Buhari Writes Thank You Letter To APC Delegates

Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, wrote a public letter to the delegates of the party’s presidential primary election which held betwen the 10th and 1th of December at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Buhari

Buhari, while assuring the delegates and Nigerians that he will not let the nation down if elected president expressed optimism that Nigerians will make history through the ballot box in the 2015 general elections.

He reaffirmed that the Nigerian people deserve the good governance that can only derive from credible elections, and called on them to do their part.

Parts of the letter read:

“I thank the National Executive and Leadership of our party, All Progressive Congress, APC, for organizing a convection that will be recorded as one of the most open and transparent in the political history of our nation. You all have worked as a team to build a vibrant progressive political plat form responsive to the needs of our times and of the people. I want to commend you for bringing a democratic and fair process to all APC’s primaries. What you have done demonstrates the vast difference between our party of change and democratic good governance and the PDP’s assembly of undue privilege and presumption.

“Most importantly, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the delegates. You came to the convention from every part of our nation to perform a solemn duty for our party, for our nation, and for our future. You performed that duty in a patriotic manner. You conducted yourselves as great symbols of our party. Resolute to work according to your conscience and you did the job well.

“I also thank the entire membership of our Progressive Party. You are the true heart and soul of the party. Your support and faith in our mission to change this nation is our inspiration and our strength. Your hopes and aspirations for Nigeria compel us forward. You represent the best of our country. The future you seek where every Nigerian shall be afforded the opportunity to share in the prosperity of this nation and live in dignity, justice and peace shall be realized through our hard work in the coming election.

“At the convention, I stood before you as a pensioner, one with no money to offer but my hard labour, my service and commitment. In the exercise of your patriotic duty, you, the delegates and party membership, laced your trust in me. Those of you who attended the convention, be satisfied in the knowledge that you fulfilled your duty. I also want you to be assured that I will not fail your trust. I shall fulfill the duty you have now given me.

“Through our convention, you have shown that internal democracy in a Nigerian political party is more than possible.

“In two months time, I will call upon you once again to fulfill an even greater challenge. That challenge. That challenge is to show that democracy and good governance throughout all Nigeria is possible. The APC shall do this by winning the next election. You made history at our convention but remember a greater moment awaits us. We shall next make history through the ballot box.

“The Nigerian people deserve the good governance that can only derive from credible elections.

“As such, the people must also do their part. I call on all Nigerians, particularly all political parties, to commit to peaceful campaigning and electioneering. I pledge to do all I can in this regard so that our people may live in renewed peace and harmony even during this season of political competition.”

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Buhari Writes Thank You Letter To APC Delegates

Download: APC Statutory, Elected Delegates List

At least 8,000 delegates of the All Progressives Congress [APC] have gathered at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos to pick the party’s flag-bearer for the February 14 presidential election.

The delegates, both elected and statutory, drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, will choose from the five aspirants who are asking to be the party’s candidate for the election.

The aspirants they will pick from are (in alphabetical order) former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari; governor of Kano State, Rabi’u Kwankwaso; his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha and the publisher of Leadership newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

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APC Statutory Delegates List

APC Elected Delegates List

Download: APC Statutory, Elected Delegates List

Panic in national conference as Boko Haram sends message of attack to delegates

A revelation by a member of the National Conference that he had received a threat message from terrorists caused a scare at the confab on Monday.

The delegate, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the conference that he received a message on his telephone threatening an “attack bigger than Nyanya blast” and sought the permission of the Chairman of the confab, Justice Idris Kutigi (retd.), to read the message.

Kutigi granted the permission and Ozekhome accordingly read the text.

The message, which Ozekhome also forwarded to our correspondent later, read, “News got to us that our enemy is planning something bigger than Nyanya blast between Tuesday and Wednesday, in Abuja. Mind your movement and be careful. The date is still unknown. Please, pass it around to save loved ones.”

After listening to the text of the message, one of the delegates, who asked not to be named, shouted, “We are in trouble in this country. Bombing everywhere; when will this stop? Even here, we don’t know what is going to happen. Things are so bad in the country. Things are so bad.”

Many of the delegates were seeing discussing the development in hushed tones but with panic on their faces.

None of them was willing to speak with The PUNCH on the matter on Monday.

Another delegate, Obi Onoliefo, had on Thursday last week, raised the issue of safety of delegates when, having looked at the perimeter of the National Judicial Institute, observed that there were no security operatives manning them.

Onoliefo, therefore, called for security operatives to be drafted to the perimeter fences to forestall insurgents from breaking into the premises and causing bloodshed.

Meanwhile, some hoodlums suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect invaded the Shani Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday and torched the Divisional Police Station, houses and shops.

It was learnt that the insurgents used Improvised Explosive Devices and petrol bombs.

The Caretaker Chairman of the council, Alhaji Modu Walama, who was said to have escaped a series of attacks by assassins and terrorists in recent past, narrowly escaped being killed by the terrorists.

The insurgents were said to have attacked the family house of Walama in Walama and killed one of his sons.

One of our correspondents learnt that the terrorists invaded Shani on motorcycles and bombed the divisional police headquarters at about 2:45pm on Monday.

The policemen on duty had fled before the attackers reached the station.

They were said to have snatched one of the patrol vehicles belonging to the police and set it ablaze after they discovered that the vehicle’s engine was faulty.

The gunmen reportedly moved from the police station into the town and shot sporadically before fleeing towards the Gwaskara village.

Shani is the southern part of the troubled Borno State and about 245 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital. It shares boundary with some parts of Adamawa State.

A resident of Shani, Mallam Aliyu Usman, who was among those who fled the town during the attack, told journalists that they got news of the terrorists lurking around the town at about 8am.

He said some women sighted the criminals on their farmlands around Walama, on the outskirts of the town.

The terrorists were said to have scared the women off their farms, telling them that they had a deadly mission to execute in some places in Shani.

All efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Gideon Jubrin, for confirmation was not successful as his phone line was inaccessible as of the time of filing this report.

Panic in national conference as Boko Haram sends message of attack to delegates

Should Nigeria breakup? Read different reactions from delegates

WHEN Saturday Vanguard engaged delegates at the on-going National Conference on the question of whether or not Nigeria should remain united on account of the unceasing bloodshed, their responses were diverse, interesting and thought-provoking. However, most of them are against the break-up of the country.

There is nothing good in separation —Tanko Yankassai

Alhaji Tanko Yankassai, 87, Second Republic presidential adviser to President Shehu Shagari, who leads the Northern Elders Council (NEC), is one of the delegates who kicked against disintegration of the country.

His words: “I don’t see anything good in separation. We have seen what happened to Yugoslavia, Soviet Union and nearer home, South of Sudan. It has never brought peace in any of those places. Many lives were lost, in the end nothing positive was achieved. So I don’t see any better solution than keeping Nigeria together.

”Apart from that, Nigeria is a country where the people benefita from one another. There is so much interdependence among Nigerian people that even if we scatter it is a matter of time before they come back together to continue to work as a team.

”If you go to all the markets, Balogun market, Jos market, Onitsha market, Kano market, you will find Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and others interacting with one another. We have never heard for one moment, a situation where trouble started in any market in Nigeria among the ethnic groups in Nigeria because of their ethnic differences.

If you hear any trouble, it is a trouble engineered by selfish politicians who use politics, ethnicity, religion to achieve their aim because they are lacking in philosophy, ideology and what to present to the people. God created Nigeria and I believe that even if the British did not come to bring Nigeria today, God in His wisdom will create something like Nigeria or something even bigger because if you take half of Cameroon, half of Niger, half of Chad, half of Benin that are our neigh bouring countries, they were all together with us before the British. If the British hadn’t come, we would have been together and put together we would have been greater or bigger than the present day Nigeria in terms of population, size and resources.”

Asked if he was insisting on Nigeria remaining united amid the increasing violence, he said: “63 years ago I went to prison on account of national unity. I still prefer to go to prison on account of national issues because I believe it is better for the Nigerian people to preserve Nigeria as it is than to split it.

If you split it, there will be inter-tribal wars, ethnic wars and religious wars and nobody will live in peace. I cannot be thinking in terms of that. I have done my own. I am almost 88 years now.  I am fighting for my children and grand-children. I have 20 children and 45 grand-children; I am thinking of their future. I don’t see their future in a divided Nigeria.”

Splitting is not a solution — Lekwot

General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), 70, who hails from Southern part of Kaduna State was military governor of Rivers State. At the confab on the platform of Retired Army, Navy and Airforce Officers (RANAO) Association of Nigeria, Lekwot, who is the chairman of Southern Kaduna Elders Consultative Forum, shares Yakassai’s views, arguing that splitting is not a solution to Nigeria’s problems.

“I will continue to cite Yugoslavia which was once a powerful non-aligned country under the late Marshal Tito. Following his death, the country split into two countries and they are still fighting. So a lot of serious work has to be done for Nigerians to recognise and accept the fact that God created us together to live in harmony,” he said.

Instead of dissolution, he said the grievances such as marginalization, system of government, etc should be addressed.

”When you talk of split, you are talking of breaking up into different republics. That will never be a solution because whether anybody likes it or not, there is prosperity in every part of Nigeria and we all need one another. The intellectuals are responsible for the kind of tension we are witnessing. Go to any market in Nigeria, you will see that Nigerians at that level are happily buying and selling from one another and there is no problem. Go into the streets, anywhere, you will not find any problem at all; the ordinary Nigerians are basically happy people.

”But some dishonest intellectuals, whenever they need something, they either apply tribal or religious cause and there is no need for it because we have a very fine constitution that guarantees all manner of freedoms. But while exercising your freedom do not disturb your neighbour. If we all do these with discipline and stability, Nigeria will be at peace and once we are at peace, our neighbours will also be at peace, he added.”

On the rising wave of insecurity, he attributed the problem to long years of neglect.

“The main cause of what is happening is we neglected security for too long. Law and order has broken down. Some people break the law and nothing happens. So the principle of the rule of law must be put in place. Our courts must be made to work. The judiciary should be granted the independence they are looking for. The Nigerian police force should be reorganised. I am in favour of empowering the local government to set up their own local police if they can.

”Some people are asking for state police. I see nothing wrong with it, if the combined efforts are going to ensure a more secure Nigeria for everybody. To me, security would be better handled at the grassroots because in the village, everybody knows everybody. When a strange face appears at the grassroots, it would be detected immediately because the local people there know one another. If something gets lost, finding it would not be difficult.

What is more, this large scale unemployment is a contributory factor. So create more job opportunities so that the many teaming youths that have nothing to do will get something to do. Everybody will be kept busy. At the end of the day, security would return.”

If we can’t agree, let’s go to the round table and decide on what to do — Ezeife

Hausa – Fulani must know that they will lose most if Nigeria breaks

Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a third Republic Governor of Anambra State and Presidential Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Political Matters, said a Nigeria where is equity and injustice will suit all Nigerians

His words: “Nigeria, in the interest of Hausa Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo all tribes of Nigeria should be reorganised so that it doesn’t break. Every group hails from one Nigeria and Nigeria can be arranged to work. What is happening is the non-acceptance of equality in Nigeria. Some people think that they are born to rule and others are born to be ruled and that is the root of the violence.

”A Hausa Fulani must know that they will lose most if Nigeria breaks. We the Igbos have buildings all over the place, losing them is painful but we can make another one and it will force us to go home and develop a super country.

”Yoruba is dominating the commerce, finance and industry in Nigeria, they need the market so they wouldn’t want to go if things have been made to work. The small ethnic groups have the feeling of being in a big country and can make things happen. So we must know the roots of the problem and attack them.

Some will say they will make Nigeria ungovernable if we don’t win, there is nothing happening now that is outside that. The Boko Haram violence and all of it arose from one thing: making the country ungovernable for Jonathan.

