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CONFAB: Fireworks that Made Core Northern Delegates a Minority

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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Confab: Fireworks that made core Northern delegates minority</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After days of grandstanding and fierce opposition to the new draft constitution, delegates from the north (North-east and North-west) at the just concluded National Conference on Thursday made a u-turn. The sudden u-turn did not come without strong back room politicking and building of consensus by delegates from the south and their North-central counterparts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The interplay started on Monday, soon after delegates reconvened from a 3-week break. Secretary of the Conference, Mrs Valerie Azinge had stood in for the chairman, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi. She had told delegates that plenary was not going to hold in order to enable them study three voluminous documents that had been distributed to them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“There will be no sitting until Wednesday,” she announced. “The chairman has asked me to inform that the documents given to you should be studied carefully and deliberations will start on Wednesday.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“You are supposed to have the main report which contains two volumes. There is a bound draft constitution. In it, you have the current Nigerian constitution. The second column contains all the amendments made on this floor.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The third fusion contains all amendments that you suggested. You also have a bill that will be used to introduce it as an amendment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“In the event that you do not have the documents that I have mentioned, kindly approach us in the secretariat, and we will give them to you. We have the documents. It is not easy to distribute all the documents,” she had added.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One of the documents was tagged “New Draft Constitution 2014”. Soon after her announcement, delegates kicked, demanding for explanations from the Conference secretariat on the origin of the draft constitution. Although southern delegates equally expressed shock over the development, northern delegates apparently vented out their anger.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sani Zoro, a northern delegate queried the source of the draft constitution. He had said: “Some have called this a strange document. We are going to go through them and we will reconvene here to deliberate on it. I just want to ask about the where about of the chairman and his depu ty. In this era of Ebola virus, one needs to be sure that they are okay. There is need to ask after them.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to several others that spoke after the Conference adjourned till last Wednesday, the new constitution which is part of the voluminous documents distributed were not part of what was agreed upon before they went on a long break.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Northern delegates, not ready to give the Conference secretariat a soft landing, called a press conference where they alleged that the draft constitution was President Goodluck Jonathan’s covert plan of gunning for third term in office. Their stance was supported by other northern leaders and governors.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Prepared and ready to engage their southern counterparts in a free for all war during plenary last Wednesday, Northern delegates came prepared. Their Plans to sabotage the proceedings were jettisoned by the chairman of the Conference, Justice Kutigi.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kutigi who presided over the brief meeting before delegates adjourned again till last Thursday, maintained that contrary to condemnation by core n orthern delegates that had trailed the draft constitution which was distributed to members on Monday, there was no plan by the leadership of the Conference to draft a new constitution for the country.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not ready to allow their northern colleagues to take the lead, delegates from North-central, South-east, South-south and South-west teamed up in a counter move to frustrate plans by delegates from North-east and North-west to sabotage the final consideration of the Conference reports.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kutigi’s smart move on Wednesday also saved the Conference from unnecessary fireworks. Prior to Wednesday’s proceedings, core northern delegates had drafted a proposal which they had planned to read during the meeting and then submit same to the secretariat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sensing that there was going to be trouble, Kutigi told delegates that they could submit their grievances ab out any section of the draft documents to the Conference secretariat, after which the necessary corrections would be effected. While his suggestion received applause from southern and middle-belt delegates, core northern delegates kicked and insisted on raising the issues during plenary.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In his brief remarks, Kutigi had told the Conference: “I welcome you back after the break of the past two weeks. We are in our final lap of the Conference. I apologise for the inconveniences you might have experienced for the shift in date of our resumption.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“When you look at the heavy volume made out of the draft report, the notes and proceedings, as well as the 1999 constitution, with amendment, proposed by you, then you will understand the amount of work we undertook in preparation for this week’s meeting.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Let me at this stage, stress this point. We have prepared this draft report to the best of our ability and with all honesty. But we are human beings who can make mistakes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We are therefore making available copies of the draft so that if we have any doubt about any issue, you can cross check. If you have any doubt at the veracity of any issue, you can cross check with the votes and proceedings and then raise the issue and corrections will be accepted.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Let me repeat. We have prepared the main report with all honesty and diligence. Any mistake will be due to human error and without any ulterior motif.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">”We have been thinking of how to go about it without having any problems. Since everybody has a copy of what we are to consider, everybody should write what he intends to correct and submit to the secretariat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We want you to write whatever correction you have. Bring it to the secretariat and we will tabulate it. For that reason, we shall be suspending this session in order to allow delegates put down their remarks.