MORE facts have started emerging on why President Goodluck Jonathan postponed the inauguration of the National Conference earlier fixed for March 10 till March 17th this year.
Findings by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that since the names of the delegates were made public last week, there had been series of petitions and protests to the Presidency from individuals, groups, state governors and organisations among others over the alleged manipulation of the delegates’ list initially sent to the Presidency through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF).
It was gathered that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in the South West had sent a joint strong worded petition to the presidency over the alleged manipulation of the list of delegates initially sent as the representatives of their respective states.
In Ogun State, the name of the paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle who is also the Olu of Ilaro submitted as one of the slots of the state approved by Governor Ibikunle Amosun was said to be missing on the final list released by the Federal Government while the case was the same in Oyo, Lagos and Osun States where initial names submitted as their delegates were reportedly dropped for political reasons not explained.
Each of the 36 states of the federation is entitled to five delegates as representative on the delegates’ list for the National Conference.
Sources in the Presidency told the Nigerian Tribune yesterday that various interest groups such the Ijaw Youth Council, the Ishekiris, Forum of Former Local Government Chairmen, the Disabled, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, Ogun West Consultative Forum on National Conference, Traditional Medical Practitioners and a host of others had protested their exclusion.
According to one of the sources, “it is true that all is not well with the final delegates’ list released last week, various petitions have been flooding the Presidency for one complaint or the other and the administration has come to a conclusion that there is the need to address the genuine cases with immediate effect before the confab takes off”.
The confab would now be inaugurated in Abuja on Monday, March 17 in Abuja.
In a related development, the People of Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State under the umbrella of “Ogun West Consultative Forum on National Conference, have protested the removal of the name of their paramount ruler, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, from the delegates list representing the state.
The people in a protest letter signed by the duo of Chief Kayode Odunaro and Elder Adetokunbo Fakeye and made available to news men in Abuja on Tuesday demanded for the immediate inclusion of their paramount ruler on the Ogun State delegates list as approved by the state government.
According to the people,” at the reception of the news that, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has announced the name of our paramount ruler, HRM Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle as one of the state delegates to the National Conference to represent Ogun West Senatorial district, with five local governments namely: Ado-Odo/Ota, Imeko/Afon, Ipokia, Yewa North and Yewa South, a consultative forum was quickly convened by him for the purpose of positive contribution of our people to the National Conference.
Northern delegates set for walk out if…
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has directed northern delegates who participate in the National Conference to stage a walk out immediately the conference commences any business, if the obvious imbalance in representation between geo-political zones, religious and other interests are not addressed.
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has directed northern delegates who participate in the National Conference to stage a walk out immediately the conference commences any business, if the obvious imbalance in representation between geo-political zones, religious and other interests are not addressed.
This is just as the body has resolved to defend and protect themselves, if the federal government fails to bring an immediate end to the spate of violence in the North.
Dr Hakim Ahmed Baba, former federal Permanent Secretary, who read a communiqué after a 2-day meeting attended by notable Northern elders like former permanent secretary to the United Nations, Alhaji (Dr) Maitama Sule, Dr. Paul Unongo, Professor Auwalu Yadudu and Dr Hakim Ahmed Baba, among others said that the 2015 elections would severely challenge the electoral process, given the high stakes, including the possibility that President Goodluck Jonathan would be a candidate.
According to the communiqué, ‘the meeting observed that in spite of widespread criticism against the planned National Conference, President Jonathan has decided to organize it,’ noting that “the composition of the delegation to this conference, moreover represents a serious indictment of the administration.
It violates all the principles of justice, fairness, inclusiveness and equity, a conference built on a foundation of injustice and contempt for all values.”
It also advised all delegates to ensure that “the conference agenda is carefully chosen so that issues which may further threaten our peace, security harmonious co-existence, the 2015 election or which may offend the provision of the constitution are avoided.”
The meeting resolved to demand that the federal government improve its capacity to protect citizens in the North East and many other parts of the North, saying failure to bring about an immediate end to violence in the North East and in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna states will be interpreted by people of the North that they had been abandoned by the federal government .
“In that event, communities will be left with the only option of taking steps to protects themselves,” the communique read.
However in one of the remarks, the Northern Christians who were represented by Architect Dauda Ibrahim, said the problems facing the North was created by Northerners themselves.
His words “until and when the issue of fanning embers of disunity using religious and tribal differences are addressed by the leaders of the North, lasting peace would be an illusion.”
Arch Ibrahim who spoke further that some people in the North see ‘the Christians from the North as an inferior tribe, noting it will be an herculean task for Christians from the North to get equal treatment like their Muslim counterpart.
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