Now some people are saying if President Jonathan goes for second term and wins, they will make Nigeria ungovernable and will break Nigeria and the people who are saying this are the people who will lose most, if Nigeria breaks.

”So, what we should do is to appeal to ourselves, dialogue with ourselves and let people come out and not pretend. If we find out we cannot resolve the issue, we can peacefully and quietly go to a round table and decide what to do.

 

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Should Nigeria breakup? Read different reactions from delegates

National Conference: Delegates recommend life imprisonment for drug peddlers

ABUJA— Delegates at the ongoing National Conference, yesterday, voted unanimously for life imprisonment for those who engage in the sale of fake drugs.

The conference also rejected a proposal for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution aimed at institutionalising the office of wife of the President of the country, which will be called Office of the First Lady, just as an amendment which sought to reduce the age limits for those aspiring to contest for the position of President, governors and other elective positions by five years was rejected by the delegates.

Another strong position taken by the delegates, yesterday, was that public schools taken over by various state governments across the country 42 years ago be returned to the religious missions which were the original owners.

There was, however, mild drama when women delegates protested and brought plenary to a stand still for over 10 minutes on the issue of affirmative action for them, thereby forcing delegates to vote to retain the Beijing Convention that gave 35 affirmative action to women.

The resolutions were reached during debate and consideration of the report of Committee on Social Sector with Iyom Josephine Anenih as Chairman and Professor Ruqayyatu Rufai as Deputy Chairman.

According to the committee in its report, “in returning the schools, it should be ensured that they are affordable and able to serve a wider public as was the original concept of mission schools.”

There was, however, a controversy over the circumstances that led to the takeover of these schools before the vote was taken on matter.

The controversy bothered on whether or not compensations were paid to the original owners of the schools or were forcefully taken over.

A former Minister of Education, Professor Jubril who made a contribution on the issue had justified the policy, submitting that Yakubu Gowon’s administration paid compensations to the missions.

He further explained that the government was forced to assume the ownership of the schools due to discriminatory admission policies that existed then.

Similarly, former governor of the defunct North Western State, Mr. Usman Farouk, said the schools were taken over because their owners abandoned them during the Civil War and fled the northern region.

Farouk said that compensations were paid to the owners of the schools in the then Northern region.

However, the two submissions met with refutal from the Bishop of Kafanchan, Bishop Joseph Bagobiri, who put the records straight, saying that the earlier speakers were being economical with the truth.

According to him, the schools were neither abandoned nor their owners compensated and that the schools were forcefully taken over by the government.

He said: “Mr. Chairman, I think those who have just spoken are being economical with the truth.

“These schools were forcefully taken. Since 1972, the church has not relented in asking for these schools. In the North, there was no compensation made.

“The schools still cry for justice and we will be happy if the schools are returned to their original owners.”

The conference also voted that all Almajiri schools, from primary one to junior secondary, be converted to conventional schools and voted that teaching of “Nigerian history” as subject of study be mandatory in public schools.

 

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National Conference: Delegates recommend life imprisonment for drug peddlers

Some delegates planted to scuttle confab, says Idris Kutigi

The Chairman of the National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, said on Tuesday that there were indications that some delegates were planted at the conference to scuttle its outcome.

Kutigi, a former Chief Justice of the Federation, expressed worry that some delegates could agree on issues and decision taken only for them to return and start discussion on already closed matters.

The chairman was particularly furious that delegates could return to plenary on Tuesday and rejected a decision they had jointly taken at the close of work on Monday evening.

Kutigi had ruled on Monday that there would be no debate on any committee report, and that what delegates would do was to read the reports and submit amendments they wanted to make to the secretariat for action.

This action, he said, was aimed at speeding up the work of the conference, which has about five weeks left, yet the conference had yet to debate reports of about 13 committees.

Because of the agreement, which Kutigi spoke about, the conference adjourned for about 30 minutes before 6pm on Monday to enable delegates to go home and prepare their amendments to the report meant to be debated.

But before that was done, a delegate, Ms. Annkio Briggs, said she was not sure that the conference had adopted the issue ruled upon by the chairman.

The issue came up at the plenary on Tuesday as some delegates opposed Kutigi’s ruling, which prompted him to express his frustration on the issue.

The former CJN said, “Some people are planted here to scuttle this conference. We sit here and take decisions, we all agreed.

“Then someone would come back and say there was no decision at all. We agreed that we should listen to the chairman of any committee to read his report; we would then look at the recommendations and make amendments.

“Yet, some of you came back here and said there was no decision. That’s not right. Something had been done; you will come back and say it was not done. That’s not true.”

Some delegates protested by calling his attention to the word “planted,” which he used but he (Kutigi) ignored them.

Kutigi later had a short discussion with his deputy, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and the secretary, Dr. Valerie Azinge, before announcing his decision on the matter.

“After listening to what we have been saying, it is my ruling that we go back to the old procedure,” he said.

When he realised that some delegates were not happy with this, he adjourned for 10 minutes.

Even when a delegate, Mr. Dan Nwanyanwu, attempted to re-open the issue after resumption by saying that the ruling was not popular, Kutigi ignored him.

Nwanyanwu also hinted that some delegates from the North were meeting “somewhere” and that the conference should take this into consideration so that an unpopular decision was not taken in the absence of the delegates.  (Punch)

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Some delegates planted to scuttle confab, says Idris Kutigi

Delegates vote to tax churches, mosques

Stop state sponsorship of pilgrimages

But split on scrapping of pilgrim boards

FG, State governments to stop sponsoring Pilgrims

BY HENRY UMORU, JOSEPH ERUNKE AND LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

DELEGATES at the on- going National Conference yesterday voted to enlist churches, mosques and religious organizations into the tax net.

The delegates in their deliberation on the report of the committee on religion also voted that federal and state governments should stop the sponsorship of Islamic and Christian pilgrimages.

