The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National confab

  • Yakassai to ACF: Let us support national confab

    The Chairman of the Northern Elder Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, on Wednesday asked the Arewa Consultative Forum to support the proposed national conference aimed at finding lasting solutions to the problems facing the nation.

    In a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, Yakasai also ask northern elders to promote issues that will further strengthen the unity and growth of the nation, rather than issues that tends to divide the nation.

    Yakasai, who congratulated the new ACF leadership, said the Council “associates with the aim and objectives of the ACF and seek to promote the ideals which the ACF stands for as the Pan Northern umbrella body.”

    He noted that northern elders should promote issues that will further strengthen the unity and growth of the nation, adding that northerners must “seek to promote peaceful co-existence, ethno-religious harmony, democracy and good governance and accountability to the people of the north and the nation in general.

    He said the Northern Elders Council would continue to extend its hands of fellowship to all Nigerians, who share its philosophy and belief in dialogue, bridge building, consensus, mutual respect and understanding.

     

  • National confab: Northern Governors meet Monday

    National confab: Northern Governors meet Monday

    The Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) will meet in Kaduna on Monday to discuss the proposed national conference, the Chairman of the Forum, Babangida Aliyu, said on Friday.

    The Niger State governor said the meeting will also review the security situation in the region.

    Other issues that will be discussed at the meeting, according to the governor, include the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) and donations made to the dependents of security personnel killed during the Ombatse killings in Nasarawa last year.

    Governor Aliyu led a delegation of four northern governors to Lafia last year, where the Forum pledged N100 million to the families of those killed by Ombatse group in Alakyo Village.

     

  • Nigeria’s problems caused by collapse of national ideals – Arewa

    The pan northern socio-political organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said the problem of Nigeria lies in the collapse of national ideals, moral values and the collapse in social contract and not in the structure of the nation.

    The Forum also said that it would have been better for delegates to the conference to be elected rather than being nominated, adding that since the ideal of election has been jettisoned, those it regards as the “first eleven Nigerians” should be allowed to represent the vast majority of the citizens.

    The Spokesman of the Forum, Anthony Sani, told The Nation that the position taken by the Yorubas to push for some form of ethnic autonomy reminiscent of a confederal arrangement during the national conference will not help in solving the nation’s teething problems.

    He said, “We have read the reports that the Yorubas will push for some form of ethnic autonomy during the upcoming National Conference that is reminiscent of confederal arrangement.

    “As we have repeatedly made clear, ACF did not canvass for the conference. This is because of the forum’s belief that the problems of Nigeria lie in the collapse of national ideals, fall in moral values, collapse in social contract and fall in sense of what is right and what is wrong rather than in the structure of the country, in the constitution and in the form of government nor in the hype in ethnic nationalism that promotes cleavages of the country.

    “But since some sections of the country believe that coming together in the conference is capable of furthering the cause of a united Nigeria when issues of national importance bordering on real issues of real concern to real Nigerians are discussed, we have said so be it.

    “Surely, if such issues are raised in the conference, delegates from the North will not lack what to say. It must be noted that there is no system of true federalism that is accepted universally.

    “That is why no two federal systems are clones of one another. This is because a federal system has a lot to do with the circumstance of its emergence. For examples, the 13 American Colonies came together to form United States of America while in Nigeria, the national government formed the federating units.

    “What most federal systems do is to balance the national power with appropriate level of state power in manner that the centre is strong enough to keep the country as one, but not too strong as to push the country towards a unitary system.

    “Towards this end, devolution of power can still be achieved by appropriate tampering with the exclusive and concurrent list for performance.”

     

  • Council of State endorses national confab

    Council of State endorses national confab

    Politicians urged to avoid inflammatory comments

    The National Council of State, comprising of state governors and past presidents yesterday backed the forthcoming National Conference.

    Speaking with State House correspondent at the end of the meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha said that all governors, irrespective of political party inclinations, threw their weight behind the national conference because it was essential that Nigerians sit and talk about the future of the country.