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kutigi had also announced a fresh meeting with regional leaders in a move to break any hiccup that was going to arise during Thursday’s plenay when delegates reconvened to consider the final report of the Conference.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I will be meeting the leaders of the different delegations while other delegates write their comment on the report. Let us make it tomorrow (today) then so that the secretariat can tidy up the report for a final consideration,” he had announced.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Soon after the adjournment, southern leaders and their middle-belt counterparts held a press conference where they openly condemned plans by any section of the country or individuals to sabotage the huge successes the Conference had recorded.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At the press conference, Chief Olu Falae, represented the South-west, General Ike Nwanchukwu (retd) represented the South-east, Chief Edwin Clark represented the South-south, while Mr John Dara stood in for North-central. The regional leaders had unanimously agreed that no individual or group inserted anything into the draft documents, as were being rumoured by northern delegates. They had said those making the arguments were mischief makers who were bent on keeping the country hostage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">During the press conference, General Nwanchukwu said the Conference had succeeded in liberating minority groups in the country and had placed every Nigerian on the same level. He said for once, issues that have held the country down had finally been resolved. The regional leaders had openly expressed their willingness to back the leadership of the Conference and added that anyone who felt aggrieved could formally write to the Conference leadership.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The leaders said there is no third term agenda as being rumoured by core northern delegates. Chief Falae said delegates from certain sections of the country are angry because the Conference has succeeded in reversing the status quo.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With the new marriage between southern leaders and their middle-belt counterparts, core northern delegates eventually ended up in the minority.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last Thursday, after the Conference successfully adopted the revised draft resolutions, northern delegates who had vowed to shoot down the final report of the Conference, following what they termed as “plans to smuggle in new clauses”, overwhelmingly supported their colleagues from the south and middle-belt.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Addressing a similar  press conference on Thursday after the leadership of the National Conference officially declared the Conference closed, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie said, contrary to views held by Nigerians, the north had always supported the Conference.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Although many northern delegates had always opposed many actions taken by the Conference leadership, Coomassie who spoke on behalf of Northern Delegates’ Forum (NDF), however declared that their actions were aimed at strengthening the outcome of the Conference.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Coomassie said their only grouse with the Conference leadership was the phrase “New Draft Constitution 2014.” He told journalists that some of their actions were misinterpreted. According to him, northern delegates were all working in the collective interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. He added that no part of the nation loves the country more than the other, as being peddled by some people.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Coomassie insisted that the final outcome of the Conference had proven their critics wrong. “We are working in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians,” Coomassie had said. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With the official termination of the Conference, the new battle now shifts to the National Assembly where many northern delegates and their governors are believed to have infiltrated in a move to frustrate the report which is expected to be forwarded by President Jonathan in the coming weeks. Although many northern delegates have openly denied the reports, others have openly expressed their desire to ensure that anything that works against the interest of the north is thwarted.</span></div>
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CONFAB: Fireworks that Made Core Northern Delegates a Minority

Confab: Fireworks that made core Northern delegates minority After days of grandstanding and fierce opposition to the new draft...

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Confab: Delegates adopt final report

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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ABUJA— IN spite of odds, delegates, yesterday, adopted the final report of the 2014 National Conference amid exchange of banters and pleasantries, thereby ending the five-month exercise on a positive note.</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They will now reconvene on August 21 for the closing formalities.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The conviviality, camaraderie and hugs, which characterised the last plenary of the confab were unexpected giving the controversies that trailed the draft report and “draft constitution” produced by the national conference secretariat.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/delegates-adopt-final-report/confab4/" rel="attachment wp-att-459718" style="-webkit-transition: background-color, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Confab members " class="size-full wp-image-459718" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/confab4.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Confab members</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Wednesday, a section of the Northern delegates distanced itself from the draft constitution and vowed not to pass it but Southern and Middle-Belt delegates differed and said they would adopt the report and draft amendments to the 1999 Constitution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thus, the stage was set for a thorny plenary yesterday but the delegates disappointed those who expected a chaotic outing by adopting the report.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alteration</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, the report did not pass without minor alteration of the title from “draft constitution” to “Draft Proposals to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999”.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The alteration followed an amendment by Delegate Adamu Waziri, a former Minister of Police Affairs, to a motion co-sponsored by High Chief Jerry Okwuonu and former governor of River state, Dr. Peter Odili asking the delegates to empower the secretariat of the conference to effect all necessary corrections on their behalf using the various submissions made by the delegates.