However, a move to scrap Islamic and Christian pilgrims boards sharply split the delegates yesterday leading to an uproar and forcing the conference leadership to move the vote on the issue to today.

The decision to make religious bodies pay taxes came up when a delegate representing Civil Organisations, Mallam Naseer Kura in his contribution to the debate on the report observed that religious leaders were making much money and should be taxed.

Also in his contribution, a delegate representing the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Isaac Ighure frowned at the situation where according to him pastors and heads of churches make too much money with some of them owning private jets. “Some people buy private jets when people in their churches are suffering and living in abject poverty, they should be made to pay taxes,” he submitted.

At the resumed session after break, the issue of payment of tax by the churches, Mosques and other religious bodies came up and delegates unanimously voted for it and it carried that if the recommendations of the Conference sails through at the end of the exercise when presented before the National Assembly for ratification, leaders of religious bodies will now be subjected to paying of tax like other Nigerians, business men, government organisations and enterprises.

Reject Fridays as work-free days

Delegates however rejected setting aside Fridays as free working days when the matter came up for voting.

There was however a very storming session yesterday and near a free for when the issue scrapping Pilgrims Welfare Boards came as a follow up to the decision that governments should no longer sponsor pilgrimages to the Holy Lands, just as shouts of no enveloped the hall, forcing the presiding officer and Conference Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi to abruptly adjourn the meeting till today where the issue would be voted on.

A delegate representing Kogi State, Chief Olusola Akanmode had moved a motion that since the house had agreed that no government should sponsor pilgrimages and as a rider, all Pilgrims boards should be wrapped and he was seconded by a delegate representing Edo State, Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN.

Soon after the motion was moved and seconded, there was a counter motion by a delegate representing the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Charles Ibiang and supported by Senator Saidu Dansadau with explanations that the boards must remain as they travel to Mecca to make arrangements for accommodation, transportation and other welfare for the pilgrims.

Following two motions on ground, Prof. Akinyemi then called for a voice vote in which the nays prevailed.

Trouble then started when former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed called for division of the house since according to him, there was no consensus, but his suggestion was greeted by shouting by other delegates thereby creating a rowdy session with shouts from delegates that we will not agree, learn to accept defeat, we voted here that churches should pay tax and we all agreed, even as some delegates shouted and told Akinyemi not to be intimidated by any body.

Following the rowdy session and some minutes to the close of session, Prof Akinyemi tried to Control the Delegates, saying that with the ensuing atmosphere, no serious business could take place and called on a delegate on the platform of Elder statesmen category, Erelu Olusola Obada and seconded by Aisha Aliyu and the session ended with delegates expressing comments of disappointment.

They will reconvene today to vote on whether the Pilgrims Boards should remain or be abolished.

The religion Committee had recommended  that  the Federal government and state governments must not adopt any religion as state religion.

The  Religion Committee which has Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu as Co- Chairmen, along side 19 other members  also listed areas of discrimination to indigenes in States like granting if land for places of worship and cemeteries; opportunities to education; employment, promotion and admission; pilgrimage sponsorship, among others.

Religion  Report

Earlier, a delegate,  Prof. Yusuf Turaki had blamed both Northern political and religious leaders for allowing Boko Haram insurgents to fester in the region.

“Mr. Chairman, the question I have to ask is, why have the Northern Muslim Umma, the traditional rulers and the political class allowed Boko Haram to grow from insignificant religious movement into a militant religious force that has overwhelmed them?”

Turaki, who spoke while making his contribution to the debate on the report of the conference Committee on Religion at the plenary on Tuesday, warned that Northern Nigeria is at the brinks of collapse and ruin solely on account of religious extremism, militancy, fanaticism and bigotry.

Also contributing, a delegate from Benue State, Senator Jack Tilley-Gyado, suggested that delegates should observe a three-day fast to seek the face of God concerning many sins being committed by those in authority, including past leaders some of whom he said were part of the ongoing conference.

According to him, people have hidden under the guise of religion to commit atrocious crimes against innocent Nigerians and called on the people to go back to God, saying these sins have brought Nigeria to where it is today.

“Please don’t serve lunch for three days. We will achieve peace and those who are overweight will lose weight. We should go back and create the middle class. I know that no human beings can equal the Holly Books. But we are not reading them, we are not practicing them”.

Delegates vote to tax churches, mosques

David Mark to lead 21 senators to Jonathan over abducted girls today

By Ehi Ekhator

Senate President, David Mark is to lead 21 other senators to President Jonathan this evening to discuss further on how to push for full scale military action in the North in order to find lasting end to the insurgency, and also release the abducted girls.

Senate President David Mark (left)

The delegations is to include all senators from the troubled state of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The senators are expected to convey Tuesday’s resolution of the Senate calling for declaration of full scale war against insurgents in the North East to the president.

According to Mark, the meeting is to find a lasting solution to rescuing the abducted girls and terrorism in the country.

He confirmed this in his announce.

He asked all invited senators to meet at his house from where, they would proceed to the Presidential Villa for a meeting which will hold at 10. pm.

During last Tuesday’s plenary, David Mark had passed a resolution asking the President to channel all military power and might to the terrorists zone.

He said that he regretted ever asking for dialogue with the insurgents, saying that Nigeria is at war and will be treated as such.

The Senate urged President Jonathan to ask ECOWAS and UNITED NATION for technological measures in order to rescue the abducted girls safely

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/abducted-girls-outrage-protests-spread/#sthash.bdC4FRn1.dpuf

David Mark to lead 21 senators to Jonathan over abducted girls today

Troubled Confab delegates protest committees composition

ABUJA— IT  was a stormy session, yesterday, at the Andrews Otutu Obaseki Auditorium, venue of the ongoing National Conference, as delegates protested the composition of membership of the 20 standing committees, complaining that there was no fairness and equity in the appointment of chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees.

