The federal government reportedly wants the governor to get clearance from the State Security Service before travelling. Mr. Fayose, a fierce critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, says the president is getting back at him because of his stance on the government’s policies. The Ekiti assembly also petitioned Amnesty International, United States Embassy and the British High Commission. The lawmakers also complained that the SSS had refused to obey an order of a High Court in Ekiti State which fined it N5 million for the illegal arrest and detention for 18 days of a member of the house, Afolabi Akanni. Deputy speaker of the assembly, Segun Adewumi, presented the petition to the NHRC in Abuja on Tuesday on behalf of the speaker, Kolawole Oluwawole. “It is worrisome that the federal government will consider the idea of compelling a sitting governor in Nigeria that enjoys Constitutional Immunity like the President to obtain clearance from the Director General DSS, who is an appointee of the President before travelling out of Nigeria,” the petition read. “This to us is an affront on the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) more so that States, as federating units in Nigeria are not under the Federal Government, which itself is also a State and not superior to other federating units “Section 35 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that; ‘Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty,’ Section 39 (1) provides that; ‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference,’ while Section 41 (1) provides that ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.’ “Article 13 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory provides that “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the border of each State while Article 13 (2) provides that ‘Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country,’ ditto Article 12 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. “By provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, ordinary Nigerians do not require clearance from the DSS or any security agency to travel outside Nigeria unless travel restriction is placed by an order of the court, not to talk of State Governors that enjoy immunity just like the President and are not under the control of the President. “Our question is; if Governor Fayose has become a threat to the security of Nigeria just because he criticises President Buhari and says the truth about his mis-governance of the country, what happens to Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which provided for freedom of expression and freedom to hold opinions? “Most importantly, under a federal system of government, the states and national government both enjoy some autonomy, with sovereign power formally divided between the national government and the States such that each State retains some degree of control over its internal affairs. “However, it appears that the laws of Nigeria are not important to the President Mohammadu Buhari led government and it has become once again necessary that webring your attention to yet, another plot to subvert our rights as a State.” The petitioners recalled that in 1984, President Buhari, as a military Head of State, prevented late Chief Obafemi Awolowo from travelling outside Nigeria for medical treatment, thereby leading to his untimely death in 1987. They also noted that the passports of late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; late Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero and late Obi of Onitsha, Ofala Akulalia Alphonsus Ogugua were also seized and they were restricted to their palaces just because they travelled to Israel for business. “We therefore wish to state on behalf of Governor Ayodele Fayose that as an opposition figure, he cannot be cowed by this pettiness from the presidency,” the petition stated. “It is our considered view that President Buhari should rather concern himself with the growing insecurity in the country and charge the security agencies, especially the DSS to perform their functions as enshrined in the constitution instead of running after petty issues. “The President should be prevailed upon to focus his attention on the economy of Nigeria that is almost collapsing and stop using his position to oppress other Nigerians. “The National Human Rights Commission is by this letter being put on notice that Governor Fayose will travel out of Nigeria anytime he wishes to and attempt to stop Will be a direct invitation to breakdown of law and order.” The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Ben Angwe, promised that the commission would investigate the travel restriction allegedly placed on Mr. Fayose and one other governor from the South South by the Federal Government. Mr. Angwe commended members of the House of Assembly for their commitment to the sustenance of rule of law in the country and cooperation with the executive arm of government in Ekiti State, urging lawmakers in other States to emulate them.]]>