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Tag: conference

  • Scores injured at Rivers PDP stakeholders conference

    There was confusion at the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders’ Conference yesterday at the Delta Hotels, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

    It was gathered that some youths came in through the backdoor and started hitting the attendees with plastic chairs.

    In the ensuing melee, people scampered for safety; some jumped out through the windows; some fell down and were trampled upon.

    The police fired about four shots, perhaps to enable them rescue a Second Republic Senator, Cyrius Nunieh, who is said to be in his 80s and a governorship aspirant.

    Peace was later restored and the conference started again.

    Although the attackers could not be identified, it was alleged that they were members of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), a pressure group formed by the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike.

    Former Commissioner for Education Prof Israel Owate accused the two-man executive committee of selling out to Wike and his GDI, saying they had been using  their position to intimidate members.

    “It is the same intimidation that they have brought here today,” he said.

    In a statement titled: “Save Rivers PDP”, which the ex-commissioner read on behalf of the stakeholders, he articulated all the setbacks PDP members have suffered since the May 15, last year, court judgment which made Felix Obuah and Walter Ibiba Chairman and Secretary.

    This, Owate said, has caused the exodus of many PDP members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The stakeholders demanded for the dissolution of the Obuah-led “two-man Rivers State Working Committee.”

    They demanded for the re-registration of party members before the next primaries to enable the party have authentic membership registers.

    They also prayed for nullification of arbitrary suspension and expulsion of members and the re-integration of all returning PDP members.

    The stakeholders demanded for the implementation of the party’s constitution that guarantees rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices for equity, justice and fairness.

  • ‘Why my 30-year-old marriage is fresh’

    ‘Why my 30-year-old marriage is fresh’

    Renowned marriage counsellor and preacher, Rev.(Mrs.) Funke Felix-Adejumo, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on her 30th wedding anniversary and sundry issues. Excerpts:

    You hold women’s conference with many reporting a new level of submission they embrace after the meeting. What exactly do you do to them?

    There is nothing I could have done to them; that must be absolutely God and His grace. As a woman, I believe I am raised to validate womanhood; to let the women know that they are not slaves and should not be subjugated. But at the same time, they must honour their husbands, the authorities that God has placed over their lives.

    So, it is that balance that I teach. A woman can live up to the point that her husband respects her naturally. He does not see you as a liability but as a blessing. It is not every woman that a man can beat. When a man knows who you are and what you have contributed to his life, he won’t go there. And when you give him the respect that his leadership deserves, he becomes your friend literally.

    To what extent do you think a woman should be submissive?

    A woman should be submissive in the context of the Bible, which says to honour and respect your husband. But don’t let him make you feel small. Don’t let him abuse you physically, psychologically, financially and emotionally. And when your life is endangered, get out. You may not divorce but go out and seek for help.

    It is someone that is alive that can talk about marriage. Many women have been sacrificed on the altar of marriage and it doesn’t start once. There are always signals. If a man disrespects you and slaps you while you are dating, why go into marriage with him? You can remain single for life and be safe.

    A woman submits to the extent to what the Bible says. You honour your husband but you must know when the man is violating your human rights, your Bible rights. You don’t submit in the name of love until you are dead. You don’t go out to work, make money and give it to man who beats you up and sleeps around with prostitutes.

    That is not submission; that is stupidity. That is foolishness and I don’t believe in that. If you are married to an ungodly man and you are dressed for service on Sunday. If he stops to ask where you are going to, I believe you don’t start picking quarrels with him. You don’t say, ‘I’m going to church and there is nothing you can do about it.’

    You can’t say and do that because you are a wife. The first thing to do is to remove your hat and gear, then sit with him. Then you can say, ‘My dear, today is Sunday. I’d like to go to church please.’ He will come down because you have disarmed him. But when your life is in danger, submission at that time becomes stupidity.

    But what kind of help is available these days? Should they involve the law, government or family?

    To me, divorce is the last option. The Bible does not even support divorce. I don’t believe in it but there are situations where you don’t have a choice. I know because I have counselled people. No marriage breaks overnight. Every marriage goes through at least seven stages before it breaks.

    Once you have noticed your marriage is becoming abusive, one you speak with him. If he doesn’t listen, get someone that is close to him. If he doesn’t listen, involve the family. If he doesn’t listen, involve the church and pastor. If he doesn’t listen, involve the traditional ruler of your town. If he doesn’t listen, involve the police.

    At that point, you have tried. Some men are abusive because their wives have not stood up. They think they can just take it. If he keeps slapping you every day and you don’t talk, the eyes will soon get blind.

    What have you done to make your home work?

    We met 32 years ago. Next Monday (tomorrow), our marriage will be 30 years. My husband is incredibly rare. I’m telling you the truth because no liar will get to heaven. I’m well travelled but I have not met men like my husband. When we met, he told me that we must be transparently honest. That there is nothing we should not be able to tell each other. Two, that no matter what happens, we would not divorce.

    Three, he said that I must not die under his shadow. That he wanted to help me to fulfil my potential that even though I’m his helper, he has chosen not to be an African husband. That no matter what I wanted to become, he would help. When he said that to me, I decided I’d do him good all his days.