Women delegates were also not left out as they protested against the chairmanship of committees, alleging that they were not justly treated and that only few women were appointed into chairmanship positions unlike their men counterparts.

Since the commencement of the conference, delegates never had it this rowdy as their protests, at the end of the day, marred composition of committees released by the secretariat of the National Conference.

Some delegates shouted and accused the conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, of giving preference to delegates he considered superior to others.

At the resumed plenary yesterday, where the issue of committee composition was tabled for debate, majority of the delegates disagreed with the Conference Secretariat on the composition of committees.

Shortly before taking complaints from delegates on the issue, the conference Chairman pleaded with delegates that since time was not on their side again, having spent a month out of the three months period required for the assignment to be completed, there was the need for work to be done and show something to Nigerians to justify why they were at the conference.

“One month is already gone out of the three months we were given by the President for this assignment and we have to produce something for Nigeria to justify our stay here,” he had pleaded.

Delegates did not listen to his plea, as they started raising up their hands to protest over what they called the inability of the Conference Secretariat to allot them their preferred committees.

It was at this point that Kutigi shouted at delegates, stressing the need for respect for one another.

Apart from being denied their preferred committees, the delegates complained that most committees they considered more juicy were allotted to delegates considered superior to others.

A delegate from Edo State, Charles Edosomwan (SAN), who observed that delegates were not chosen in their areas of professionalism, suggested that they should be asked to submit memoranda to committees they feel they were relevant so that their interests can still be considered.

On his part, Mr. Abu Clifford, a delegate from the youth organisation, protested that 18 of those representing Nigerian youths were not spread across the 20 committees and demanded that they should be spread across the committees, else they would take a decision.

Princess Rabiu Ibrahim, a delegate from women organisation, protested that gender issue was not taken into consideration as women were not properly placed as chairmen of committees like their men counterparts, saying such was not in line with the 35 percent affirmative action which the country was preaching.

 

Troubled Confab delegates protest committees composition

Abuja explosions: Confab delegates want Boko Haram financiers prosecuted

Ask Jonathan to implement Galtimari, Turaki, others’ reports

BY HENRY UMORU

WITH teary eyes, delegates, yesterday, condemned in strong terms, bomb explosions at Nyanya bus terminal in Abuja, the nation’s capital, by members of the Boko Haram sect in which about 100 people were feared dead and several others injured.

The delegates, who observed one minute silence for the victims, also condemned past and similar mayhem in other parts of the county. They called on the Federal Government and stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency, implement all actionable recommendations made to it by various committees such as the Gaji Galtimari, Kabiru T. Turaki and Borno/Yobe Elders among others, which recommended prosecution of some politicians found to be financing and empowering members of Boko Haram.

To heal the wounds inflicted on Nigerians and families affected in these massive killings and wanton destruction of property almost on a daily basis, they advised the Federal Government to immediately commence a process of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas.

The Kawu, 19 others insecurity motion

The delegates’ positions followed a motion by Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, who is representing the Nigeria Guild of Editors and titled, “Motion of urgent Public importance over the security situation in the North, pursuant to Order V11 Rule (1) V of the Rules of Procedure.”

The motion was co- sponsored by 19 other delegates. They were Mrs. Hannatu Ibrahim, Prof. Jerry Gana, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Dr. Magdalene Dura, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Hon. Mohammed Kumalia, Senator Adamu Aliero, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, Amb. Ibrahim Mai Sule, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, Senator Jack Tilley Gyado, Gen. Jerry Useni, Senator Ibrahim Ida, Hon. Terseer Tsumba, Arch. Ibrahim Bunu, Major General Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Edwin Clark and Brig. General Geoffrey Ejiga.

The motion read in part: “The conference  condemns the activities of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. The Conference is concerned about the continuous deterioration of the security situation and calls upon the Federal Government to take urgently, drastic and concrete steps to arrest and immediately bring an end to these atrocities.”

They urged that all necessary measures be put in place to use proportional and non- excessive force to deal with the situation and safeguard the life, property and well- being of innocent civilian population in all areas affected. Leading a robust debate on the motion,  Modibbo Kawu lamented that despite the declaration of state of emergency in three North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the insecurity in those states has continued to escalate.

He said: “Whereas the Rules of Procedure has provided in Order V11 Rule (1) that matters of urgent public importance ( if) any may be tabled for discussion; whereas the security situation in the country has been deteriorating in the last 5-6 years; whereas the preponderance of the security breaches have been in the North

although security is a National issue; whereas in the last two months the security breaches have escalated in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa stares where over 20 villages have been completely razed down and thousands of people killed including school children in spite of the state of emergency which has been in existence for almost one year;

”Whereas in the North East the problem is Boko Haram, in the North West, it is armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping of young women more particularly in Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna states.

”Whereas in the North Central we have ethno- religious and herdsmen and farmers conflicts, which have led to

the sacking of several villages, destruction of property, displacement of people and killing of thousands of people in Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states; whereas the Conference notes that Nigerian security forces have made a lot of efforts to bring the insurgency, armed conflict and banditry under control; in spite of the efforts of the security forces the situation has continued to escalate.”

Nwanyanwu,  Ozekhome’s motion

Prior to Kawu’s motion, National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Dan Nwanyanwu who is representing LP at the conference ,had moved a motion condemning the killings. The motion was seconded by a Federal Government delegate, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who argued that the wave of killings in the country is increasing in wavelength.

According to him, the killings have become endless as perpetrators of such acts no longer discriminate between Christians and Moslems or northerners and southerners in their crusade and called on the House to urge the authorities to re-strategise and come up with effective measures to address the problem of insecurity in the country.

Coomassie intervenes

However, former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, representing the North West geo- political zone punctured the motion, saying that the North was ready with a prepared motion to be read on the insecurity situation in the North and sought the permission of Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi and the sponsor, Kawu, was then called to move it.

Attempts to scuttle motion

Speaking on the motion, Chief Sergeant Awuse, a South-South delegate almost scuttled the motion raising Order 8 arguing that the conference cannot entertain such motion because delegates were not served with the motion paper ahead of time, adding, “If a motion paper has been served on those at the table, delegates deserve to be served copies.

