By Kelvin Ololo
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has said that ignorance of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as Amended) is the problem of democracy.
The Minister made the assertion while speaking as a keynote speaker alongside the speaker House of Representative, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas in a Colloquium organized in honour of Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong’s 10 years as a legislator.
Speaking on the the theme: ‘Lawmaking and Constitutional Democracy; the Nigeria Experience’ held in Calabar, Cross River State, Sen. John Owen called on Law makers in the state to move the act of legislation into making laws that uplift, educate the people and consolidate democracy.
The Minister who spoke virtually, said that, legislators must make their work visible by moving from the process of debating to performance and ensuring that laws made uplift the people and align with national development.
Responding, the celebrant Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong who is also the Chief Whip of the Cross River State House of Assembly, said that the essence of the event was to enlighten Cross Riverians about their rights and privileges as enshrine in the constitution as “ignorance of the constitution is the problem of democracy”.
The Boki-born legislator who had sponsored notable laws including the Cross River State public compliance and Anti- corruption law among others, said “as lawmaking is the ink of good governance, so the constitution is the soul of democracy, and if democracy must thrive, citizens must be involved and know what the constitution holds for them.” He encourages Cross Riverians to own, and seek to know about the promises enshrine in the Nigeria constitution just as they search the promises of God in the Holy Bible.”
Reflecting on the theme of the event, the Chief host and the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayemba explained that “though the journey of democracy in Nigeria has not been a smooth one, there was still need to protect legeslative authorities, invest in training capacities, engaging citizens in decision-making and making laws that are rooted on accountability toward the citizens as “democracy is not just a destination but a continuous journey.”
Governor Bassey Otu represented by the Commissioner of Education Sen. Stephen Odey, congratulated Hon. Hilary for setting up a platform for issues of democracy to be discussed with the mindset of moving Cross River State to the next level.
“without the constitution, law making will lack the legitimacy to function effectively.”
The event had past and present legislative representatives including, Sen.Florance Ita-Giwa, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jones, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo, Rt. Hon. Larry Odey, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba, Rt. Hon. Bassey Ewa, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, Hon. Pauline Ekuri and Prof. Michael Okom. They proffered possible ways to enhance separation of power among tiers of government and in consolidating democracy through lawmaking.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including the Vice Chancellor University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi who doubled as the mother of the day, members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Academies, Security Agencies and other well-wishers.
The high point of the event was Boki cultural dance display, cutting of cake and the lunching of Hills Academy Foundation.There were also goodwill messages, presentation of scroll of honour to various individuals.
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