Ezekiel Awojide, Abuja
A former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has said it is wrong for state governors to enjoy absolute immunity.
He alleged that state governors believe that state properties belong to them and that they have the power to do whatever they like without even recourse to the state House of Assembly.
Daniel, who is a senator representing Ogun East, insists that only the president and vice-president should be granted immunity from prosecution while in office.
Newstellers reports that Section 308 of the 1999 constitution provides immunity for the president, vice-president, governors, and their deputies.
While appearing on ‘Political Paradigm’, a Channels Television programme, the former governor defended his position, saying some governors have abused the immunity.
He said, “Immunity has the good sides, but to a large extent, I think, some of our elected governors appear to have abused it, in terms of some of the things they do.
“Some of them virtually have turned the state into their fiefdom, and they think the property of the state belongs to them, and they can do it whichever way they want, without even recourse to the House of Assembly.
“I think that only the president and the vice-president should be allowed to have absolute immunity so that they can concentrate, and so that no one will be embarrassing the symbol of the country.
“The governors and their deputies should have their immunity clarified. Probably, yes, they have immunity from what you call criminal prosecution, but other things are not criminal.
“There is no reason why they should not be held accountable while in office.”