“While I sympathise with what is happening in the country, we must not add to the problem, but we must go by the rules and we should not create any problem for ourselves.”

However, Femi Falana (SAN), representing the Civil Society Organisation, cited Order 1 rule (2) and countered Awuse’s point of order, saying no formality was required on this issue because what happened yesterday where people were killed was an emergency situation and an issue of urgent National importance. He noted that  the Galtimari’s report had covered these issues and urged the government to implement the report and those of similar panels.

These killers are not Nigerians –Abdullahi

Commenting, Amb. Yerima Abdullahi representing the Elder Statesmen category said: “We have been scratching the surface of this issue of Boko Haram. Some of these  undertakers are not Nigerians. It may have started with Nigerians but these people are not Nigerians. Security may have better information. They have roots in Cameroon, Niger, Chad, etc. We have a very big problem. Security forces should show more interest. The earlier the authorities woke up to this situation, the better.”

Nigeria is under siege – Clark

Contributing to the motion, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw leader, and a delegate on the platform of Elder Statesmen, Chief Edwin Clark, noted that what was happening at the moment with people being killed was not a matter of the North or South but requires a collective action because Nigeria was under siege.

His words: “The issue of my son that was kidnapped is no longer an issue compared to what has happened. What is happening now is a national issue. It is not a North or South issue. Wherever it is happening, Nigerians are being killed and Nigerians are under siege.

”We have a duty to look at this issue and not to play politics with it. Security is doing its job. They need the support of every one of us; soldiers alone cannot fight this war. I think it has come to a stage where all must be involved. When my son was kidnapped, all of you rallied together. He is not dead. Everyday we sit down here deliberating. What are we debating about? Will Nigeria be eradicated before we know it is here with us?

”This conference must do something about it. This conference must send a message to the authorities that something must be strongly done about it. Instead of me going to eat at 2 pm, monetise it and send it to those who are dying fighting this scourge. The time has come for all of us to do something.”

We need holistic approach —Anka

On his part, a delegate representing the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Hassan Salihu Anka, who condemned the act, however, called for a holistic approach involving all stakeholders to solve the problem.

 

Abuja explosions: Confab delegates want Boko Haram financiers prosecuted

National Conference: Delegates reduce aides over non provision of allowances

DELEGATES at the ongoing National Conference have considerably trimmed down their aides in what could be attributed to the non provision of allowances for the aides by the confab management.

National conference

Aides of the delegates were more than 492, the actual number of delegates at the conference on the first week it commenced.

Most delegates with retinue of aides had, shortly after accreditation, made case for their aides that they should be paid allowances but the confab chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, while responding on the issue, said there was no such provision.

As the conference enters its second week now, delegates were seen to have reduced their aides, leaving only those seen to be very essential, especially drivers.

The huge number of delegates’ aides at the first week of the conference made the number of people at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, venue of the National Conference very large and rowdy.

The conference hall of the institute where the plenary holds was also rowdy and full to capacity during first week.

Another reason the delegates may have decided to withdraw their aides could be the non extension of food being served delegates to their aides.

Also, with the insistence of Kutigi that there was no allowance for aides, delegates with aides became responsible for the hotel accommodation and other welfare packages for their aides.

Aides of the delegates were almost being seen loitering and grumbling over hunger.

Drivers were seen being sent outside to buy food for them following the non provision of food.

Most delegates, as a result of their reduction of aides now, are being seen carrying their files themselves, contrary to what obtained at the conference the first week.

The insistence of the confab secretariat that there would be no allowances for aides, saves controversies among delegates over the issue, as such would have compelled most delegates to drag their friends, close relatives and office workers to the conference to benefit.

Some delegates, who spoke with Vanguard on the issue, commended the conference management for the decision, saying accommodating aides by being given the allowances and special packages would have triggered crisis among delegates.

“I would have asked by younger ones with no serious things doing yet to join me here.

“Some of us who are relatively young and without aides but who are delegates here must have called even our friends to join us here as aides because we can’t allow such happen.

“Whether you are a former governor, senator, retired general, IG or whatever here, we are all equal here as delegates,” one of the delegates that would not want his name in print sad.

National Conference: Delegates reduce aides over non provision of allowances

Why and how delegates adopted 70 per cent voting mode

Delegates to the National Conference adopted 70 per cent voting pattern to save the conference from an abrupt end, it was learnt yesterday.

National conference

The delegates also agreed on the principle of “give and take”, one of the 50 selected to resolve the thorny issue of voting pattern told our correspondent.

He said that the select group appealed to those with hardline positions on voting pattern to reconsider their position to avoid a situation where the conference would break up on account of “irreconcilable differences”.

At the meeting yesterday, conference delegates overwhelmingly supported the recommendation of the select group that 70 per cent of delegates sitting and voting should be used to determine any issue delegates failed to reach consensus.

Delegates also rescinded their earlier resolution, which took away the power to appoint committee chairmen from the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi.

With the rescinding of the resolution, the Selection Committee headed by Justice Kutigi, had been empowered to select chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees.

Twenty standing committees were approved by the conference subject to further increase if need be.

Voting pattern almost tore the conference apart as Northern delegates insisted on consensus as the mode of resolving issues. Southern delegates wanted two-third majority as the voting pattern.

The decision on the 70 per cent voting pattern followed the adoption of the outcome of the Group of 50 elders that met with the leadership of the National Conference last week.

Vice Chairman of the Conference Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi told delegates that the elders, otherwise called “Super delegates” and the leadership of the conference met between Tuesday and Wednesday last week where the decision was reached.

Akinyemi added that following exhaustive deliberations, it was agreed that 70 per cent would be preferable and more acceptable to the delegates in reaching decisions if consensus failed.

