bill is an extension of the plot of the government to dispossess the people of their land and waterbodies which they inherited from their forefathers. Our Northern colleagues have been bringing that bill, but it has always been resisted by the Southern caucus. We see it as a ploy for them to come and take our land. Our position is that the Federal Government cannot come and take over water in the states from people whose lives depend on it.
“That is why we have resisted the bill anytime they bring it. But this time, they want to pass it by hook or crook. We heard that they want to bring it during plenary on Wednesday when majority of our members will not be in attendance and hastily pass it through third reading.
“We have reached out as many members as we can to attend plenary on Wednesday so that we can stop them from taking any decision on the bill. The Southern Caucus of the National Assembly is together on this, and it has nothing to do with party affiliation.”
The National Water Resources Bill is sponsored by Sada Soli, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources, who is from Kaita/Jibia Constituency of Katsina State, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Human Rights Lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, had consistently raised objection to the Water Resources Bill. In the month of September, Omirhobo called on Nigerians to raise their voices against the bill. In a series of tweets on his Twitter handle, Omirhobo alleged that, unlike the 8th National Assembly, legislators in the 9th NASS may not fight for the citizens to prevent the passage of the bill.
“There is nothing National about the Water Resources in Nigeria. The Water in Nigeria belongs to the States and not the Federal Government. Say NO to the National Water Resources Bill 2022.
“The 8th National Assembly, had lawmakers that stood up for Nigerians to stop the satanic Water Resources Bill but this is not the case with the rubber stamp 9th Assembly, so Nigerians must stop the bill themselves by speaking on it and reminding the lawmakers of their job.
“Arise Nigerians. Stop the Water Resources Bill because if it goes through we are all doomed. In case you don’t know please know now that the bill permits the government to send you to jail if you use your God’s given water without first obtaining licence from Abuja?” Omirhobo tweeted in the month of September.
The human rights lawyer, however, raised the last voice against the Water Resources Bill on December 6 on his Twitter handle. He said, “Let it be known to Nigerians that the Federal Government do not have the power under the laws of Nigeria to regulate boreholes.
“The minister and his co-travelers have not given up on the satanic Water Resources Bill and consequently, I call on well-meaning Nigerians particularly the civil society and the Nigerian youths to be ready to attend any sitting on the bill when it is called up.”
The Water resources bill was first introduced to the floor of the National Assembly in 2020. Efforts by the Northern legislators to see that the bill got passed by the 8th failed, following strong opposition from Nigerians, civil society organizations and Southern legislators.
The leadership of the National Assembly, the Office of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila are yet to respond to the allegation.