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to them, the action would save the time of the conference.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Adoption of report</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The motion reads: “Whereas the secretariat has done a very marvellous job of compiling the report of the Conference and presenting same to us in easily readable and cross-checkable format; and</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Whereas delegates have perused all the reports and submitted in writing all items of omission or incorrect addition to the final report; and</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/delegates-adopt-final-report/clark-barkindo/" rel="attachment wp-att-459724" style="-webkit-transition: background-color, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt=" L-r: Senator  Musa Adede, Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Barkindo and Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, at the National Conference in Abuja, yesterday.  Photos: Gbemga Olamkan" class="size-full wp-image-459724" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Clark-Barkindo.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">L-r: Senator Musa Adede, Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Barkindo and Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, at the National Conference in Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Gbemga Olamkan</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Bearing in mind the dual necessity of bringing the conference to a close for purposes of not unduly over-reaching the logistics provision of the conference and not unnecessarily prolonging the continued conglomeration of people in contradiction to the prescription of Health Authorities especially as the country tackles the Ebola crisis.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is hereby moved that the secretariat be mandated to vet all the written submission by delegates and make necessary correction thereby providing the final draft of the Conference reports.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just before the motion was seconded and adopted by the delegates, Waziri announced an amendment to the motion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said:  “To cultivate a conducive environment for delegates to validate and adopt the final report of the Conference, we the undersigned delegates, hereby offer and endorse the following observations and recommendation that seek to facilitate the process and lead to amicable ending of the Conference proceedings.   “We note that the Secretariat of the Conference on August 11, 2014 tabled before delegates a draft report contained in three volumes that are broken down in seven chapters.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“In particular, we observed that volume III titled Draft Constitution conveys an attempt to insert various resolutions and recommendations of a constitutional nature that were adopted by the Conference as proposed amendments to the appropriate sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We recall and welcome the clarification and confirmation offered by Conference Chairman at plenary on August 13, 2014 that indeed Volume III contains proposals for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We urged the leadership of the Conference, in collating the final report, to more appropriately designate Volume 111 as: Draft Proposals to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Furthermore, we note and welcome the amenability of the Conference Secretariat to entertain suggestions from the delegates that point out any specific error to misrepresentation of decisions taken or resolutions adopted by the Conference and/or any inadvertent failure to incorporate same in the draft report.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We are aware that delegates have responded to this call and submitted to the Secretariat their various observations and suggested amendments to the draft.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“In preparing the final report, we urged the Conference Secretariat to keep faith with and reflect fully and accurately all resolutions and recommendations accepted by the Conference and as contained in votes and preceding that were formally adopted.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Subject to the acceptance of the foregoing understanding, assurances and conditions and in accordance with the Procedure Rules, 2014 of the Conference, we move for the validation and adoption of the draft reports contained in volume 1,2 and 3 without further debate.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“In the spirit of the consensus building cultivated by members and to maintain the bridges built during the currency of the Conference, we urge all delegates to subscribe to this plea.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His amendment which sought for a re-title of the report eventually received an overwhelming support when subjected to voice vote by the chairman of the conference, Retired Justice Idris Kuitigi.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With that, the report was unanimously adopted by the delegates thereby marking the end of the 2014 national conference.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Old national anthem</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Spontaneously, all the delegates who felt fulfilled stood up and enthusiastically sang the old National Anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee”. Similarly, chants of labour solidarity songs rent the air.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Former Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN, who was arguably the oldest man in the conference was called upon by the chairman to move the motion for the adoption of the final report while the youngest delegate to the conference, Miss Yanomah Mandara seconded it.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Encomium</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Shortly afterwards, delegates took turns to pour encomium on the leadership of the Conference for their maturity in steering the conference proceedings.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah gave a moving vote of thanks which received spontaneous applause from delegates.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also, a delegate representing the South- South, Hon. Orok Otu Duke, read out a farewell poem titled “How Can We Say Farewell” to the delegates.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of the day sequel to a motion by Iyom Josephine Anenih and seconded by Dr. Bello Mohammed, Justice Kutigi called on the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha to move a motion for the closure of the Conference.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We’ve shamed skeptics –Ahamba</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Chief Mike Ahamba while seconding the motion said, yesterday was a day of pride and honour because “when we came here, nobody expected us to end this way…We have disappointed the skeptics.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With that comment, the 2014 National Conference inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 17, 2014 came to an end.