    One day, I said to God in the place of prayers that if he fails, God should hold me responsible. So, everything that has the signature of Felix Adejumo, he knows that all he needs to say is that I should take off. I’m so off that he would need to draw me back sometimes. God told us when we married that ‘I am in the midst of thee.’ So, even when we have misunderstandings, we are conscious that God is between us.

    We are the best of friends and we are always together. We don’t even have friends outside ourselves. And in 30 years, nobody has ever settled anything. We disagree as a couple sometimes because some two years ago, our children said they wanted our kind of marriage that we don’t fight. My husband had to educate them that we also disagree on many things.

    How do you juggle work with ministry, considering that you are always travelling?

    Yes, we travel a lot but it just started about ten years ago. I had to wait to consolidate our marriage before I started travelling. Our kids have grown up too. When they were young, we didn’t travel. We agreed to stay at home. We have this policy in our home: God first, marriage second and God’s work third. That is the order and our children understand it.

    Our children are grown up now and we are freed up a bit. My husband travels a lot too but people don’t know because he is quiet. He just sneaks in and out. He is in France, South Africa and everywhere. I go for women conferences and you know women’s meetings are always louder.

    I have a very understanding husband. After the Lord Jesus, my husband is the wind under my wings. He cheers me up. We don’t spend quantity time together but we spend quality time. When I realised that the Lord has given me an itinerary ministry, we take advantage of every opportunity. We hide a lot. We go to the market together even now.

    How have you kept your marriage fresh in all these years? 

    There was a time we were in South Africa together in one bush. Where we were you couldn’t get to except they sent you to us. So, our marriage is fresh because we service it every time. It’s been 30, in fact 32 exciting years. My husband proposed to me August 31 and I agreed September 8, 1982. We got married September 8, 1984.  

    One thing that has helped us is that we communicate a lot. If my husband is not in the country, we can speak 50 times a day. You won’t believe it. I’d call and say, ‘Hello darling, I’m going to the bathroom’, ‘Hello darling, what colour should I buy?’ When we are not together, we are together. He knows where I am. He knows what I’m doing and when the wind is blowing.

    I know what he is doing and all that. In 30 years of our marriage, if I want to collate the number of days we didn’t pray together, it is less than one week.

    How do you achieve that?

    It is always on the phones, especially when we are not together. We have our quiet time together. We lie down on the floor. We pray together every day, no matter what happens. Even when we have misunderstanding, we still pray together. I may not say Amen very well but we still pray.

    Sometimes when we wake up, we can talk for two hours before we pray, especially when we have anything to resolve. My husband will say to me ‘God is not a task master. Let’s resolve this first.’ If I leave you now and you ask him some questions, he’d give you the same answers.

    We are very appreciative of God and each other. We don’t take each other for granted.

    If you were to change anything in you, what would that be?

    I would change, though it is not possible. He is too busy. One day I said to him, ‘Darling, if the devil can repent, you would have taken him to God.’ There is nobody he gives up on. He would say let’s try again. But, me, I am different. My husband is patient a lot. I can help, but I move on quickly.

    I don’t like disloyal and ungrateful people. Once I see those signals, I am off, but my husband will be like ‘He can change now, let’s try again.’ My husband taught me how to walk with God. Just looking at his Christian life inspires me.

    What would be your advice to couples contemplating divorce?

    Please, there is no perfect marriage anywhere. Do your best to save that home. When you divorce, it is your children that suffer most because you remove the cover of life over them and the rain of life beats them.

    If you leave this spouse, do you know what the next one will be? In 30 years of marriage, I can tell you that a good marriage is expensive. So be ready to pay the price and you will be glad tomorrow. There is no marriage that is so bad that God cannot change it. Let’s go for counselling, let’s pray and let’s change.

    What’s Mother’s Summit all about?

    It’s a five-hour non-stop prayer meeting for our children. It is simply a praying meeting. Different people come to lead the prayer sessions. It is the fifth edition. In Lagos, it’s on November 1 at All Seasons Plaza, opposite Cadbury in Ikeja. It’s from 10am-2pm.

  • Controversy over conference resolutions

    Controversy over conference resolutions

    The National Conference has ended its deliberation and adopted its resolutions. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the implications of the resolutions on the democratic process.

    After the brouhaha over a proposed draft constitution, the National Conference, which kicked off on March 17, 2014, ended last week on a conciliatory note. Delegates adopted the conference recommendations , in spite of the initial disagreement between the northern and southern delegates. The Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), managed to diffuse the crisis by mobilising zonal conference leaders to take a position on the controversial draft constitution.

    To calm frayed nerves, a minor amendment was effected on the third volume of the conference report. The word “draft constitution” was replaced with “resolutions of the conference as draft amendments to 1999 Constitution.” The two sides actually reached a compromise. Northern delegates had threatened to withdraw from the conference, if their southern counterparts insisted on the alleged draft constitution. They said it was a ploy to legitimise the alleged third term agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. The North also back pedalled on its demand that the resolutions  should be reversed. Delegates from the North had argued that all decisions taken, if not reversed, would worsen the plight of the region.

