Rumblings in National Conference over power rotatio

FRESH facts emerged at the weekend over the plan by the North to drag the leadership of the on- going National Conference, especially the Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, into the terms of agreement on power rotation among the six geo- political zones of the country. Akinyemi was accused of lobbying delegates, especially the northern ones, into laying into the resolution.

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The document, claimed by some northern delegates as a new constitution, with alleged plans to be smuggled in through the backdoor by southern delegates with Akinyemi being the arrow head of the lobby, was discovered to be a working document to guide the conference, just as

it had inputs of all the zones.

Leaders of the zones who prepared the document under the aegis, Harmonisation Committee, are Chief Edwin Clark; Chief Olu Falae; Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; Prof. Jerry Gana; Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and Chief Raymond Dokpesi, just as others like Prof. Awwalu Yadudu; Prof. Anya O. Anya; Senator Khairat Gwadabe; John Dara; Air Commodore Idongesit Nkaanga; Gen.Jonathan Temlong, among others attended the meetings where the document was produced with all zones in full support.

Meanwhile, northern delegates may have concluded moves to protest to Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi against the backdrop of what they termed unpalatable decisions arrived at on Thursday that favoured the South and the Middle Belt. The delegates have drawn the last battle line in a move that may make or mar successes recorded so far at the conference.

This is coming barely two weeks to the end of the National Conference, just as delegates from core northern states, North-East and North-West, with the exception of Christian minorities in th?e regions, have allegedly resorted to what could be termed blackmail, all designed to force the leadership to rescind resolutions that have been reached.

Delegates from the core northern states were already crying foul because they now appear to be in the minority and and their voices are drowning.

On Thursday, during discussions of the report

Rumblings in National Conference over power rotatio

National Conference preliminary adjourned without adopting mode of voting

Even before it takes off, the National Conference seems to be living up to its billing as a contentious forum.

Its plenary started yesterday on a stormy note.

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The session, which was devoted to the adoption of rules of proceeding, was adjourned without adopting the mode of voting if delegates failed to achieve consensus on an issue.

The sharp disagreement on the mode of voting seemed to be a North-South divide with a preponderance of northerners rooting for 75 per cent vote to decide an issue. Most southerners believed that left with 75 per cent, no decision would be achieved.

Signals that the session might be tempestuous emerged as it started more than one hour behind the stipulated 10 am.

Mike Ozekhome, a chief, who described himself as an “addendum” from a minority ethnic group, fired the first shot on voting procedure.

He requested the Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd) to allow him speak on Order 6 (4) and 11(1)(2), which deals with voting.

The section states in part that any issue under discussion shall be determined by consensus and in the absence of consensus, the chairman shall adjourn proceedings to allow for consultation.

It added that where consensus finally failed the issue shall be decided by three quarters of members.

But Ozekhome reasoned that achieving three quarters would be problematic.

He noted that controversial, emotive and sensitive issues were bound to come up.

In such a situation, he noted, it would be difficult to get 75 per cent or three quarters to support an issue.

The lawyer suggested that the conference should go for simple majority or two-third, insisting that three quarters was likely to produce a tyrannical minority.

The tyrannical minority, he said, might shoot down a popular issue because the conference was unable to get three quarters vote.

He prayed that the section should be reviewed to avoid a situation where the delegates would find it difficult to take decision on issues.

Ozekhome said: “369 is 3/4 of this conference, a number that is obviously humongous, elephantine and behemoth. As we go into the serious issues after adopting this rule, a lot of highly emotive, controversial issues and some demanding primordial sentiments would prop up.

“As a Federal Government delegate, I will discuss from the perspective of a nationalist, but there are many delegates here who are from various strata of our society who have their own issues, such as state police, which I vehemently believe in, regionalism or the form of government we are going to take. When such emotive and controversial issues prop up, how do we get 75 per cent or three quarters because it is going to be very difficult if there is no consensus.

“In other words, such issues are dead on arrival if we have to go by this rule.

“If we also have to go by this 75 per cent rule, it means we are going to have a tyrannical minority; if 74 per cent of the delegates vote on an issue and 26 per cent voted against but can’t carry through because we have not the 75 percent mark.

“The result is that the 26 per cent that voted against has actually won. So, my suggestion is that we should tow the line of parliamentary standard across the world by adopting 2/3 majority.”

Perhaps the stage of discord was set when Justice Kutigi told the delegates that the conference was not competent to change three quarters vote to decide an issue.

He said that the letter that appointed them stipulated that determination of an issue where consensus failed shall be three quarters of the delegates.

He said that the letter foreclosed discussion on three quarters vote to decide an issue.

Most delegates shouted that the section should be revisited.

Chief Adeniyi Akintola (Oyo State) wondered why President Jonathan should make up his mind on the issue.

He said: “If Mr. President has made up his mind on voting, why did he bring us here?”

Prof. Awwulu Yadudu reminded the delegates that there were some no-go areas as stated by President Jonathan.