    Even as he noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leadership was yet to come up with a categorical and official position for members on the confab, he said that Imo state will send its own delegates to the conference when the time comes.

    He also said that the Council discussed the nation’s security situation and cautioned politicians against making unguarded statements that can heighten tension and cause chaos in the country.

    Okorocha, however refuted claims that APC federal lawmakers have taken the instruction from the party leadership to deliberately block the passage of the 2014 Budget.

    He explained that the directive to the lawmakers was merely to draw the attention of the Executive to any issues with question marks in the budget.

    According to him, the Council agreed that all state governments are to fully participate in marking Nigeria’s 100 years anniversary.

    He said: “We deliberated on how to move the nation forward, we also discussed other national issues including the Centenary celebrations, Security matters and issues of national conference and basically how to move the nation forward.”

    “We have to adopt some new strategies on how to move the nation forward. Politician have also been warned against unguarded utterances so as not to heat up the polity. The meeting has helped to resolve a lot of issues.”

    “We have to adopt some new strategies for tackling security issues in the country. We discussed national conference which we see as a welcome development.
    Conference is a good development and discussions were not along party lines. APC has not taken a position on whether to participate or not but this is not about party position, it is a matter that affects the whole country.”

    He went on: “As a state, we will send a delegation to the conference.”

    “On centenary message, we said that Nigeria must stay together  as a nation.” He added

    Also speaking with newsmen, Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam said: “The president briefed us about a lot of things including the impending Conference that is coming up. There were a lot of contributions and the council approved it.”

    According to him, the Council also approved a list of the new chairman and members for the National Population Commission.

    Continuing, he said: “Then the National Security Adviser briefed us on the general security situation in the country which all members of the council contributed as to the way forward and the decisions that will be taken to address some of the security issues that are affecting the country and then we concluded.”

    “The National Security Adviser briefed us that some of the unguarded statements by some prominent Nigerians that are capable of inciting people, that we should be careful as major actors in the polity to avoid making some unguarded utterances that could unwittingly incite the generality of Nigerians.”

    “The council took note of that and agreed that people should be more careful about what they say as public office holders.” He stated

  • National confab: Nwabueze-led Igbo Leaders of Thought reject modalities

    National confab: Nwabueze-led Igbo Leaders of Thought reject modalities

    Concerned Igbo Leaders of Thought, an Igbo think-tank under the leadership of eminent constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, yesterday faulted the modalities for the proposed national conference as released on Thursday by the Federal Government.

    They argued that the modalities were in contrast to the yearnings of Nigerians especially the Igbo as contained in their recent letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    However,the Igbo leaders said that the Ndigbo are free to take part in the conference and articulate the position document which delegates from the South-East of the country would take to the talks.

    The secretary of the group, Prof. Amaucheazi, Chief Chukwuemeka Onyesoh and Engr. Obi Thompson of the World Igbo Congress (WIC), told reporters that their earlier position that Nigerians wanted a conference where ethnic nationalities would play a dominant role They expect that the recommendations of the talks would be subjected to referendum as against endorsement by the National Assembly.

    However the President- General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Chief Gary Igariwey endorsed the modalities, saying that except for one aspect, the position of the federal government tallies with the position of Ohanaeze especially on equality of representation on zonal basis.

    He said: “The position of the FG is partly in line with what we submitted because we talked about equal representation for all zones. We also said it should be conducted in time. We commend the template. We differ in the area of the outcome not going to National Assembly, but to referendum”.

    On how Igbo delegates should be selected, Igariwey said that Ohanaeze is not in contest with anyone or group, noting that the group will call a meeting of all other organizations to decide how to chose delegates.

    But rejecting the modalities, the Igbo Leaders of Thought said that they had severally made their positions known and would go ahead to encourage Ndigbo to participate in the conference with a position paper for the sake of posterity.

    “We are concerned about repositioning the country, about re-negotiating the existence of this country among the peoples who were brought together in the first instance by the British buccaneers and the British government. Of course during negotiations some had to sign their freedom away. So it presupposes that when you are renegotiating you bring the people concerned.