    The conference approved 19 out of 20 committee reports. The Committee on Derivation and Resource Control could not agree on the way forward, as members held divergent views on the matter. The report was the only one stepped down, because the controversy could not be resolved. The conferees advised President Jonathan to set up a technical committee to handle the issue.

    A political scientist, Dr. Friday Ibok, expressed disappointment over the failure of the conferees to address  derivation and resource control. He noted that the contentious issue had been settled by the 1960 Independence and 1963 Republican constitutions. He said the two constitutions specifically provided that the federating units should control their economic activities and finances, keep 50 per cent of all revenues and contribute 50 per cent to the Federation Account. They stated that  30 per cent should be shared among the regions, leaving 20 per cent to the Federal Government.

    Ibok said the law was changed in 1969 by the military administration when the crude oil from the Niger Delta became the mainstay of the economy. The change was effected by military fiat. According to him, the Southsouth has called for a return to true fiscal federalism, as was the case when cocoa, rubber, groundnut and cotton were the mainstay of the economy. “Their demand was based on principle of equity, justice and fairness,” he added.

    A member of the Devolution of Power and Resource Control Committee, Senator Anthony Adefuye, disagreed with Ibok’s position. He said the committee’s recommendation that the status quo be maintained on the 13 per cent derivation was because the affected states would be involved in the development of their mineral deposits.

    Adefuye said: “If we are to take a critical look at the figure, the Southsouth is benefitting enough, even at the 13 per cent derivation. Doing otherwise will be detrimental to some of the non-oil producing states, which will be getting less.”

    Reflecting on the logjam another delegate, Professor Auwalu Yadudu from Kano State, argued that the North was opposed to an upward review of derivation from 13 to 18 per cent because it is not in the interest of the country.

    Yadudu, a Professor of Law, said: “When you are negotiating, you must negotiate in good faith; you must carry everybody along in the whole process of negotiating, not only on derivation, but also on many other issues. The negotiation on derivation was not done in good faith because, if you are building a consensus on issues, you must be sure that you have carried everybody along. What we thought was a consensus was what Professor Gambari read, which others faulted. If they could find fault with what was read — and I have a draft of it, which was the basis of what he read – if they bring something else, the groups are entitled to say this is not what was agreed on.

    “The lack of good faith was evident in the sense that you re-wrote an agreement in the absence of other members of the committee and then, you went about getting signatures of people you are working with; everybody has signed except you. You do not do negotiations that way.”

    But, the conference made some far-reaching recommendations in the following areas: local government reform, creation of new states, state police, government sponsorship of pilgrims, rotational presidency/governorship, independent candidate and revenue sharing formula.

     

    Local government

    The conference resolved that functions of the local governments as contained in Schedule 4 of the 1999 Constitution should be transferred to the states, subject to the power of the  Houses of Assembly to add or reduce their functions. Nevertheless, Northern delegates are uncomfortable with this resolution that the local government administration should be transferred from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. A lawyer, Mr. Ike Onyeama, said the conference decision was in line with true federalism.

    Onyeama explained that it is absurd that local governments are viewed as part of the federating units in the 1999 Constitution. He said it is against the spirit of true federalism. The conference recommended that state governments should decide on what type of local government it wants for the people under its jurisdiction. In fact, it also recommended that states have the right to create local governments.

    The lawyer said the contradiction within the system is a legacy of the military rule. It was the practice of the military to create local governments and even states. The military went on a frenzy of proliferating the local governments, and even took on itself the burden of its funding, just as it was funding the states from the Federation Account. The military  passed on this legacy in 1999, to the civilian government.

     

    Creation of new states

    The conference approved the creation of 19 additional states, with the Southeast getting four more states. Three states each were recommended for the five geo-political zones. The conference predicated its decision on the assumption that it would bring government nearer to the  people and accelerate development. But, Ibok disagreed with the logic. He said what they could have done was to recommend the merger of some states because many of them are not viable. His words: “What most of the states do is to collect monthly revenue allocation from the Federation Account to pay salaries of workers. Some have backlog of salaries to clear. How do you expect such states to carry out developmental projects? The best thing is to return to the 12-state structure introduced by the Gowon Administration. Proliferation of states is counter-productive. It is ridiculous to hear that the delegates have settled themselves by creating as many as 19 states in a fell swoop.”

    But, Onyeama viewed it from a different perspective. He said people have the right to demand for new states. The lawyer said: “In democracy, you can’t stop people from asking for creation of new states. He said the 36-state structure is lopsided. The North has 19 and the South 17.  Each zone has six states, except the Southeast, which has only five states. The National Conference proposal to create additional 19 states has addressed the imbalance”.