Yadudu noted that Jonathan asked delegates not to discuss any issue that has to do with the continued existence of Nigeria as an entity.

He added that it was his wish that issues would be decided by consensus but where consensus failed three quarters should be adopted.

But Chief Ahmadu Ali said that decisions should be arrived at by two-third because three quarters will be difficult to achieve.

The ding dong went on unresolved.

Attempts by the chairman to shelve debate on the contentious issue were met by a resounding “no!”.

The delegates went on break.

On resumption from break, the Chairman said: “Let us go to page 12”. But the delegates would have none of it as they shouted: “No, were are still on page 11!” that deals with voting.

The chairman noted that some delegates said that the conference should work with consensus.

“We shall come back to it later after we’ve taken more arguments,” he said.

The issue did not come up again for discussion until Justice Kutigi adjourned the session.

Senator Ken Nnamani said there were inconsistencies in the draft rule.

He noted that in some place three quarters was mentioned while in other places “two-third” was used.

He noted even the Constitution allows for two-thirds to decide issues.

The former Senate President wondered why Justice Kutigi did not allow delegates to conclude the matter.

On appointment of chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees,

some delegates were of the opinion that the chairman of the conference and his deputy should not appoint chairmen and deputies of committees, as well as constituting members.

Such appointments, they said, should be subjected to democratic norms whereby members of committees should pick their own presiding officers.

Chief Olu Falae, among others, supported the idea of members choosing their chairman and vice chairman.

The chairman put the question and those against the draft carried the day.

Not convinced, the chairman put the question the second time. Those against the draft rule, which vested the power of appointing chairmen of committees on the conference chairman, outnumbered those in support.

Justice Kutigi ruled and banged the gavel.

Removal of chairman and deputy of committees after review of their performance by the conference chairman was also rejected by the delegates.

On quorum, the delegates decided that 1/3 delegate membership should form quorum for deliberation.

On replacement of conference official, some delegates wanted a time frame of 48 hours to be given to Mr. President to replace any conference official who resigned or became indisposed.

But, others said that Mr. President should not be compelled to announce the replacement of an official.

Chief Segun Osoba suggested that the conference should sit between 10am to 5pm. The break period should be reduced to one hour instead of two hours.

Osoba proposed an amendment to the provision of the rules of proceedings, saying that the conference should not be rigid about it.

The current rule being debated stipulates that plenary begins at 10 am and lasts till 2 pm to give way for a lunch break that lasts till 4 pm when plenary resumes to close at 6 pm.

Some of the delegates canvassed for the plenary to hold between 9 am and 4 pm without break. Others suggested the reduction of the break time to one hour, to enable them to close at 5 pm.

However, the chairman ruled for the retention of the current provision. (0)

National Conference preliminary adjourned without adopting mode of voting

Conference delegates get draft rules

The Secretariat of the National Conference, on Thursday in Abuja, released the Draft Rules of Proceedings to guide the conduct of the delegates to the conference.

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Mr Akpandem James, Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications of the Conference, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Rules would be adopted by the delegates on Monday.

“The Draft Rules and the 1999 Constitution have been ready since 6 a.m. this morning and we have made them available to the delegates to study.

“However, it is only a draft; it is going to be debated clause by clause by the delegates on Monday. If they (delegates) adopt it, then it becomes the Rules guiding the conference.

“But if there is any clause they feel should be amended or rejected, then they will decide at the  plenary on Monday.

“What we are trying to do as a secretariat is to make the delegates as comfortable as possible to ensure smooth proceedings throughout the conference,” James said.

NAN reports that some of the delegates had already collected copies of the Draft Rules and the 1999 Constitution.

They also said that they had begun studying the “voluminous” Reports of previous conferences that were given to them at their inaugural meeting on Tuesday.

Former Plateau Governor, Chief Fidelis Tapgun, who is a delegate to the conference, told NAN that delegates were already studying copies of the rules of procedures for the plenary and the constitution.

Tapgun said that the procedures would have to be debated and adopted first before the plenary could really commence business on Monday.

“The documents are the Report of the Political Bureau and the past Constitutional Conferences set up by (Olusegun) Obasanjo, (Ibrahim) Babangida and (Sani) Abacha.

“We often see that committees are set up and nothing is done with their reports.

“But we think that this time around, the President is determined that we would look at all the past reports and put them in one paper that will be useful to this country,” Tapgun said. (0)

Conference delegates get draft rules

No personal agenda for National Conference, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan declared yesterday that he has no personal agenda for the National Conference—contrary to a popular view.

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The President also said that the convocation of a National Conference became necessary to avail Nigerians the opportunity of charting a way forward for the country.

Dr. Jonathan added that the National Conference was being convened to engage in intense introspection about the political and socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria.

He said that the conference was also to chart the best and most acceptable way for the resolution of such challenges in the collective interest of all the constituent parts of the country.

Jonathan spoke while inaugurating the 2014 National Conference in Abuja.

National Conference, he said, is a very important avenue for the voices of Nigerians to be heard and an avenue to address the yearnings and desires of Nigerians that needed to be discussed.

