The Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference flagged off consultations with stakeholders in Akure, the Ondo State capital, last weekend. BISI OLADELE, who captured the thrills and frills of the forum, reports that the Yoruba, other ethnic groups and stakeholders made emotional presentations and insisted that ethnic nationalities must discuss the basis for peaceful co-existence.
It was an emotional session in Akure, the capital of Ondo State. The various groups and individuals presented and submitted their memoranda for the proposed national conference with passion. The time was exerpt for the ethnic leaders, groups, community leaders, professionals, students, women and politicians to address the national question.
At 11.30 a.m, the Babafunke Ajasin Auditorium Akure was filled to capacity. In spite of the perceived short notice, the interest groups managed to prepare their positions. At the end of the meeting, the committee had a good idea of public feeling.
Presentations were made by interest groups, including the Afenifere, the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), the Afenifere Renewal Group, the Yoruba Unity Forum, the Arogbo Ijaw Community, Ijaw Study Group, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and the constitutional lawyer, Dr Tunji Abayomi.
The groups were different, but their demands were similar. They include lack of restriction on subjects to be discussed at the conference, discussion of the terms of engagement, opposition to subjecting the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly and true federalism.
The programme commenced at exactly 2.35 p.m, shortly after committee members arrived at the venue. It had been slated for 1.30 p.m, but stakeholders waited patiently. About 90 per cent of participants were, however, groups and individuals from Ondo State.
Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko saluted President Jonathan’s courage for creating the platform for Nigerians to discuss their future.
He described it as “the right step in the right direction,” pointing out that the outcome of the confab would provide the framework for a new Nigeria.
The Chairman of the committee, Dr Okunrohunmu, urged participants to restrict their presentations to the terms of reference. They are the structure of the national conference, it’s composition, mode of selecting candidates, it’s size and what should form the agenda of the talk shop. Each group or individual was given five minutes to make presentations.
The Movement for National Reformation set the tone for the discussion. The group proposed that the structure of the conference should be based on ethnic nationalities. According to the group, each nationality should be allowed to determine whether it will stay or leave Nigeria. It emphasised that representations of the nationalities should be equal.
The Yoruba socio-political group, the Afenifere, also submitted its proposals. Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who represented the group, reeled out facts to support claims that Nigeria is a mere geographical location in desperate need of a confab to negotiate its continued existence. He cited several examples and references to confirm that the belief cuts across the geo-political zones.
Afenifere proposed a sovereign conference, but which will not hurt the existing sovereign government. The group said that sovereignty belongs to the people, hence, outcome of the conference should not be tampered with by the Federal Government.
“We insist on a national conference with sovereign power, with regard to the implementation of the decisions of the conference. Only a referendum should be conducted.” Adebanjo said.
The group also insisted that the nationality question is the most important subject to be discussed at the confab. Afenifere said the conference should be peopled by ethnic nationalities, the civil society, students, labour, women and professional groups, adding that delegates should emerge through election.
To Afenifere, delegates should be 700. Each of the six ego-political zones should produce 100 while the remaining 100 should be representatives of professional and other groups. It wants the conference to sit for only six months.
The group also said that the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a referendum and be approved by the Presidency after which it would be sent to the National Assembly.
The Yoruba Unity Forum, proposed that political parties should not play any role in selecting, appointing or electing delegates. It also proposed that delegates should be representatives of nationalities from the same zone.
The Forum recommended a manageable size that is representative of the stakeholders. It proposed 400 delegates, with 91 per cent allotted to ethnic nationalities and the rest allocated to other interest groups.
On the legal framework for the confab, the Forum suggested that the President should initiate an executive bill to the National Assembly for legitimising the conference.
The group also suggested that the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a referendum and later sent to the National Assembly for ratification as the new constitution.
The group’s position was read by Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu on behalf of Bishop Gbonigi.
In its own proposal, PRONACO suggested. But the group said that 600 delegates each nationality to hold a conference to select their delegates and discuss their presentations at the confab.
The group also suggested that the outcome of the conference to be the new working document for Nigeria.
The Ondo State Chapter of the ARG expressed fear that the conference may be another jamboree like the previous ones whose outcomes were not applied in solving the nation’s problems.
However, the group proposed that the committee should ensure that politics does not override the aim of the conference.
“Let it be discussed whether Nigeria is one and, if the country still wants to be one and on what terms? People who want to pull out of Nigeria should be given an opportunity to express themselves without fear,” it group said.
The group also recommended true representation, in cases of clusters of ethnic groups in the same local government, adding that resolutions at the conference should be acceptable to the majority of Nigerians. It also urged the committee to make use of the report of the Justice Uwais committee on electoral reform and other relevant reports.
For the Arogbo Ijaw Community and Ijaw Study Group, which believe that the country is “recklessly sliding down the precipice,” the prediction in 2015 should be averted. “Hence this conference is good. This conference will lay a solid foundation for the crumbling edifice,” the group said.
They proposed that the conference should be composed entirely by ethnic nationalities because each has distinct history, values, hopes and aspirations. The two group described the nationalities as the real federating units, lamenting that they never had the opportunity to discuss their terms of engagement. “Ijaw would have opted for their sovereign nation, if given the opportunity,” they said.
In its memorandum, the groups want all ethnic nationalities to bring all issues and their positions up for discussion, emphasizing that the outcome should form the basis for the continued relationship of the various nationalities. “The National Assembly, as presently constituted, is part of the Nigerian fraud. The outcome cannot go to them. Sovereignty belongs to the people,” they insisted.
They also proposed that the conference should wind up towards the end of the tenure of the current administration, saying the new constitution must be the basis for the 2015 election.
“There must be ‘no-go’ area. Every issue shall be discussed, including the desire by any nationality to opt out.”
Other groups that made presentations at the forum included the Atayese, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) Ondo State Chapter, youths organisations, the Ondo Roundtable, Irele Ikale Ethnic Nationality and the Ilaje Development Forum.
The constitutional lawyer, Dr Tunji Abayomi, said the outcome should not be subjected to the NAtional Assembly because the lawmaking organ derived its sovereignty from the people they represent. According to him, it will be illogical for representatives to tamper with the will of the people.
He also said that the conference should not be restricted on the subjects to be discussed adding that ethnic representation should be de-emphasised. He suggested the emergence of delegates through both election and representation for a balance.
“We have enough ethnic emotion. We should not aggravate it. The better option is election and representation for a balance.
“National Assembly is an agent of people. People have the sovereignty,” he said.
He also argued that the current constitution lacks 10 validating factors, which the conference must correct.
At the forum were traditional rulers, including the Deji of Akure; Oba Adesida Afunbiowo, Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Olugbo of Ugboland; Oba Obateru Akinruntan, and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Folagbade Olateru-Ologbegi – all in Ondo State.
Others are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the last year election in Ondo State, Mr Olusola Oke, Senator Meroyi and the Secretary, Yoruba Unity Forum, Dr Kunle Olajide.