     

    State police

    The conference resolved that states, which can afford it, should establish their police. This was the practice before the advent of the military in 1966. Local police existed side by side with the federal police. A retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, said that local police would perform better than the current centralised police structure. He noted that security cannot be considered in isolation, adding that it  should be viewed as part of the overall framework of governance. The ex-police chief said the ball is in the court of the National Assembly to provide the framework for the establishment of state police.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu shared this view. He called for the amendment of Sections 214 and 215 of the constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police. He noted that the two sections give exclusive control of the police to the Federal Government. Ekweremadu said the police should be transferred from Item 45 of Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution to the Concurrent List to allow states to operate a policing system under approved guidelines.

     

    Sponsorship of pilgrims

    It was resolved that the Federal Government should no longer sponsor pilgrims and that pilgrims’ welfare board should only be allowed in states that want it. The conference decision was underscored by the secularity of the state. A traditionalist, Chief Fatunde Fayemi, queried the  recognition of two religions when the constitution says there is no official religion. He said all tiers of government are guilty of discrimination against adherents of traditional religion. “The decision to stop government from sponsoring pilgrims should not be restricted to the Federal Government. It should be extended to the state and local governments as well, he added.

    An Islamic scholar Sheikh Mustapha Daud, is in support of the resolution. He noted that, in the First Republic, regional governments were responsible for pilgrimage. He recalled that the first Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board was established by, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he was the Premier of Western later, the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, set up Pilgrims Board for the North.

     

    Rotational presidency/governorship

    The conference also recommended the rotation of the presidency between the North and the South and among the six geo-political zones. Similarly, it endorsed the rotation of the governorship  among the senatorial districts. Ibok said the rotation of public offices should not be a constitutional matter. Already, it has become a norm in politics, although it was not written in the constitution of political parties in the country. The political scientist said making it a constitutional issue will create the impression that the country is sacrificing merit and competence for trivialities.

    Onyeama agreed. He said the rotation of public offices should not be with the submission entrenched in the constitution. According to the lawyer, Nigerians should stop seeing themselves as northerners or southerners, Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa or Kanuri. “In electing people into public office, we should consider competence and the antecedents of the aspirants,” he argued, adding that it was the zoning of political offices that has brought NIgeria to where it is today. “I don’t care if the President and the Vice President come from the North or South, so far they can deliver the goods,” he added.

    But, Ibok said the conference decision may have been informed by the monopolisation of the highest office by a section of the country. He noted that the North had ruled for almost 40 years, compared to the South’s 15 years. The rotation, he said, will ensure equity and fairness among Nigerians.

     

    Independent candidate

    The conference equally made a case for independent candidates to stand for elective offices. Analysts say the proposal, if accepted, would deepen democracy. They said allowing independent candidates to contest election will broaden the choice option and enable more politicians to participate in the electoral process.

    Onyeama observed that there are many Nigerians who have better ideas on how to govern the country, but cannot come out because they do not belong to any political party. If the constitution permits independent candidates, people may consider the ability to perform, rather than voting on party basis, he said.

  • Implement conference decision, Anglicans tell Jonathan

    At their recent annual Synod hosted by Ido-Ani Diocese, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) took a look at the state of the nation and called on the Federal Government to implement the decisions of the just concluded National Conference. DAMISI OJO reports

    The seemingly unending Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the north eastern part of the country and the just concluded national dialogue were among the issues that engaged the attention of Bishops and other clerics from the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) when they gathered recently at Ido-Ani for their annual Synod.

    And at the end of the conference held at St. David’s Anglican Church, Afo in Ose Local government area of Ondo State, the delegates drawn from the Church’s Dioceses across the country called for the full implementation of the recommendations of the National Conference by the federal government.

    With the theme “Obedience is better than sacrifice”, the synod addressed the concept of obedience and urged all Nigerians especially Christians to be obedient in order to enjoy the full blessings of God.

    The Synod lamented that corruption had eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigerian nation, calling for stiffer legislation and more sincere approach to fight the menace.

    It added that government’s drive to create employment opportunities should be more vigorously pursued.

    A post- Synod communiqué jointly signed by the Diocesan Bishop, Rev Dahunsi and Synod’s Clerical Secretary, Ven S.O Ojowuro also commiserated with the victims of terrorism and other social vices.

    “We are praying for the freedom of the Chibok School Girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents; the spate of insecurity in Nigeria is too alarming, governments at all levels should to do more to check the malady of the evil doers.

    “We are also calling for the suspension of the strike by medical doctors and other professional bodies and urge the federal government to put in place enduring mechanism to finally stem the tides of strikes by Nigerian workers as human lives and the economy of the masses are always the worst hit” The communiqué stressed.

    On 2015 general elections, the synod called on politicians not to heat up the polity beyond control and to refrain from “do or die” politics, stressing that anyone who wishes to serve the people sincerely should not destroy intentionally or unintentionally those whom he wanted to serve.

    The Synod commended the federal government for convening the national conference, but urged the administration to do all things possible to actualise the minds of Nigerians as expressed at the national dialogue.

    Bishop Dahunsi glorified God for the achievements recorded by the Diocese within just five years of its inauguration.

    He eulogized Senator Bode Olajumoke for singlehandedly building the Diocesan Secretariat and Evangelist Soye Oniagba for donating an ultra-modern Bishop’s Court with all conveniences.

