The chairman of the Nigerian Senate committee on federal capital territory, Dino Melaye, has demanded that the government should abolish the use of 'state of origin'.
Senator Dino Melaye
While speaking at a ceremony to unveil the logo/medal of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), in commemoration of its 18th anniversary in Abuja on Friday, Dino Melaye, the chairman of the senate committee on federal capital territory, wants the country to abolish the use of ‘state of origin’, especially in determining the eligibility of citizens for political offices.
The outspoken lawmaker who disclosed that he wants the ‘state of residence’ to be reckoned with, said this would help to enthrone peace and oneness among Nigerians.
“Ethnic bigotry should be shunned; there should be a replacement of the state-of-origin to unite the country.
“Any responsible person that has lived in a particular place for a certain number of years can aspire to any political position, including that state’s governor seat,” he said.
He called for the “rebirth” of the country, and challenged youths to guard against moral decadence. “There is also the need for the review of the educational system so as to teach more morals, values and culture with a view to building falling walls,” he added.
He assured the PCN that the bill for its ratification would pass the third reading at the national assembly.
Senator Dino Melaye’s position on ‘state of origin’ aligns with the consistent stand of David Mark throughout his tenure as senate president. Although legislative action in that regard never quite materialised, he spoke about it both home and abroad.
Speaking with a journalists in Quebec, Canada, after the opening ceremony of the 127th inter-parliamentary union (IPU) assembly, in 2012, David Mark was quoted as saying:
“You should know that one of the issues we’ve been discussing in Constitution amendment is shift from state of origin to state of residence because it is an important issue.
“You are resident in a place for 20 years and still, they don’t take you as part and parcel of that place. I think it’s a difficult task but in my candid opinion, I think if we have an open mind and we approach it from a nationalist perspective, rather than a small, clannish perspective, I think we would get it right.
“Let’s forget the business of state of origin and go to state of residence. Once you are resident in a place and you perform your civic responsibilities for the period, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t benefit, provided, of course, you don’t claim dual residency.”