    “So that’s why in the constitution you say we the peoples of Nigeria; by people you are talking of ethnic nationalities. So we made our points clear to the president as you must have noticed by some reports you have in the papers.Many ethnic groups from various zones are in agreement with us.

    “But yesterday (Thursday) we heard they rolled out government modalities on how the conference will be organized. Among the provisions is that the conference will now recommend to the government on how the outcome will be integrated in the Nigerian constitution. We had thought that we were going to have a new constitution. We have made our point, we will continue to remind the president that Nigerians are expecting a new constitution not a revised 1999 constitution.

    “We the Leaders of Thought still feel that in spite of frustrations, so to say, we still want to complete our work and that is the content of the envisaged constitution, and make it available to Ndigbo and Nigerians. As I have always told you ,we are not in competition with any person, we will make them available to those who want to go, those who will be appointed to go, those who will be elected in whatever means. That is the duty we owe ourselves, our children and our children’s children,” the Igbo leaders said.

    The group reiterated its earlier position that if President Jonathan gets the conference right, he might be regarded as founder of modern Nigeria.

  • National confab: Apologies to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    National confab: Apologies to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    But this Jonathan CONference has turned out a 419 project to get the main mainstream Yoruba behind his re-election bid. It is now clear that the whole charade is political 419. And Tinubu said this earlier. But we did not listen. Instead, we hurled abuses in his direction… But in the case of this Jonathan’s CONference, my sincere apologies to Tinubu. He got it right. We missed it 

    I was among those in the forefront of castigating Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he voiced opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan’s National Conference. Tinubu did not mince words in describing the proposed gathering as a Greek gift that would bear no useful fruit. But, along with others, I argued otherwise. And forcefully too.

    We felt it was the first time a sitting president would on his own without any prompting from known agitators agree that Nigeria’s component units sit at a round table to chart a new course for the polity through a workable constitution. More importantly, Jonathan picked a cerebral former General Secretary of Afenifere, Senator Femi Okurounmu, as chairman of the committee to prepare a road map for the conference. That sealed it for us given Afenifere’s long held position that the ethnic nationalities which make up Nigeria must return to the negotiating table as they did before independence to fashion a new constitution for the country.

    Okurounmu was not just another Afenifere scribe. He had a pedigree. Apart from serving as a senator on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) (1999 – 2003), he carved a niche for himself as a staunch proponent of a Sovereign National Conference. A scholar and a person many of us considered a deep thinker, we had no doubt he would not disappoint. We said so in so many words in several places using different platforms to confront those who did not believe in the conference. But we now know better.

    With developments arising out of Okurounmu’s work thus far, I want to admit that we missed it. Jonathan sold us a dummy. And Okurounmu disappointed us in his old age. And I wonder what these old men are leaving behind as legacies with the decreasing distance between them and their graves. How will Chief Adekunle Ajasin feel? What’ll be the position of Pa Solanke Onasanya? What kind of words would Senator Abraham Adesanya reserve for Okurounmu, who for whatever it is worth, has put a final nail in the coffin of whatever little respect the average Yoruba has for Afenifere? A National Conference is a veritable admission that the foundation of a polity has given way. It is the shortest route to dismantling that polity without the chaos and casualties of a civil war – and putting the humpty dumpty back again before detractors get to know what is happening. And that can only be done as it was in the beginning before Nigeria got her independence from Britain – our different ethnic nationalities MUST sit and discuss the basis of the Nigerian union.

    Any National Conference without the ethnic nationalities as primary participants remain a mere talkshop. It cannot work. It will fail. It is also a wrong position to have a National Conference submit what it arrives at to the National Assembly. A genuine gathering to change the current constitution should have the National Assembly and two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly giving a go-ahead to the National Conference that whatever it comes up with is final and binding as articles of faith in running our affairs as a nation. That is what we were expecting to happen in this instance, not a return to the same circle of political actors who brought us to this sorry state – a patient cannot treat him/herself.