    Highlight of the second synod was the commissioning of a Church Hall built in Oke Afo by the former Chairman of Ose local government, Hon. Dennis Alonge.

    Among eminent personalities at the Synod thanksgiving service was the Bishop of Owo Anglican Diocese,Rt Rev James Oladunjoye who preached the sermon.

  • Ex-NIALS DG to chair Lawyers in the Media Forum conference

    Ex-NIALS DG to chair Lawyers in the Media Forum conference

    THE immediate past Director-General, Nigerian  Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), will on Wednesday, August 27, at Hotel  Owerri, chair the Lawyers in the Media (LIM) Session at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)   Annual General Conference.

    The Theme for this year’s conference  is: “Nigeria, 100 years after”.

    The lawyers in the forum will be looking, the topics: “Media, law and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria in 100 years-the Journey so far and “Pronouncing and enforcing legal penalties for the violation of political advertisements in Nigeria: Issues, prospects and challenges.”

    Chairman of the forum, Mr. Charles Odenigbo, said: “The objective of the  topics is to update  and broaden the knowledge of lawyers working in the media in the broadcast, newspapers and magazines, public relations, advertising, law and ethics and  also promote strict adherence to and advance the frontiers of media law among others.”

    Speakers include the Registrar of  Advertising Practioners Council of Nigeria; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, former President of NBA, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN); former chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) Chief J. K. Gadzama (SAN) and Comrade Festus Okoye.

  • Ebola: Lawyer urges caution at NBA conference

    Ebola: Lawyer urges caution at NBA conference

    Lagos  lawyer, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke,has advised the  leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take steps to prevent the spread of Ebola virus at its Annual National Conference (AGC) in Owerri, the Imo State on Sunday.

    In a statement  titled: “Ebola: NBA should take steps to guard participants and others”, he urged the NBA leadership to assess the threats the conference may pose to lawyers and efforts of local and international stakeholders to stem the spread of the disease.

    He noted that the AGC is reputed as the largest gathering of lawyers on earth, with as many as over 10,000.

    “In consistent with the mode of transmission of the Ebola virus, which include direct physical contact with body fluids of an infected person such as blood, saliva, urine and sweat or contact with objects contaminated by these fluids, I urge the NBA leadership not only to put measures in place to

    safeguard participants at the week-long event, but to also critically assess the adequacy of emergency health care measures aimed to protect lawyers, exhibitors and visitors.

    “This is the least that can be done under this grave national emergency. No effort should be spared to contain this potential pandemic that is already affecting the socio-economic and religious life of the nation”, she pleaded.

    Nwadioke stressed: “If the NBA leadership comes to the view that the risk of Ebola virus spread cannot be adequately managed at this time due to inadequate health care facilities and personnel and the inherently electric nature of AGC activities, perhaps a postponement of the conference may be a valid option.”

    He expressed doubts on the ability of the incoming executive to cope with the potential danger posed by the virus on the grounds of negligence by its wilful endangerment of life.

    Nwadioke recalled:”A Nigerian staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) died of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), becoming the third victim of the dreaded virus since its emergence in Nigeria. The latest victim, Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, a Protocol Assistant at the ECOWAS Liaison Office in Lagos, was among those who assisted the Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, the index case believed to have brought the disease to Nigeria.

    ”Sawyer exhibited symptoms of the disease on arrival in Lagos on July  20 for an ECOWAS Conference, and died on July 25 at a private hospital in Lagos. This latest incident again gives vent to the highly fatal nature of the Ebola virus disease.

    “The Ebola virus has no known cure and up to 90 per cent fatality rate. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ebola. Outbreaks can spread rapidly, with an incubation as brief as two days. Therefore, preventing the Ebola virus from spreading remains the best option.”

    He described the virus manner of spreading “as the largest and worst in history, with the death toll now at 1,014 from 1,848 cases. “In Nigeria, 177 primary and secondary contacts of the index case have been placed under surveillance, with nine having developed EVD, bringing the total number of cases in Nigeria to 10. “Of these 10, three have died while seven are  quarantined in Lagos. Further tracing of contacts is ongoing,” she said.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO), she noted, has declared the  outbreak an International Health Emergency requiring extraordinary response in an effort to contain the pandemic and that the organisation has also taken the unusual step by declaring as ethical the use of ZMAPP, an untested and unproven drug, to try and contain the scourge.

    He added: “Though the role of the Federal Government in preventing the emergence of the Ebola virus disease in Nigeria remains questionable, it was heart warming to note that the government has followed the WHO example by declaring its outbreak a national emergency.”

    Nwadioke stressed that the Ebola threat is real and the development has explained why many countries have put their health care and ports personnel on the highest alert.

    He recalled that barely a week ago, Ken Isaacs, the spokesman for Samaritan’s Purse, whose two American staff contracted the virus while treating patients in Liberia, warned the United States Congress that Ebola is going to emerge with a fury in Nigeria in about three weeks due to Sawyer’s case.