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We’re now satisfied with report –Northern leaders</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a brief press conference shortly afterwards, the northern delegates forum led by former a Inspector General of Police, IGP, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and retired Gen. Jerry Useni said they were satisfied with the change of the title and the subsequent adoption of the final report, saying that their earlier opposition was for unity and peace of the country.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Delegates speak</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speaking to Vanguard on the outcome of the conference, some delegates who expressed utter happiness said reason and understanding prevailed.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For instance, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, the national chairman of Labour Party said a new Nigeria has emerged</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I feel happy. I feel elated, honoured and privileged to be part and parcel of this conference that ended harmoniously with everybody clapping hands, hugging, singing “though tongues and tribe may differ, in brotherhood we stand”. People expected turbulence. People expected fight. But you can see Nigeria is a country put together by God. And I will say welcome to a new Nigeria.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Chief Victor Umeh, the national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, said: “I feel happy and completely satisfied that this initiative has not been a waste of time. Nigeria needed the conference very much and some people came here with a mind set to forestall this conference but we have been able to navigate these very critical, important national issues. They were addressed and resolutions were reached on all of them.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Problems nagging the nation</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">During plenary, it was obvious that some people wanted Nigeria to remain the way it is. But Nigerians rallied round in this conference to ensure that what will come out will address the problems that are nagging the nation.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Similarly, the former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara, Abia delegate commended the wit of Adamu Waziri who proposed the changed.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I will say to God be the glory. Most of us did not expect that it would have ended the way it did particularly with the sensational headlines we saw in the dailies. In politics, we say that one minute is too long in political decisions and I think that was exactly what happened here. I also want to thank the North through my very good friend, Adamu Waziri for amending the motion which really doused the situation because talking about a brand new constitution would have torn the conference. But he came up wisely with the fact that there were proposals to the amendment of the 1999 constitution as amended.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“So, that really doused the situation and it ended up on a very sound note as far as I am concerned. And I want to beg the National Assembly and Mr. President to take the recommendations very seriously and not just locking it up in locker and the National Assembly should forgive and forget the bad words used against them during this conference. They shouldn’t throw away what this conference has done,” he said.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For Sola Ebiseni, a local government council representative from Ondo State, the successful end of the conference is victory for Nigeria.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said: “The conference ended as victory for the Nigeria state, pride of the African continent and the back man. It shows that in dialogue, we can achieve so much as a people. There is no doubt that in the last one week or so, the impression to the Nigerian public and to the whole world was that the conference was going to end in fiasco. But we have demonstrated our maturity as a people, as Nigerians that when we are gathered, the best in us can always come out.”</span></div>
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Confab: Delegates adopt final report

ABUJA— IN spite of odds, delegates, yesterday, adopted the final report of the 2014 National Conference amid exchange of banters and pleas...

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Contest and plunge Nigeria into violence, anarchy, Northern delegates warn Jonathan, others

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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By Henry Umoru<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />ABUJA – NORTHERN delegates at the on- going National Conference have threatened that if President Goodluck Jonathan presents himself for re- election in the 2015 presidential election, it would plunge the country into political chaos.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to the Northern delegates, the draft  Constitution as prepared by the Justice Idris  Kutigi led Secretariat was a third term agenda designed primarily to allow for President Jonathan, other incumbent elective office holders whom they alleged as not qualified to contest to run for the election, even as they warned that if allowed to sail through, it has  the potential of throwing the country into violence and anarchy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Addressing Journalists Tuesday at Gombe Jewel Hotel, Wuse 11, Abuja, Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF and former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Coomasie warned that if the document which he described as a third term agenda was not killed at the conference, it would like in 2005, lead to anarchy, violence and chaos.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The northern delegates who distanced themselves from the draft Constitution, however noted that its appearance on Monday was a surprise to them as well as shocking and what they described as disappointment to them as northern delegates and Nigerians in general, just a they said  that as members of the National Conference and by constitution, it was not within the purview of delegates to draft a new constitution, adding that the document was illegal.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/contest-plunge-nigeria-violence-anarchy-northern-delegates-warn-jonathan-others/useni2/" rel="attachment wp-att-459331" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="IGP Ibrahim Coomasie, addressing Journalists with Mohammed Umara Kumalia to his right; Lt. Gen. Jerry Useni; Prof. Iyorchia Ayu; Air Vice Marshal Mutari Mohammed; AVM Mutari Mohammed. Pictures by Henry Umoru" class="size-full wp-image-459331" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Useni2.