Restrict immunity to president, vice-president alone, says Gbenga Daniel

A former Ogun State Governor and present Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, has advocated a constitutional modification that might prohibit immunity from prosecution strictly to the places of work of the President and Vice-President.

Whereas the present provision in Part 308 of Nigeria’s 1999 Structure shields the President, Vice-President, Governors, and Deputy Governors from prosecution whereas in workplace, Daniel argued that this broad immunity has been misused, significantly on the state stage.

Talking throughout an look on Political Paradigm, a Channels Tv programme aired on Tuesday, Daniel mirrored on the latest reversal by the Home of Representatives on a invoice aimed toward withdrawing immunity from vice-presidents, governors, and their deputies.

He mentioned, “Immunity has the nice sides, however to a big extent, I feel, a few of our elected governors seem to have abused it, when it comes to a number of the issues they do.

“A few of them nearly have turned the state into their private fiefdom, they usually suppose the property of the state belongs to them, they usually can do it whichever manner they need, with out even recourse to the Home of Meeting.”

He pressured that to be able to defend the sanctity and stability of the nation’s high management, full immunity ought to apply solely to the President and Vice-President.

“I feel that solely the president and the vice-president needs to be allowed to have absolute immunity in order that they will focus, and in order that nobody shall be embarrassing the image of the nation,” he added.

Nevertheless, the senator emphasised the necessity for a extra refined method to the immunity of governors and their deputies, suggesting that it shouldn’t be a blanket defend towards all types of accountability.

“The governors and their deputies ought to have their immunity clarified. Most likely, sure, they’ve immunity from what you name felony prosecution, however there are different issues that aren’t felony.

“There isn’t a motive why they shouldn’t be held accountable whereas in workplace”, Daniel concluded.

Daniel’s remarks contribute to the continued nationwide dialog about reforming constitutional provisions to strengthen transparency and accountability throughout all ranges of presidency.