    The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Adekoya said, also issued a ‘Level 2 Travel Alert’ on Nigeria, warning travellers to take precautionary measures to minimise their risks of contracting the disease. She pointed out that the above scenario paints a grim picture of the serious hazards posed by the current pandemic in the face of weak healthcare systems and scarce national resources, emphasising that even with less than 15 EVD cases, Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, raised an alarm on the shortage of care-givers to treat Ebola victims by asking for more volunteers.

    The Ebola virus, according to her, poses a serious threat to care-givers, some of whom have died in the process of treating patients adding: “It is, therefore, better imagined than described if the current state of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria is allowed to exacerbate.”

    H said it is expected that all concerned will act in a manner that aids a speedy containment of the Ebola outbreak, saying it was against this backdrop and the forthcoming NBA Annual General Conference (AGC)  that made her to urge the NBA leadership to critically assess the threats posed by the AGC to lawyers.

  • Whither conference report?

    Whither conference report?

    The National Conference rose last week after a four-month deliberation. Its report is expected to be submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday. Where does the country go from there since the conference had no legal backing? Precious Igbonwelundu asks.

    Introduction

     

    FOUR months after it began sitting, the National  Conference rose last week with a voluminous report to  be submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday.

    President Jonathan inaugurated the conference with pomp last March 17 to jaw-jaw on how to correct the foundational problems of the nation.

    Coming at a time of ethno-religious conflicts, political tensions, insecurity, massive unemployment and poverty, observers described the President’s action as a ploy to win public sympathy, especially because the conference was not backed law.

    Sceptics insisted that the gathering was not a national conference unless its outcome would be subjected to a referendum so that the Federal Government would neither abandon nor tinker with it as previous recommendations  by such committees.

    But, despite these controversies, Jonathan, at the conference’s inauguration, charged delegates to deliberate on all issues except the nation’s unity, which he tagged “non-negotiable.”

    When the conference kicked off, there was no stopping it. There were occasions the sessions were rowdy, with delegates almost engaging in fisticuffs, but they always resolved their differences at the  end of it all.

     

    Conference’s Recommendations

    In the course of performing its assignment, the conference made far-reaching decisions, including that elected officials should automatically vacate their seats if they defect to another party and that elective offices like that of the president be rotated among the six zones.

    It encouraged the creation of state police for states who desire it; the establishment of constitutional court as well as an anti-corruption court; the creation of 18 new states and that creation or dissolution of local governments should be the business of states, by extension, suggesting a two-tier federal system.

    Other new recommendations are compulsory military service for all Nigerians; approval of independent candidacy; appointment of 18 ministers with at least three from each of the six geopolitical zones; merger of states; and establishment of Independent Grand Jury to investigate impeachable offences against a sitting President.

    The conference also recommended that most of the responsibilities undertaken by the Federal Government be shifted to states and the central government should concern itself with issues of defence, foreign relations, monetary/economic policy and any issue affecting the entire states; it resolved that the revenue sharing formula be tilted in favour of the states since they have been assigned the bulk of the responsibilities; reduction in the cost of governance; local government financial autonomy and removal of immunity currently enjoyed by the president and governors.

    It also recommended the scraping of the government’s sponsorship of pilgrimage;  increment in derivation funds from the current 13 per cent; and life imprisonment for persons convicted of raping minors.

     

    The issue

    Although many Nigerians have congratulated the conference for doing a marvellous job, observers have expressed concerns that the wonderful report like previous ones may never see the light of day.

    Some have expressed doubts that the legislators, saddled with law making and amendments, but most of who have been accused of widespread corruption, would accept the recommendations against their interests.

    They fear that the resources, time and even death of some delegates may come to nought should the Federal Government, out of selfishness, refuse to amend the Constitution to accommodate the conference’s report, especially on devolution of power and a weaker central government, restructuring of the revenue sharing formula and rotational presidency.

    Analysts say the country may be plunged into a deeper crisis should the efforts of the delegates be wasted, bearing in mind that the best the President can do is to draft a bill based on the report and forward it to the National Assembly for approval, which may be turned down.

    For a constitution amendment, at least two-thirds majority of the states must be in support, aside the National Assembly, whereas, for a referendum to come into effect, all eligible voters would be required to participate to arrive at the final binding decisions.

    Either way, the National Assembly, perceived to be anti-conference, has a great role to play because nothing can be accomplished without its support.

     

    Where do we go from here?

    The reality and delicateness of the situation has dawned on Nigerians, who are wondering what the next line of action would be after Jonathan receives the report. Will the Federal Government implement the outcome? Should there be a referendum for the people to decide on the report? What can be done to resolve the dilemma?

    Lawyers, who aired their views, described the position as a dilemma, just as they noted that there was no clear-cut position on the fate of the conference’s report.

    They noted that the National Assembly has a greater role to play to save the Federal Government from ridicule.

    One of the delegates to the conference and a professor of  Law, Akin Oyebode, expressed doubt that the National Assembly would endorse the recommendations because the legislature had shown vehement hostility to the conference.

    “Now that we have concluded our assignment, the ball is in the court of the Nigerians to accept or reject our recommendations. The Federal Government, in my view, had better accepted the recommendations if it does not wish to become a laughing-stock.

