By Sunday Iduh
The Benue State House of Assembly has directed to Attorney General and Commissioner for justice to immediately institute litigations to stop the federal government from going ahead with taking possession of River banks in Benue state.
This followed the rejection f the National water bill 2020 recently sent to the National Assembly by the Federal Government.
In a motion passed by members of the state house of assembly, the legislature also called on National Assembly members from the state to reject the bill in its entirety.
In a motion of urgent public importance brought by the Deputy Majority Leader and member representing Agatu state constituency, Hon. Godwin Edoh, the member drew the attention of his colleagues to effects of the bill on the state if it is eventually passed by the National Assembly.
Hon. Edoh observed that “the bill is an aberration and affront on the land use Act which vested control, management, rent and use of land within a state in the hands of the Governor and ceding river banks to the Federal Government is a recipe for conflict and should be rejected”
Contributing the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Christopher Adaji and the Minority Leader, Hon. Bem Mngutyo described the bill as one of the most contentious which is against the wishes of the people and appealed to the Federal Government to take a second look at the bill.
The Speaker, Hon. Titus Uba who commended the mover of the motion, said the bill is anti people and should not be allowed to see the light of the day.
Earlier, the lawmakers observed a minute silence in honour of their late former colleague, Hon. Simon Ofikwu who represented Okpokwu state constituency from 1979 to 1981.#
