Mixed reactions have trailed the
release of modalities for the proposed National Conference by the Federal
Government.
Lawmakers, party chieftains, academics
and civil rights activists and organisations have been either faulting or
commending the development.
Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, had announced the modalities on Thursday,
saying that the conference would last for three months.
He had also said that the decisions
at the conference would be by consensus, and where consensus is not achievable,
resolutions would be by 75 per cent majority.
Anyim had announced, however, that
all issues would be discussed at the conference, but the unity of Nigeria is
non-negotiable.
The SGF added that the national
conference would advise theFederal Government on the legal framework, legal
procedures and options for integrating its decisions and outcomes into the
constitution and laws of the country.
But while some people view the just
released modalities for the conference as timely, others believe it is
ill-timed.
In telephone interviews with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, a member of the House of Representatives,
Saviour Udoh (PDP-Akwa Ibom), said the modalities for the conference were in
order, and that the unity of Nigeria should be non-negotiable.
He said that whatever decisions taken
at the conference should be forwarded to the National Assembly for ratification
and should also be included in the constitution.
But another member of the House of
Representatives, Ifeoluwa Arowosoge (APC-Ekiti), said the timing of the
national conference was wrong. Arowosoge said the conference was big event that
required years of planning and not something to be rushed.
He expressed concern that 2014 (a
year of elections in some states) and 2015 (a year of general elections) might
not be the best time to hold such a conference.
The appropriate time, he said, should
have been after the general elections.
“I don’t think that my reaction would
be different from that of the APC. I don’t think that the timing is right; it
is very wrong. It is ill-timed,” he said.
In his reaction, Rep. Sunday Adepoju
(APC-Oyo) faulted the duration and composition of the conference.
Adepoju told NAN that the problems
confronting Nigeria could not be deliberated upon within three months.
“How can you discuss an important
issue like the national conference within three months, more so, when the
political space is already taking shape?” He asked.
He accused the government of only
trying to divert the attention of the public.
Also reacting, Mr Osita Okechukwu,
the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political
Parties (CNPP), faulted the non-inclusion of some political parties in the
conference.
“The Conference of Nigerian Political
Parties wishes to report the unfair and gross under representation of the
registered political parties in Nigeria. It is very unfair that only five out
of the 25 registered political parties are allocated 10 delegates.
“We feel that we are denied
representation; we are short changed, and we feel we are not given fair
representation.
“We are appealing to the Federal
Government that this anomaly be corrected before the national conference
commences,” he said.
Prof. Solomon Akinboye, Head,
Political Science Department, University of Lagos, described the release of the
modalities as a welcome development, but argued that the conference would need
more time.
“I want to say it is indeed a welcome
development because in the overall, this is what the people have been
clamouring for; that everyone be represented.
“In terms of the time or period
proposed for the conference, I am sure that the people will ask for an
extension by at least four months. Three months may not be sufficient for a
reasonable discourse to take place,” Akinboye told NAN on phone.
He said he looked forward to a
referendum at the end, which would authenticate the discussion.
“It is expected that at the end of
the day, we shall be looking forward to seeing the first people’s constitution
that will give rise to a feeling of belonging,” he said.
Also, Prof. Yomi Akinyeye, Dean,
Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, said it was heartwarming to know that all
the various interest groups in the country would be fully represented at the
conference.
He, however, also noted that the time
frame for the conference should be extended to enable it achieve the best
result.
“I think there is need for a
consideration for time extension going by the sort of burning issues that will
be jostling for attention. In doing this, I feel we will see a better country
than what we have today,” he said.
Renowned constitutional lawyer, Prof.
Itse Sagay (SAN), told NAN that the idea of a national conference was that it
would lead to a new constitution after decisions would have been subjected to a
national referendum.
He said that if the outcome of the
conference was sent to the National Assembly, it would kill the process.
“We must have a new constitution in
which there will be proper distribution of powers; in which the federating
units will have more powers and resources,” he said.
But he faulted the prescribed method
of nominating delegates to the conference, saying that the style would not
guarantee effective representation of various nationalities.
On his part, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni,
the Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project
(SERAP), a human rights group, said the government had too many nominees, which
might affect the outcome.
Saturday Tribune recalls that out of
the 492 delegates expected at the conference, the Federal Government will
nominate 60.
Mumuni said that subjecting the
decisions of the conference to a referendum would give Nigerians the
opportunity to have a voice in the affairs of their country.