    “Here we have a congress of some of Nigeria’s most illustrious citizens coming with far-reaching recommendations after gruelling discussions for more than four months.

    “From day one, the National Assembly had evinced its vehement hostility to the conference. So, quite frankly, I’m not really enthused by the thought of passing our recommendations to it. Their attitude is quite predictable.

    “I am on record as saying that the people themselves should have the last say on the confab recommendations by way of a national referendum just as happened in several African States. After all, we often mouth the shibboleth that sovereignty belonged to the people. Let us for once live up to that averment.”

    A Professor of Law, Taiwo Osiptan (SAN), congratulated the conference, but said the government should not accept all its decisions.

    He said: “The conference did well, but it is now left for the government to accept and reject some of its recommendations. It is not possible for the Federal Government to accept everything. It will accept as many as possible and reject some.

    “I think what the Presidency can do at this point is to sponsor a bill to the National Assembly reflecting the resolutions it accepts for the amendment of the constitution.

    “To me, issues like the devolution of power, local government autonomy are non-negotiable and the government must accept them. Devolution of power aims at making the central government unattractive.”

    Osiptan said a referendum coull only arise if the country was talking about a new constitution.

    “You can talk of a referendum if it is a new constitution, but if it is an amendment of the existing constitution, then, it is the duty of the National Assembly. Again, it is not legally or factually possible for all Nigerians to vote at a referendum. We will still have to rely on representatives,” he said.

    Constitutional lawyer Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) said there have been a lot of confusion regarding where the report should go.

    “Some have said it should go to the National Assembly to be passed into law. Of course, if that is done, it would mean a constitutional amendment, which will involve at least two-thirds of the state.

    “Others are talking about referendum, in which every Nigerian of voting age will participate. Each of the process requires the National Assembly’s endorsement.

    “For me, I would prefer a referendum to be held because that is the only way to get all Nigerians involved and the National Assembly would have no basis for amending or tinkering with the report.

    “Some areas of the report are, indeed, controversial, such as the issue of rotational presidency. This is because it distorts the right of any Nigerian to aspire to any office at a particular time. Such things can be done politically, not legally.”

    He went on:“There is a contradiction in saying local governments belong to the state and a state can create any number it desires or dissolve and then, still saying you want to give it autonomy. That is for the state which created it to decide. The local government is created for the convenience of the state and not the other way round.

    “If you want states to have control of local government creation and administration, then, it has no business being in our constitution and you cannot talk about its autonomy. If local government are going to be states affair, why make provision for local governments in statutory allocation? You let the states fund whatever local governments they have, so, that again is a contradiction. Though, the idea of local governments being within the state is a good one.

    “Despite my observations, I do not think the conference was a waste of time. They did well in a number of areas. They did well in devolution of powers and suggested also that the formula for sharing money between Federal and states should change with states receiving higher.”

    On the proposed creation of new states, Sagay called the recommendation ‘madness’. “That is madness. I do not know another term to qualify it. It is definitely madness for any Nigerian to talk about creation of more states in the sense that virtually all the states we have now are not functional. Most of them survive purely on the hangouts they get from the Niger Delta oil proceeds.

    “So, why create 18 additional babies, who are going to be permanently on a feeding bottle? It does not make sense,’’ said Sagay.

    Another constitutional lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), said Nigerians must understand that constitution amendment is the prerogative of the legislative arm of government.

    “While, we commend the President for initiating the conference , the far reaching recommendations cannot be implemented by the President. The President cannot also initiate a referendum on the amendment of the Constitution, so as to incorporate the far reaching recommendations.

    “I hope that the President’s efforts will not be politicised. It is imperative for the legislative arm of government and the executive to work in the common interest of Nigerians in ensuring that recommendations, which presumably are the expectations and agitation of Nigerians across religious or ethnic divide, are implemented,” he said.

    To former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch Chairman, Monday Ubani, the country is in a quagmire over what to do with the conference report.

    He faulted its recommendation on creation of new states, insisting that a referendum should be the way out of the current dilemma. He lamented that the conference had ended with no clear-cut provision of what will happen to its report.

    “Some of the decisions reached at the conference were very qualitative except on the creation of new states, which I consider a minus on those quality decisions. From the look of things the country is in quagmire presently with those decisions. Where should it go to? The presidency? The Legislature? To a referendum?

    “If to a referendum, is there any law backing such? I am afraid none. Warning: May this exercise not be a wasted effort as the survival on this country lies on God and peaceful resolutions of several sore points tearing us apart through a round table discussion like this conference. We should not blow this away as any such action will be to our detriment as a nation,” he said.

    According to Ubani, the conference presented the nation with a last opportunity to stem the tide of disintegration.

    “Everyone in Nigeria except the political class is aggrieved with the present entrenched system that has several faulty foundations. The country is not working. However, it is working for insignificant few that are presently mismanaging the affairs of the country.

    “What some of us advocated from the beginning concerning this conference was for a proper legislation specifying the architecture of the conference which should have Included the modalities, personalities and what will happen to its conclusions.