He noted that delegates at the conference are neither usurping the role of the National Assembly nor the Executive, but rather complementing the efforts of the two arms of government in their march towards a greater and stronger union.

He said: “Let me repeat what I have been saying that Goodluck Jonathan has no personal agenda in convening this national conference.

“Dear Compatriots, my administration is convening this National Conference today because we believe that we must assume responsibility for ensuring that the long-running national debate on the best way forward for our country is not in vain.

“It is our expectation that participants in this conference will patriotically articulate and synthesise our peoples’ thoughts, views and recommendations for a stronger, more united, peaceful and politically stable Nigeria, forge the broadest possible national consensus in support of those recommendations, and strive to ensure that they are given the legal and constitutional backing to shape the present and the future of our beloved fatherland.

“In inaugurating this national conference today, we are not unmindful of the argument of those who say that we do not need such a conference since we already have an elected Parliament and an elected Government in place.

“As cogent as that argument may sound, I have chosen to act on the sincere conviction that in the truly democratic nation we are striving to build, we must never ignore the loudly expressed views of the majority of ordinary Nigerians.

“I have heard that majority say, that we need to rebuild trust by involving them in the process of developing a guiding document of our national political relationships, which is more acceptable to all sections of the country. I have heard our people say that we need to openly and frankly discuss our problems and seek acceptable solutions instead of allowing them to fester and remain sources of perennial conflict.

“I have also heard them say that, as the elected representatives of our people, we must never arrogate to ourselves all knowledge and wisdom regarding the development of our country.

“And I am in full agreement with our people. The power we hold is, without question, in trust for the people. Sovereignty belongs to the people. Their voices must be heard and factored into every decision we take on their behalf.

“This National Conference is a very important avenue for the voices of our people to be heard. Our people have yearnings and desires that need to be discussed. Their representatives at this conference are neither usurping the role of the National Assembly nor the Executive. They are complementing us in our march towards a greater and stronger union.

“This coming together under one roof to confer and build a fresh national consensus for the amicable resolution of issues that still cause friction amongst our people must be seen as an essential part of the process of building a more united, stronger and progressive nation.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms and assume that things will straighten themselves out in due course, instead of taking practical steps to overcome impediments on our path to true nationhood, rapid development and national prosperity.

“For many years we have discussed and argued over various issues concerning our national existence and well-being.

“Much of this national discourse has been conducted through the mass media, both print and electronic. More recently, the advent of the age of ICT and social media has greatly enlarged the space for the discussion of our country’s future.

“Many more young and articulate Nigerians who previously had little access to the traditional mass media have now joined the conversation, motivated by patriotic concern for good governance, peace, stability, justice, equity, fairness and the harmonious co-existence of the diverse groups that make up our great nation.”

Describing the inauguration of National Conference as historic which promises to be another significant landmark in the country’s efforts to strengthen national unity and consolidate democratic governance in the country, Jonathan said that he also believed that the National Conference is coming at a very appropriate time.

He said: “Having just celebrated the first centenary of our country, the most compelling task before us, as we move ahead and contemplate what our nation will be at the end of its second century, is to lay a much stronger foundation for faster development.

“This we can achieve by building a more inclusive national consensus on the structure and guiding principles of state that will guarantee our emergence as a more united, progressive and prosperous nation.

“In our history as a political entity, we have experienced highs and lows but have always forged ahead. To my mind, the fact that we have weathered all storms and continued with the mission of evolving a truly national identity signifies that we are going in the right direction.

“The strongest nations in the world today also went through their own formative stages; some for decades and others for centuries. We must learn from them that nationhood will not happen overnight, especially given the circumstances of our birth as a nation.

“History also teaches that nation-building is a journey of dedication, commitment, diligence, perseverance and patriotic vision. To be successful, nation-builders must continually strive to evolve better and more inclusive societies in which every citizen is a proud and committed stakeholder.

Jonathan also thanked the National Assembly for introducing the provision for a referendum in the proposed amendment to the Constitution.

The introduction, he said, should be relevant for the Conference if at the end of the deliberations the need for a referendum arises.

He urged the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly to speed up the constitutional amendment process especially with regard to referendum.

Jonathan is confident that “we are embarking on a landmark journey that will make us stronger as a nation, if we undertake it with all sense of purpose and sincerity”.

“Let us do that which is selfless, purposeful and patriotic so that history will remember us for having served our nation well,” he said.

Jonathan urged all officials and participants in the national conference to work extra hard to ensure that their deliberations are completed on schedule, well ahead of the schedule of events for the next general elections already announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, who spoke on behalf of delegates, described the inauguration of the National Conference as historic.

Kutigi who commended Jonathan for initiating the conference noted that the talk shop is part of the country’s strive for equitable nation.

He said that the caliber of delegates attests the importance of the conference.

He said, “Today is an important day in the history of Nigeria. This is part of our drive for equitable nation.” (0)

No personal agenda for National Conference, says Jonathan