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">IGP Ibrahim Coomasie, addressing Journalists with Mohammed Umara Kumalia to his right; Lt. Gen. Jerry Useni; Prof. Iyorchia Ayu; Air Vice Marshal Mutari Mohammed; AVM Mutari Mohammed. Pictures by Henry Umoru</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Coomasie said, ” Given the observation under (iv) above, adopting a new Constitution is therefore calculated to enable incumbent elective office holders who are statute-barred from going for 3rd Term at both Federal and State levels, to run for offices again under the guise of running under a new Constitution. This will also have the consequential effect of depriving aspiring politicians from all political parties, as well as all Nigerians, of their rights to choices and preferences as enshrined in the constitution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“If not arrested, the 3rd Term agenda, as in the past (2005), is capable of plunging Nigeria into another circle of political chaos with potential of violence and anarchy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We, Northern Delegates to the Conference wish to assure patriotic Nigerians, and all lovers of democracy, that we are neither privy to, nor were we accessory to the emergence of the controversial “New Draft Constitution 2014″. We, therefore, unequivocally disown it, and emphatically disassociate ourselves from it. Accordingly, we will have nothing to do with it, for the following legal, moral and political reasons:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Delegates to the conference were not elected, and therefore lack both legal, and moral authority to draft a new constitution for the Nigerian Federation. Rather, we were constituted to serve as an ad hoc advisory mechanism for to The President, as representatives of broad interests across the federation, and cannot, therefore, legally arrogate ourselves the far-reaching function of making a “new” constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That can only be done by an appropriately constituted Constituent Assembly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The Secretariat of the Conference has indicated in chapter 7 of the draft Report Vol. 1 that the so called ‘new Constitution’ is to be brought into effect through a national referendum to be specifically held for the purpose. To this we say, without any fear of contradiction, that there is no legal provision in our Constitution for the holding of such a referendum. The reference to a referendum, made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his inauguration address at the National Conference on 17th March<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />2014, was purely speculative, as it was predicated on the National Assembly introducing a provision in the Constitution that will permit the holding of referendum<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“… if at the end of the de liberation the need for a referendum arises”. We want to say, with authority, that such a proposal has since been turned down by the National Assembly. Inquiries at both the Senate and House of Representatives have since shown that efforts at tabling the case for referendum, through private member-bills, were rejected twice, and cannot, therefore, be reintroduced in the life of the present Senate.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“From the foregoing, it is now abundantly clear that the conference has been infiltrated by fifth -columnists whose goal is to subvert democratic processes and plunge the country into deeper, but avoidable political Crisis.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(iv) To all intent and purposes, the introduction of a “new<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Constitution 2014″ for Nigeria, is a calculated attempt by some people to take advantage of Court of Appeal’s ruling in 2003, as delivered by Justice George Adesola Oguntade, (JCA as he then was) in the celebrated case of Attorney-General of the Federation Vs. ANPP, and Others (A.G, Fed. v. A.N.P.P. [2003] 15 NWLR (Pt. 844).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Wherein Governor Abubakar Abdu of Kogi State (then) was challenged over his eligibility to run for a second term in 2003, having had a first term which ended in May 2003. The contention was that having been champion and uphold democratic principles, as enshrined in the constitution and other legitimate sources of law-making.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It would be recalled that as delegates resumed plenary on Monday after a month break,  the Conference Secretariat prepared a draft Constitution to be sent to the National Assembly which was distributed along side the Bill and two volumes of the final report of the Conference to delegates. It contained  some alterations in the Constitution as part of the recommendations  during Committee sittings and plenary.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Coomasie, a delegate representing the North West Zone was flanked at the briefing after the over two hours meeting of the Northern Delegates by Mohammed Umara Kumalia; Lt. Gen. Jerry Useni; Prof. Iyorchia Ayu; Bashir Dalhatu; Gen. Salihu Ibrahim; Amb. Ibrahim Gambari; Air Vice Marshal Mutari Mohammed; Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The hall was full to the brim by the Northern Delegates. Some delegates who were present include,  Senator Saidu Dansadau; Col. Bala Mande; Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai: Senator Ahmed Aruwa; Hajia Aishatu Isma’il; Gen. A.B. Mamman; Arc. Ibrahim Bunu; Sani Zoro; Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau; Nurudeen Lemu; Naseer Kura; Ishaq Modibbo Kawu; Magaji Dambatta; among others.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After reading the five page text, Coomasie and other delegates however refused questions from Journalists.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The text read in full, “You are welcome, and we thank you for responding to our invitation.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Our purpose for holding this press conference is to brief you, and through you the entire country, about the latest developments at this crucial stage of the 2014 National Conference. As citizens of Nigeria, we are greatly concerned about this development and its wider implications to sustainable democracy, political stability, peace, and development of our Country.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The first indication that there was going to be problem was on Monday 30th June, 2014, when a front page report in a national daily (Daily Trust) alleged that a member of the leadership of the conference had been lobbying members of the Northern Delegation to be able to smuggle in a “new constitution” at the conference. A delegate drew the attention of the Conference to the publication under MATTERS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE:  the integrity of the Leadership of the Conference and it was demanded that the Leadership should make a categorical statement on the issue.