The implication of the new decision meant that Orders 6 Rule 4; 11 Rule 2; and 12 Rule 4 (e) that proposed 75 per cent or three quarter of delegates present and voting be adopted where consensus fails have been amended.

Senator Iyorcha Ayu proposed the motion that the amendment be adopted. The motion was seconded by former Akwa Ibom Governor, Obong Victor Attah, who thanked his colleagues for avoiding the technicality of “winner takes all.”

The question was put and those in support carried the day. Attempts by some delegates to oppose the adoption of the proposal, which restored the power of the Chairman and his team to select committee chairmen and deputy Chairman, was shot down through a voice vote.

The Selection Committee headed by Kutigi was therefore empowered to select Chairmen and their Deputies taking into cognizance competences of individual delegates as well as all States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Kutigi put the question for the adoption of the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014, and it was unanimously adopted in a voice vote.

The delegates also adopted a proposed Work Plan of the Conference after several observations on inadequacies in the proposal were raised.

The Secretariat would make necessary corrections, the Chairman assured. Group classification meant to reach individual delegates if the need arise was also adopted by the delegates.

Delegates were also asked to indicate three committees they would want to belong. Speaking on how the 50 Super delegates resolved the issue of voting pattern, a member who participated in the resolution said, “Some people were insisting on 75 per cent, some wanted consensus while some wanted 65 per cent. We looked at the issues and arrived at 70 per cent under the principle of give and take to move the conference forward in the interest of the country.

“We also said that hardline positions cannot take the conference anywhere. We agreed that if we wanted to move forward, there should not be hardline position. We tried to avoid a situation where the conference will break up abruptly. So the consensus was 70 per cent.

“This is also because when you are building a nation, you cannot force any issue down the throat of somebody. We believe that if we resolve the issues through consensus, it will serve the country better. But where consensus fails, we should go for 70 per cent of delegates present and voting.”

The conference started with announcement of the death of a member, Alhaji Mohammed Hamma Misau, who died on Friday March 28 at the National Hospital Abuja.

Dan Nwanyanwu, who came to the conference on the platform of the Labour Party, observed that the comments of His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, Lamido of Adamawa, that Northern delegates would pull out of the conference if pushed to the wall was not reflected in the votes and proceedings of the conference.

Nwanyanwu said that it would be unfair to Mustapha if the conference secretariat fails to reflect his contributions.

Kutigi, who appeared not to have taken kindly to the observation of Nwanyanwu, noted that if the conference were to be a court he would have called Nwanyanwu “a busy body.”

He said that Lamido Adamawa was in the hall and should have complained if he felt that his contributions were omitted.

Another delegate who moved a point of order noted that “busy body or no busy body, what Nwanyanwu said is perfectly in order.”

Kutigi simply said “noted” and ended discussion on the issue.

Former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Peter Odili, commended his colleagues for the maturity displayed during the consideration of the decision of the conference leadership and the group of 50 elders. He said the outcome of the elders’ meeting was indicative of a successful outcome for the conference.

“It is the decision of the conference that was popularly removed. I think it is a step forward from where we were last week,” he added.

Hassan Rilwan also commended the elders for being able to resolve a rather sensitive issue amicably.

“I believe that the decision of the Chairman to constitute the elders group was excellent because it shows that we, as delegates, and by extension, Nigerians at large are ready to reach agreement on any issue, no matter how contentious.

“It is a good sign that there is hope after all, if the elders can bring this issue of voting method to a situation where everybody was satisfied with the outcome, then there is no issue that we can not compromise on.

“All we need is dialogue. By the time we talk with ourselves, there won’t be any room for suspicions. In other words, I am in no doubt that the outcome of this Conference would be to the satisfaction of all Nigerians and the growth of this country,” he added.

Why and how delegates adopted 70 per cent voting mode

National confab a sham for Jonathan’s re-election – Northern elders

Northern Elders Forum, NEF, yesterday, decried the rising wave of clashes between Fulani herdsmen and the Tiv in Nasarawa State and blamed unnamed top government officials for the mayhem.

National conference

According the NEF, the premeditated violence was to create tension in the state and pave the way for the Presidency to unseat Governor Tanko Al Makura through the declaration of a state of emergency.

The Deputy Leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Paul Unongo, who made the claim at the media briefing in Abuja, also accused the President of selecting his friends to be the sole delegates for the impending National Conference.

The NEF said it would have nothing to do with the confab as it would not produce any tangible result for the country.

According to the forum, the confab had been primed to advance the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The elders, who met in Abuja to review the state of the nation, also lamented the seeming inability of the Federal Government to tackle rising menace of terrorism in the North, which they noted, had caused a lot of havoc and dislocation in the region.

Unongo pointed out that the impending conference would not be able to solve any problem for Nigeria because the delegates were selected by the President instead of allowing Nigerians to elect them as proposed by the Committee raised by the government.

Unongo pointed out: “What they are going to do is not a national conference but a Jonathan conference because almost all the delegates are selected by him and his friends instead of an open election that was adopted for the previous exercises even during the military era.

“This is not fair. The manner of selecting only the friends and associates of the President for the conference does not represent the generality of Nigerians and we cannot be part of such a sham,” the former minister said.

While sympathising with the government over the killings in the North, the NEF official called in the administration to take whatever steps possible to flush out the terrorists, whom he said did not represent any religion in the country, as claimed by some ignorant persons.

Unongo, who advocated the use of what he called “carrot and stick” approach to dislodge the terrorists, warned that the menace could spread to other parts of Nigeria if not checked through a holistic and creative approach.

Turning to the suspension  of the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Northern Elders said they were irked by the action of Mr. President for condoning corruption by removing the whistle blower, who risked his life to dare the forces working against the interest of the generality of Nigerians.

NEF said, “In our judgment, we feel that Sanusi has the right to be genuinely concerned about the non-remittances of over $20 billion of oil revenue into the Federation Account as stipulated by law.

“The President should have commended rather than suspend a man who loves this country and has refused to play along with others who are causing serious havoc to the economy of this nation.

