Governor Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State yesterday dismissed the planned national conference as a
waste of time.
He wondered what happened to past
conferences held in the country.
The governor spoke to reporters in
Abuja during a visit to the National Human Rights Commission to brief officials
on his petition in which he asked for the redeployment of the state Police
Commissioner, Mr.Joseph Mbu.
Amaechi said he would have been hopeful
of a positive outcome, if the planned conference were to be a sovereign one
whose outcome will not be subject to any manipulation or alteration by any
authority.
His view is shared by former Vice
Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ango Abdullahi, who, in
a separate interview, said the planned dialogue is a sham, coming from
President Goodluck Jonathan who, he said, had dithered and prevaricated on
national conference in the past.
The Northern Elders’ Forum (NCF)
spokesman said that given his antecedent, the President cannot be taken
seriously on the issue.
He said while the NCF is yet to take
a position on the conference “anybody that understands the constitution would
tell you that there cannot be a sovereign conference with the President on his
seat or the National Assembly in place.”
He added: “They all have to vacate
so that the chairman of the sovereign conference takes over the leadership of
the country and whatever the resolution is forms the basis of the new
constitution.”
Explaining why he does not believe
the planned conference would be different from past talks on the political
direction of the country,he said: “This is the ridiculous thing about this
country. If we go back to past constitutional conferences, beginning with the
Lugard Constitution of 1914; Clifford Constitution (1922); Arthur Richards
Constitution (1945); John Macpherson Constitution (1951), Oliver Littleton
Constitution (1954), Independence Constitution (1960); Republican Constitution
(1963) and 1979 Constitution, and, of course, there was another draft
Constitution in 1989 prepared during the regime of former President Ibrahim
Babangida which was never tried until General Sanni Abacha’s administration
brought about the 1994/95 constitutional conference which laid the foundations
for the 1999 Constitution.
“Fortunately or unfortunately, I
accept all, except one of them because all the issues raised which are
important to our existence as a country were there. To me, there must be some
other factor that is driving those who think we should repeat the same
activities we had gone through over the years.”
Raising suspicion over what he
called President Jonathan’s 360 degree U-turn on national conference,he said: “
Maybe he is under certain political pressure. Really, if President Jonathan is
to be taken seriously and if he wants to be different from those who had this
kind of conferences before, he should give Nigerians a sovereign national
conference. Anything short of a sovereign national is diversionary. A sovereign
national conference will create a new level playing field for Nigerians to
decide their future.
“In doing so, everyone, including
the President, governors, lawmakers at national, state and council levels must
vacate their offices and allow for a truly sovereign national conference to
take over the running of the country.
“It is left for Nigerians whether or
not to take him seriously. But for me, it is a waste of the people’s time,
waste of resources to engage in a discussion that is no way different from the
ones we have had before, unless the discussion is going to take the form of a
sovereign national conference.”
Tags
Politics
I don't expect less than criticism from Amechi . That boy is totally a disappointment to true rivers man .
ReplyDeleteIt is very unfortunate that Amaechi after benefiting frm the PDP decided to turn around to complain of the same people he planed with.
ReplyDeleteToo bad your Excellency. If you think bola tinubu and co will help you, yu are making a great mistake. Look at Oshimole and think very well.
Amaechi my courageous governor ,you have disappointed me o. Is it because of yur pact with dz enemies of progress. Rethink!
ReplyDeleteAmaechi is lucky 2 b unda gej in a demoncratic govt.dat stupid small amaechi is a huge disappointment 2 rivers state pple
ReplyDeleteYou have a point my brave gov. It s very diff for one to b at gunpoint n still maintains his opinion. Dat s bravery! Even though I knw your political ambition , u re saying d right thing
ReplyDeleteU fools I think most of u commenting above saying u are disappointing in Amechi are greedy n tribalistic,Amechi is saying d truth n beside dat is it GEJ dat enthron Amechi as governor in River state or did he give him to campaign,d point raised above is d truth,if truly there is going to national converence 4 Nigerians to decide all politcal office holders starting 4rm Jonathan himself to d chairman of d council shud step aside then d people will decide how they want to be rule but am so sure Jonathan will neva do dat bcause he is so greedy n selfish n even desperate 4 another term despise he has not finish present one successfully,he taught he can fool all Nigerians,thank God 4 d likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 4 waking us 4rm our slumber which GEJ is trying to put on us
ReplyDeleteFor crying out loud n who d fuck dis rapheal, pls just go n hide ur face in shame,amechi is a huge diapointmt to any well meanin south south, cos of his selfish ambition he think he even has a say in the national confernce, may any nigerian who say as nigerians we dont need to seat together and agree dat we want to be 2geda n agree on the terms to be 2geda neva see good in life n all they have gotten illfully from this present nigeria be eaten up by worms an cancaworms n may dey neva live to see the national conference kick off . For amechi, sorry for u, u are fightin a bad fight
ReplyDeleteOga, nobody is against the conference. Just use your language to tell Mr. President to add sovereign to the conference and we'll be on our way to redemption. Simple thing, una go dey curse!
DeleteU cannot expect anything less he is talking from d stanpoint of opposition but of a truth d conferb will help to straighten certain things in d 1999 own, so then lets give it d benefit of doubt.Dum
ReplyDeleteWhat could u expect from ur enemy. Mr Amechi will never say anything good against my President. Sooner or later we shall know his fate.
ReplyDeleteLets give the conference a chance
ReplyDeleteWe will but u people will know by then who is greedy n selfish btw Amechi n GEJ
ReplyDeleteChicken is coming to roast. Amaechi a disaster imagine the idiot jigawa his friend has twice as much LGA less population and less addition or no visible addition to the National purse but more revenue money accuring to their coffers. The fool has no Ikwerre man earning a living in Dutse but millions of hausa fulani in PH. The fool cannot be a citizen of kano but a sokoto man can be a resident and citizen of Ahoda. The traitor Amaechi is Haram in Bornu and cannot worship freely in Zamfara and niger but is hognobbing with bigots. What a political collateral disaster
ReplyDeleteMy take here is simply puts as 'You cannot give what to don't have'. Many people could not see even as their eyes are wide opened. The truth is for a Sovereign National conference to be constituted and the result implemented, all currently serving political office holders will have to 'STEP ASIDE' and give way for a true sovereign national conference. The question is also simply puts; Are the current political office holders ready to give way for a new Nigeria?? 'The NASS', Will GEJ be ready or willing to step aside for a true 'sov. national conference'?? Will the counsellor in my native community be willing or ready to give-up for a new Nigeria...? Making a new Nigeria comes with responsibility........'SACRIFICE' is all we need to break through as a Nation.
ReplyDelete