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The Leadership claimed ignorance of the existence of any such document and demanded to see a copy of it. This was immediately made available, and after going though it, the Conference Chairman made the following statement as reflected in the Conference Hansard of Monday 30th June, 2014, on page 14:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We know nothing about the paper in circulation. We know nothing of the consideration of any Committee, we formed no Committee apart from the standing Committee we set up …We are not aware of that…We have nothing to do with it. That matter should be closed!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Ordinarily, the matter of a “new constitution” should have died a natural death. But that was not to be. The issue was brought over and over again in the course of plenary sessions, but each time it was overwhelmingly rejected by the delegates. And when attempts were made to bring in the issue of “referendum”, as a means of actualising the outcome of the conference, it was always strongly and painstakingly explained that the operating Constitution does not have any provision for such a referendum. The only instance when a referendum can be held is in relation to the creation of new states or boundry adjustment, per the provision of Section 8 of the CFRN 1999 (as amended).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“You are aware, by now, of the surprise, shock and disappointment with which not only delegates to the conference, but many patriotic Nigerians, have reacted to news of the sudden appearance of a “New Draft Constitution 2014”, among other documents distributed to delegates, when we resumed at plenary, last Monday, August, 11, 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We, Northern Delegates to the Conference wish to assure patriotic Nigerians, and all lovers of democracy, that we are neither privy to, nor were we accessory to the emergence of the controversial “New Draft Constitution 2014”. We, therefore, unequivocally disown it, and emphatically disassociate ourselves from it. Accordingly, we will have nothing to do with it, for the following legal, moral and political reasons:</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“(i) Delegates to the conference were not elected, and therefore lack both legal, and moral authority to draft a new constitution for the Nigerian Federation. Rather, we were constituted to serve as an ad hoc advisory mechanism for to The President, as representatives of   broad interests across the federation, and cannot, therefore, legally arrogate ourselves the far-reaching function of making a “new” constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That can only be done by an appropriately constituted Constituent Assembly.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(ii) The Secretariat of the Conference has indicated in chapter 7 of the draft Report Vol. 1 that the so called ‘new Constitution’ is to be brought into effect through a national referendum to be specifically held for the purpose. To this we say, without any fear of contradiction, that there is no legal provision in our Constitution for the holding of such a referendum. The reference to a referendum, made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his inauguration address at the National Conference on 17th March 2014, was purely speculative, as it was predicated on the National Assembly introducing a provision in the Constitution that will permit the holding of referendum “… if at the end of the deliberation the need for a referendum arises”. We want to say, with authority, that such a proposal has since been turned down by the National Assembly.  Inquiries at both the Senate and House of Representatives have since shown that efforts at tabling the case for referendum, through private member-bills, were rejected twice, and cannot, therefore, be reintroduced in the life of the present Senate.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(iii) From the foregoing, it is now abundantly clear that the conference has been infiltrated by fifth-columnists whose goal is to subvert democratic processes and plunge the country into deeper, but avoidable political crisis.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(iv) To all intent and purposes, the introduction of a “new Constitution 2014” for Nigeria, is a calculated attempt by some people to take advantage of Court of Appeal’s ruling in 2003, as delivered by  Justice George Adesola Oguntade, (JCA as he then was) in the celebrated case of Attorney-General of the Federation Vs. ANPP, and Others (A.G, Fed. v. A.N.P.P. [2003] 15 NWLR (Pt. 844). Wherein Governor Abubakar Abdu of Kogi State (then) was challenged over his eligibility to run for a second term in 2003, having had a first term which ended in May 2003. The contention was that having been elected Kogi State Governor in 1991, his tenure 1991 – 1993 should be regarded as a first term and the tenure 1999 – 2003 should have been regarded as second term. Accordingly, he should stand barred from contesting for another term in the 2003 election, as that would amount to a violation of the subsisting Constitution, which has provided that a person could only be elected into the office of a State Governor for two terms and no more.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“In that decision, the Court of Appeal upheld the eligibility of Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State, to stand for re-election as Governor, on the ground that his first tenure (1991-’93) was under a completely different Constitution (CFRN 1989), while the country was at the material time operating the 1999 Constitution, which was a new Constitution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“(v) Given the observation under (iv) above, adopting a new Constitution is therefore calculated to enable incumbent elective office holders who are statute-barred from going for 3rd Term at both Federal and State levels, to run for offices again under the guise of running under a new Constitution. This will also have the consequential effect of depriving aspiring politicians from all political parties, as well as all Nigerians, of their rights to choices and preferences as enshrined in the constitution.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(vi) If not arrested, the 3rd Term agenda, as in the past (2005), is capable of plunging Nigeria into another circle of political chaos with potential of violence and anarchy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We, as pan-Nigerians and democrats reject this agenda, in its entirety and call on stakeholders of all  persuasions and institutions especially political parties, national and state houses of assembly, the media, Civil Society Organizations, faith based organisation women, youths, etc., to reject same, and continue to champion and uphold democratic principles, as enshrined in the constitution and other legitimate sources of law-making .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thank you, and God bless.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/contest-plunge-nigeria-violence-anarchy-northern-delegates-warn-jonathan-others/#sthash.rFhVGMOR.dpu</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 15px;">f</span></div>

Contest and plunge Nigeria into violence, anarchy, Northern delegates warn Jonathan, others

By Henry Umoru ABUJA – NORTHERN delegates at the on- going National Conference have threatened that if President Goodluck Jonathan present...