    It appears Tinubu, with his many shortcomings, is better at seeing deeper than most of his critics as I am one of them. There is hardly anything an average Yoruba wants than a restructured polity in today’s Nigeria with its flawed federal structure. Of course, genuine South-South patriots – not militants turn merchants – want the same thing. But this Jonathan CONference has turned out a 419 project to get the main mainstream Yoruba behind his re-election bid. It is now clear that the whole charade is political 419. And Tinubu said this earlier. But we did not listen. Instead, we hurled abuses in his direction.

    Those of us on this side meant well for ourselves, and our people. But we appear too romantic in our reasoning and arguments. And I don’t think that is bad because we desperately want things to work despite all the visible obstacles. So, any little sign of light proving the end of the tunnel is here, we rush there with joy. But in the case of this Jonathan’s CONference, my sincere apologies to Tinubu. He got it right. We missed it.

  • National Confab: ‘Ndokwa nation to seek reduction of power at the centre’

    National Confab: ‘Ndokwa nation to seek reduction of power at the centre’

    Paul Enebeli, President-General, Ndokwa Neku Union, is a pharmacist and member on the board of NAFDAC. In this interview with OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE, he  speaks on  the proposed National Confab , developmental challenges facing his people and Delta State 2015 gubernatorial elections, among others.

    That has been the focus of your administration since you assumed office?

    The focus of my administration is to unify the Ndokwa people, getting them together to begin to think as one, dream as one. Before my assumption of office there was division along political and sectional lines. We reached out to all shades of opinion, all strata of people so that they can buy into our vision for our people.

    What are the developmental challenges facing the Ndokwa people?

    The challenges facing our people are enormous. They are the issues of lack of government presence, both States and federal, especially the federal government. In terms of the federal government presence in Ndokwa land the only visible one is the dilapidated prison yard and maybe some adjoining police stations .We do not have a tertiary educational institution, we lack also a tertiary health institution. There are many places in Ndokwa land were one cannot drive on the roads year round especially in Ndokwa East because the terrain is  swampy and in a rain forest area. There is also the issue of electricity, despite the fact Okpai Power plant is domiciled in Ndokwa land and produces about 10 per cent   power to the national grid, our people still wallow in darkness because we produce power in Okpai and federal government installs a step-down transformer at Obosi, Anambra State.
    There is the issue of oil exploitation, Ndokwa has become a major oil and gas hub in Nigeria with so many oil companies operating in Ndokwa land. With the level of the destruction of the flora and fauna of the region we cannot see any bright future for our people. Our youths are unemployed , the farm lands have been despoiled with oil spills, there is also the fertility related  health issues resulting from continuous gas flaring.
    It is sad to know that in Ndokwa East we have no banks there is no way an economy will grow without banks. There is also the issue of human capital, because we do not have tertiary institutions, save the private University established by our illustrious son and Aboh Polytechnic only recently approved by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s regime. So, our children cannot go to university.
    What you have in Ndokwa is the phenomenon of child fathers, you find 18-year-olds having children and this causes unemployment, restiveness among the youths. We are using this medium to call on government to respond to these challenges enumerated above.

    What is the idea behind the N1 billion country club project?

    My major reason why I decided to embark on that was that I realized that a lot of the Ndokwa elite get to know themselves late in the day such that they are not able to envision together. This is because a  lot of them did not grow up at home, they grew outside the Ndokwa area and so when they came home they had no contemporaries and they had no people to meet and talk. We thought  a country club  will be a place where the elite will come and meet, discuss issues of mutual importance, discuss ideas, share opinions about Government and the way forward and by so doing  the consensus building process will start you achieve a lot when you can sit down with people maybe in a relaxed environment with a glass of beer and whatever and  that brings people.

    What is the Union doing to check the growing incidence of conflicts between oil companies and host communities?

