As the National Assembly begins the amendment of the 1999 constitution, the Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on Friday said he is indecisive about the immunity clause.
Aliyu said it should not be totally removed but be retained in the statutes so that administrators will not be faced with unnecessary distraction.
The governor reacted to the proposed removal of the immunity clause on Friday in Minna at a valedictory meeting held for his council members who are vying for various elective positions.
He said that though he was initially in support of the removal, but with the insight he now has, the immunity clause should not be totally removed.
Governor Aliyu also submitted that if the immunity clause is removed, government will waste a lot of resources on litigation.
He was of the opinion that politicians should find a way of resolving disputes amicably without resorting to the courts, a policy he said will stabilise democracy and remove unnecessary rancour.
According to him: “If the immunity clause is removed, it would take the focus of leaders from administrative issues to minute and court cases.
“I noted that if governors and president have no immunity on certain issues, they may waste all government resources on cases that normally should not have gone to court.
“There are things that we should put into consideration.
“Many at times, cases that could have been resolved outside court are allowed to go to court.
“If the immunity clause is removed, at every move, you will find people going to court on matters that have no bearing with the issue that have been taken to court.”
It should be recalled that the House of Representatives on Wednesday announced the removal of immunity clause shielding the resident and governors after the final process of the amendment of the constitution.
The amendment was effected as 252 out of the 261 members that voted were in favour of it.
Aliyu added on Friday: “This is a dicey situation.
“When I came newly, I was one of those who said the immunity clause should be removed, but with the insight I have now, I think we should look at the issues properly.
“Not simply to remove the immunity just like that, but to look at areas where decisions would be taken straightforward without any court implication.”
Aliyu called on the lawmakers to put the various issues into agreement before the total removal of the immunity clause, adding: “I think we should look at this properly and ensure that we do not burden the leaders with only going to court instead of attending to administrative issues.
“We have to find a situation in the country whereby people can solve problems and issues between themselves without going to court.
“The immunity clause, if removed, would open the president and governors to legal prosecution while in office.”