18:10

Confab: Crisis looms as northern delegates plans to frustrate Amendment of 1999 Constitution

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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ABUJA- AS delegates at the on- going National Conference resumed plenary yesterday to debate on the final report of the Conference as produced by the Secretariat after one month of recess, strong indications have emerged that crisis looms as some northern delegates may have concluded plans to frustrate moves to amend some sections of the 1999 Constitution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Preparatory to carry out some alterations in the Constitution as contained in the report as recommended during Committee sitting and proposed amendments to be made on the proposed constitution as approved by delegates, the Conference Secretariat has prepared a draft Constitution to be sent to the National Assembly.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/sawyer-mad-bring-ebola-jonathan/comfab-letters/" rel="attachment wp-att-459196" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="comfab-letters" class="alignright size-full wp-image-459196" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/comfab-letters.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Yesterday the Conference Secretatiat distributed the draft copy and a bill to give the Amendment teeth to all the delegates, just as some northern delegates were not comfortable with the draft with plans to ensure that it did not sail through.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The body language of the north to jettison the idea came up yesterday when a northern delegate from Jigawa State and representing the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mallam Sani Zoro raised the issue that a new constitution was being prepared by the Secretariat and described the document as a strange one.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Zoro who queried the inclusion of the draft constitution, which he termed “strange document, was however economical with words and said, “Thank you for giving us the draft constitution. We didn’t expect it, but we welcome it and will go through it”.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Justice Idris Kutigi led 2014 National Conference plans to forward a Bill to both the Senate and the House of Representatives to alter some sections of the 1999 Constitution aimed at correcting what it termed some anomalies in the said constitution and make it more people oriented.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kutigi in the Bill titled, an Act to further alter the Provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999( with the first, second and third Alterations, and for Related Matters 2014 will go the National Assembly as an Executive Bill.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Vanguard gathered that crises were already brewing at the Conference as delegates were poised to fight with the leadership of the Conference for tagging it a draft Constitution rather than tag it proposal for the alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against the backdrop that the conference has no such mandate to write a constitution, but to advise the President on areas that could be changed in the constitution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When Vanguard contacted a lawyer and a delegate, Festus Okoye to speak on the document, he noted that the problem was not with the content of the document, but with the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014, stressed that the title was wrong, adding that rather than write ” Draft Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2014, it would have been, “Proposal for the Alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying that the rules recognise that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speaking further, Okoye who said that there were some delegates and persons who never wanted the Conference to succeed from the beginning, stressed that what the leadership of the Conference had done was to play into the hands of such persons as it was not within the mandate of delegates to draft a constitution, adding that at the end of the day, it would amount to rubbishing names and integrity of delegates.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Citing Order 13, Rule 3 of Conference Procedure Rules 2014, Festus Okoye who is at the Conference on the platform of Civil Society Organisations, said that the section reads thus, “Should the final report lead to the drafting of issues of law and policy, the Conference shall in consultation with the six Principal Officers of the Conference advise the government on the legal framework, legal Procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes of the National Conference into the Constitution and laws of the country. ”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also speaking with Vanguard, Sani Zoro who noted that the draft Constitution if allowed was capable of ridiculing the entire assignment at the Conference, it would amount to waste of time, energy and Government resources, just as he said that as delegates, it was not within their mandate to carry out such an assignment against the backdrop that it was not a constituent Assembly, adding that conflict looms between the delegates and the National Assembly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Zoro who noted that there was no place President Goodluck Jonathan mentioned the draft of a new constitution during the inauguration, said, “the issues of the draft Constitution were capable of making nonsense of the entire exercise that has caused delegates their time, resources of government because when the President inaugurated the conference March 17, where in his speech or mention of mandating us to produce a new constitution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">” Apart from that, I have seen strange clauses being smuggled into the draft Constitution. It is capable of ridiculing what we have done, no where it was mentioned that we have a new constitution; we are not a Constituent Assembly, we were not elected, only the National Assembly has such powers. Our job would have stopped at producing recommendations, the work Plan says submission of Conference reports and modalities of Implemenation. This can cause conflict bewteen us and the National Assembly, there is no need for that.