    Since I came into office we have been sitting together as an executive to find lasting solutions to the challenges oil exploitation pose for our people. If we do not have a clear- cut oil policy within our area there is going to be problem later on because there will be issues land disputes.
    We produce oil in Ndokwa land but we do not know the quantum of oil produced; it is shrouded in secrecy. It is not good for us. Government should be transparent enough to tell us the quantity of oil that is been produced in our land. If you look at the State’s intervention agency DESOPADEC, the constitution of the board has something to do with the quantum of oil produced. For a long time our quantum of oil has remained the same despite the fact that so much is produced by marginal fields in the area. We have a big challenge because ours is still a new organisation. I am just beginning to lay the right foundations for a take-off  of a more organised and better focused union. There is a lot that needs to be done.
    We do not have our sons and daughters at the commanding heights of the oil industry, so we are unable to get information. We have been preaching peace to our youths to allow us to engage government. I do not know how long they can continue to give us time to negotiate with government. In 2014 we plan to engage the Nigeria National Petroleum (NNPC) Corporation and its joint venture partners to really know what our situation is we cannot continue to remain at a particular level of oil production, yet many oil companies come to do business in our land.
    There are cries of marginalisation among Ndokwa people; do you think this is justified?

    I think it is justified. What else can be marginalisation in a people that produce so much to the economy? I have not talked about the amount of manpower that we have both in Nigeria and Diaspora. For us it is even worse despite all these contributions we have never produced a Minister, Governor, Deputy Governor, an ambassador, even at the federal level there is no Special Assistant in the Presidency, from this Ndokwa are not only marginalized we are near annihilation. That is why are saying that the only way to assuage this injustices is to produce the next Delta State Governor in 2015

    What are the issues to be canvassed by the Ndokwa people in the proposed national dialogue?

    I do not know whether I should let the cat out of the bag. We support the national confab as proposed by the President Goodluck Jonathan. We believe that any opportunity for Nigerians to sit down and talk is a welcome one especially for minorities. The majority tribes have taken us for granted for too long.
    We believe that the centre is too powerful; power needs to be devolved to the states or the local government areas. Principles of Derivation should be revisited, with 50  per cent as suggested sharing formula of resources. Presidential system which we are operating is too expensive, and the best way to go is the French model, the legislature will be part time. As it stands a lot of money is being spent on salaries and overheads, with nothing left for capital projects.
    More states needs to be created. Since after independence the structure of government has not favour Ndokwa land. Before independence, Aboh Division which metamorphosed into the present Ndokwa land used to be at par with the defunct Asaba Division, today the Asaba Division has about six local governments while the old Aboh division still has three. At the level of federal constituencies the old Aboh division is only one which is the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituencies. Asaba has two federal constituencies same inequalities apply across the country with Kano State having about 44 local council areas.
    If an Anioma State is created then we may be able to clamour for the number of local government areas we deserve. We believe these issues can only be discussed in a free and unfettered environment as the national dialogue as envisaged by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Why have the Ndokwa people repeatedly failed to produce a governor?

    Because the Ndokwa people have been shut out of power for so long they lack the political contacts at the highest level of government to influence anything at the State level due to the overbearing attitude of a too powerful center. We have not failed because we lack competent hands like the saying goes “Talent is everywhere but opportunities are lacking”. We have not been lucky enough to have the sympathy of out-going governors in the past, as this has a role to play in who succeeds them. I hope that luck will smile at us come 2015.

    Do the Anioma people have a clear-cut strategic plan to clinch gubernatorial power in 2015?

    Are you going to say the Itsekiris were more strategic that they produced Governor Uduaghan? I have my doubts, and I do not think it was the Itsekiris who made Uduaghan governor or that ex-Governor was governor because the Urhobos were more strategic. What I know is that there is a groundswell of opinion for power to rotate. The reason is people want participatory democracy. If anyone told you some years back that an Ijaw man will be President of Nigeria you will not believe. That gives people hope that given the right framework and the right thinking anyone can become President of Nigeria. If the majorities agree to flex their muscle and use their numerical strength President Jonathan will stand no chance. We will not expose strategy, but we know that there is a groundswell of opinion for power to shift in the State.