    “That advice was spurned at and from the look of things the conference has ended without any clear vision as to what will happen to the outcome or decisions of the confab. Our advocacy has always been that we need a new constitution which should be a product of a constituent assembly through instrument of referendum. The people must have the last say on the provisions of the constitution that is needed for the new Nigeria through a referendum,” said Ubani.

     

     

     

     

  • NWFL chief condoles Conference Queens

    NWFL chief condoles Conference Queens

    The Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League , Dilichukwu Onyedinma has condoled the management of Confluence Queens FC of Lokoja over the death of their player Eunice Akpan who gave up the ghost on Sunday 10th August, 2014.

    In a condolence letter to the Club,  Onyedinma said the death of the enterprising player came to her as a shock, and prayed that God will give her family and the club the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Also, the executive board member of the NFF condoled the Government of Kogi State and  former President of the Nigeria Football Federation,  Sani Lulu Abdullahi over the death of his elder brother  Ibrahim Abdullahi.

    She said that the death of  Ibrahim will be a big loss to the Abdullahi family, people of Kogi State, where he served  as the immediate past Commissioner for Works and Housing, and Nigeria in general.

    She prayed to God to strenghten  Sani Lulu Abdullahi to continue to render his services to the country on football development, saying that that would be the only way to sustain the good legacy Ibrahim Abdullahi left behind as a Director and Board member of FOSLA Football Academy.

  • NIWA holds conference in Lagos today

    The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) international conference and exhibition will begin today in Lagos.

    It will end on Thursday.

    The aim of the forum, according to NIWA, is to bring local and international stakeholders together to brainstorm on how the inland waterways infrastructure, including vessels can be improved upon.

    The theme of the conference is ‘Modernising inland waterways infrastructure and vessels for safe and sustainable inland water transportation, and it is expected to draw experts from the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) inland waterways operators, boat operators, marine and dredging companies, ferry services operators, and oil and gas firms, banking institutions.

    States with inland waterways are also expected to participate.

    The conference, NIWA said, is expected to showcase development in the inland waterways sub-sector.

    NIWA’s General Manager Public Relations Mr Tayo Fadile said President Goodluck Jonathan was being  expected as the special guest of honour, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar is the chief host,while the Managing Director of NIWA Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma is the host.

    NIWA, he said, has organised several awareness and safety campaigns in various parts of the country including Niger, Ondo and Lagos states to boost water transportation.

    NIWA, he said, donated more than 1000 life jackets across the country to boost safety i n the sector.

    Fadile said the event was borne out of the need to bring to the knowledge of the local and international community the business potential of the dredged River Niger.

    He said the Federal Government had pumped a lot of money into dredging the River Niger and it was only fit to have it put to a profitable use.

    “The idea is to bring relevant stakeholders together both locally and internationally to brainstorm and examine critically how the nation’s inland waterways infrastructure including vessels can be improved upon. Experts from the international maritime organisation will be part of the conference.

    “Several inland waterways operators including marine and dredging companies, ferry services operators and oil and gas firms have confirmed participation at the conference while several states with inland waterways activities are also billed to participate at the conference,” he said

     

  • Conference reconvenes to adopt resolutions

    Conference reconvenes to adopt resolutions

    The National Conference will reconvene today to adopt the reports and resolutions of its 20 standing committees.

    Conference Chairman Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd) suspended plenary on July 14 after a rancour during the consideration of the report of the Committee on Devolution of Power.

    The consideration of the report of the Committee on Devolution of Power ended in a stalemate when the delegates failed to agree on the derivation principle and revenue sharing formula.

    This followed the disagreement and infighting among Northern and Southern delegates on the recommendation to devote five per cent derivation for areas ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The delegates resolved to refer some of the issues on which they failed to reach a consensus to President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a technical committee to advise him on what to do.

    They also failed to agree on what to do with the report and resolutions of the conference.

    While some delegates wanted the resolutions to be subjected to a referendum, which would lead to a new constitution, others said the resolutions should be forwarded to the National Assembly for debate.

    There were also others who said the resolutions should be forwarded to Jonathan to implement those that constitute policy matters while constitutional matters should be sent to the National Assembly to consider.

    The adoption of the resolutions is expected to be smooth. But it was learnt that some proposals, which Northern delegates felt uncomfortable with, may prove problematic for the delegates.

    The contentious resolutions include the proposal that states, which can afford it, should establish their police; that local government issues should be removed from the Exclusive List and placed in the Concurrent List; that the Federal Government should no longer sponsor pilgrims; that pilgrims’ welfare boards should only be allowed in states that wanted it.

    Other resolutions included scrapping of May 29 Democracy Day, reverting to the old National Anthem.

    Another contentious resolution was that Federal Government and the states that are will to should fund grazing reserves.

    Findings showed that geo-political zones held their separate meetings to articulate ways and means go about the adoption of the conference resolutions.

    The conference’s Assistant Secretary Akpandem James told our correspondent that arrangements had been concluded to ensure a smooth session.

    James also said arrangements were made to produce enough copies of the reports to go round the delegates.