“Why is the President afraid of those who are exposing corruption and playing along with those who are wasting public funds?

“How does Sanusi’s sack or suspension bring about the missing billions of dollars of oil revenue?” the NEF leader asked.

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National confab a sham for Jonathan’s re-election – Northern elders

National Conference will be used to build new Nigeria - Jonathan

ABUJA — President Goodluck Jonathan, Thursday, urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the national conference at the beginning of Nigeria’s second centenary to build a country that would in due season lead the great re-awakening of Africa.

National conference

In a nationwide television broadcast to mark Nigeria’s first centenary, President Jonathan traced the country’s path through the first 100 years and affirmed that the country, despite its stumbles, had made progress as he paid tribute to many of the country’s founding fathers who led the country through the path towards nationhood.

In acknowledging the country’s present troubles, including terrorism, the president used the broadcast to openly condemn last Monday’s slaughter of 43 school children in Yobe State and prayed that the incidence would turn a thing of the past in the next 100 years.

Noting the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates of Nigeria on January 1, 1914 by the British Colonial authorities,  Jonathan said: “I consider myself specially privileged to lead our country into its second century of existence. And as I speak with you today, I feel the full weight of our hundred-year history. But what I feel most is not frustration, it is not disillusionment. What I feel is great pride and great hope for a country that is bound to overcome the transient pains of the moment and eventually take its rightful place among the greatest nations on earth.

“Like every country of the world, we have had our troubles. And we still do. We have fought a civil war. We have seen civil authorities overthrown by the military. We have suffered sectarian violence. And as I speak, a part of our country is still suffering from the brutal assault of terrorists and insurgents.

“While the occasion of our centenary undoubtedly calls for celebration, it is also a moment to pause and reflect on our journey of the past one hundred years, to take stock of our past and consider the best way forward for our nation.

Paying tribute to the country’s founding fathers, he said: “Today, we salute once again the great heroes of our nation: Herbert Macaulay, Ernest Ikoli, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alvan Ikoku, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, Dr. Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Mallam Aminu Kano, Mokwugo Okoye and Chief Michael Imoudu among others.

“The situation was not helped by political instability and the frequent suspension of democracy by military coups. During the civil war, the very existence of our country was cast into doubt but through it all, the promise of a Nigeria that is united, free and strong remained in our people’s hearts.

“Thanks to the efforts of our statesmen and women, and millions of ordinary Nigerians, the union endured and flourished.  I would like to specifically commend members of the Armed Forces for their contributions and sacrifices to keep Nigeria one.

“General Yakubu Gowon had the wisdom and grace to declare that the civil war had seen ‘no victor, no vanquished’ and welcomed, ‘the dawn of national reconciliation.’

“It was in this spirit that General Olusegun Obasanjo collected the instruments of surrender at the end of the war and later became the first military ruler in our country to hand over power voluntarily to a democratic government.

“While the Second Republic did not last, his fine example was later followed by General Abdulsalam Abubakar who paved the way for our current democratic dispensation which has lasted longer than the previous three put together.

“As we celebrate our centenary, I believe that it is vital that we focus our thoughts on the vast potentials of a unified and progressive Nigeria; and build on the relative stability of the Fourth Republic to achieve accelerated national socio-economic development.

“The whole world awaits this African success story. With our sheer size, population, history, resilience, human and natural resources and economic potentials, Nigeria is divinely ordained to lead the African Renaissance.

“That is why I am confident that in the next 100 years, those who will celebrate Nigeria’s second centenary, will do so as a united, prosperous and politically stable nation which is truly the pride and glory of Africa and the entire black race.”

“My call for the National Conference in this first year of our second century is to provide the platform to confront our challenges. I am confident that we shall rise from this conference with renewed courage and confidence to march through the next century and beyond, to overcome all obstacles on the path to the fulfillment of our globally acknowledged potential for greatness.”

“I have referred to national leaders who did so much to build our nation in the past hundred years but nation-building is not just a matter for great leaders and elites alone.”

“All Nigerians must be involved in this national endeavour. From the threads of our regional, ethnic and religious diversities we must continuously weave a vibrant collage of values that strengthen the Nigerian spirit.”

“The coming National Conference should not be about a few, privileged persons dictating the terms of debate but an opportunity for all Nigerians to take part in a comprehensive dialogue to further strengthen our union.”

“I am hopeful that the conference will not result in parochial bargaining between competing regions, ethnic, religious and other interest groups but in an objective dialogue about the way forward for our nation and how to ensure a more harmonious balance among our three tiers of government.”

“My dear compatriots, as we celebrate our centenary, the security situation in some of our North-Eastern States, sadly remains a major concern for us. Just yesterday, young students, full of hopes and dreams for a great future, were callously murdered as they slept in their college dormitories in Yobe State. I am deeply saddened by their deaths and that of other Nigerians at the hands of terrorists. Our hearts go out to their parents and relatives, colleagues and school authorities.”

“We will continue to do everything possible to permanently eradicate the scourge of terrorism and insurgency from our country.  We recognise that the root cause of militancy, terrorism and insurgency is not the strength of extremist ideas but corrupted values and ignorance.

“That is why our counter-terrorism strategy is not just about enforcing law and order as we have equipped our security forces to do. It also involves expanding economic opportunities, social inclusion, education and other measures that will help restore normalcy not just in the short term, but permanently.”

“I want to reassure Nigerians that terrorism, strife and insecurity in any part of Nigeria are abhorrent and unacceptable to us. I urge leaders throughout Nigeria to ensure that ethnicity and religion are not allowed to become political issues.”

“I hope and pray that one hundred years from now, Nigerians will look back on another century of achievements during which our union was strengthened, our independence was enhanced, our democracy was entrenched and our example was followed by leaders of other nations whose ambition is to emulate the success of Nigeria; a country that met its difficulties head-on and fulfilled its promise.”

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National Conference will be used to build new Nigeria - Jonathan