  • National confab: My detractors at work, says Elechi

    National confab: My detractors at work, says Elechi

    Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State, says he remains a strong supporter of the planned National Conference, contrary to reports that he had changed his opinion on the desirability of the talks.

    He said yesterday that reports suggesting that he dismissed the talks as a big joke and waste of time while receiving founding fathers of the state during a Christmas homage to him in Ikwo, were the handiwork of his detractors.

    The governor told State House Correspondents yesterday that the reports were meant to pit him against President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said that having led Ebonyi to the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, it was absurd for anyone to now think he will kick against the proposed national conference.

    He said: “Do you believe it? But you read my chief press secretary’s reaction to that and you also saw the reaction of the PDP. These are people who know me well and know what I stand for.

    “So, I am not distracted by such organised attempt by the opposition to bring friction between me and the establishment. They won’t succeed. We are all for the national conference.

    “And for those who don’t know, I led my state to the National Political Reform Conference of 2005. I know the benefits accruing from it. Sometimes, because of our inability to express ourselves properly, people who don’t really capture what we say go about misquoting or are actually mischievous, I can’t be against that (national conference).”

  • National confab: My detractors at work – Elechi

    National confab: My detractors at work – Elechi

    The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martins Elechi, on Friday claimed that his alleged stance against the proposed National Conference was the hand work of his enemies.

    He was said to have described the national conference as a big joke and waste of time while receiving founding fathers of the state during Christmas homage to him in Ikwo.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, he said that the report was meant to pitch him against President Goodluck Jonathan.

    According to him, the report was a diversionary tactics engaged to frighten Nigerians.

    He stressed that for him to have led his state to the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, it was absurd for anyone to assume he will kick against the proposed national conference having seen the benefits in it.

    He said, “Do you believe it? But you read my chief press secretary’s reaction to that and you also saw the reaction of the Peoples Democratic Party, these are people who know me well and know what I stand. So I am not distracted by such organised attempt by the opposition to bring friction between me and the establishment. They won’t succeed we are all for the national conference.

    “And for those who don’t know, I led my state to the national political reform conference of 2005, I know the benefits accruing from it. Sometimes because of our inability to express ourselves properly, people don’t really capture what we say, go about misquoting or are actually mischievous, I can’t be against that (national conference)”.

    On the nation’s Centenary, he said, “as a nation we have fared well, we are so populous, so heterogeneous, ethnic diversity and religious multiplicity, is not easy to galvanised such a body into a smooth organisation, called the government or a country. So far, we have been passing through challenges. These challenges of development, poverty, illiteracy but if you think of where we were even 50 years ago not to talk of 100 years ago, compared that to where we are today, we have every reason to give thanks to God. We have done well, that is my honest impression.”

     

     

  • National confab must address structural imbalance – Idika Kalu

    Former Minister of Finance and National Development, Kalu Idika Kalu, said on Thursday, that the proposed National Conference should have the capacity to address obvious imbalance in the country.

    Kalu said this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at his country home in Ebem Ohafia, Abia state.

    He said that President Goodluck Jonathan had taken the right step in ensuring that Nigerians come together with a view to addressing some of the teething problems in the country.

    He called on all ethnic nationalities as well as politicians, irrespective of party affiliations, to embrace the dialogue, which he said was in the best interest of the nation.

    “Whether as governors, senators, president or members of the House. Let’s take a new look at the structure that is going to give this nation maximum growth and development.

    “We can delay the elections a little bit to restructure and bring about a system that will promote growth. That is more important than rushing to another election.

    “Nigerians need to sit down and talk because we are having problems all over the place. So let’s sit down and talk about the framework that will make Nigeria work,” he said.

    Kalu said the country would be more viable if the framework of the restructuring the country was based on the local government system.

    He said that after restructuring at that level, “we can then decide what states we want.”

    “It’s a radical idea but the basic criterion is that we really come to the national conference with an open mind to say yes this is our country.

    “Let’s use this opportunity, let’s not waste this opportunity because of party politics,” Kalu said.