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to the draft Constitution, some of the alterations were section 2 subsection A that ” Any State of the Federation wishing to do so may enact and give its self a Constitution for the State, but if any provision of the Constitution of that State is inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution, this constitutions shall prevail and that other provision shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void. ”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also the draft constitution stipulates that the country will now ave fifty- four state following the creation of additional States by the Conference.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The document read in part, “Alteration of section 3<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Section 3 of the prinripal Act is altered – (a) by replacing the existing subsection (1) with the following as new subsection (1) -<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“(1) There shall be fifty-four states in Nigeria, that is to say, Aba, Abia, Adada, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Amana, Anarribra, Anioma, Apa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Edu,piciti, Enugu, Etiti, Ghari, Gombe, Gurara, Ijebu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kainji, Kano, Katagum, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, New Oyo, Njaba-Anim, Niger, Ogoja, Ogun, Oil Rivers, Ondo, Ose, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Savannah, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zarnfara.”: and (b) by deleting subsections) (2) and (6); and ( c) in subsection (3) by replacing the word “third” with the word “second”.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Alteration of section 6<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Section 6 of the prinfipal Act is altered – (a) in subsection (S) by – (i) by replacing the provision~ of paragraph (b) with the following – 1 “(b) the Federal Court of Ap,peal; (ii) inserting new paragraphs (bb) and (bbb) as follows-<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“(bb] the State Court of Appeal; (ccc) the Constitutional Court”: and (cccc) the Anti-Corruption Court; (b) by deleting subsection (6)(c); and<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />( c) by inserting a new subsection (7) as follows – “(7) (i)In the exercise of judicial powers, the courts shall be independent and shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority. (ii) No person or authority; shall interfere with the court or judicial officers in the exercise of their judicial functions. (iii) All organs and agencies of the State shall accord the courts such assistance as may be required to ensure the effectiveness of the courts.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(iv) A person exercising judicial powers shall not be liable to any action or suit for any act or omission by that personiin the exercise of judicial powers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">” Alteration of section 7 Section 7 of the principal Act is altered -<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(a) in subsection (1) by replacing the existing provisions with the following-<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“(l)(a)(i) A system of local governments by democratically elected local government councils is guaranteed. (ii) Chairmen and councillors of local governments not democratically elected shall not be recognised by all authorities and persons and shall not be entitled to any revenue allocation. i<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(b) States shall create Iocal governments. which shall be under the jurisdiction of that State.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(c) States that wish to, may increase or reduce the number of existing local governments which shall be under the jurisdiction of the State.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(d) The number, structure, form and administration of local governments shall be deterrnirjed by States: Provided that the tenure of elected local government councils shall be three years.”; (b) by deleting subsection ~6)(a); and (c) by inserting a new subsection (7) as follows -<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“(7) In addition to the functions conferred upon local government councils as specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Constitution, the House of Assembly of a State may by Law confer additional functions; on the local government.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">” Insertion of a new Section 8A – Merger of Existing States. 8 A 1). Without prejudice to States constituting the federating units, States that wish to merge may do so. Provided that- (a) a two-thirds majority of all members in each of the Houses of Assembly of each of the States in which such merge! is proposed support by resolution the merger; (b) a referendum is conducted in each of the States proposing to merge with 75 per cent of the eligible in each of those States approving the merger; and<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(c) the National Assembly by resolution passed by a simple of membership approves of the merger. (2) States that decide to merge shall also reserve the right to demerge following the same procedure and processes for merger.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(3) Any group of States may create a self-funding Zonal Commission.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">” Alteration of Section 9<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Section 9 of the principal Act is altered by – (a) replacing the existing subsection (2) with the following- “(2) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of altering any provision of this constitution shall only be passed if the proposal for alteration of the Constitution is approved – (a) in a referendum by simple majority; (b) by simple majority of all the States of the Federation supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly; and (c) by a rlsolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.”; and (b) deleting subsection (3)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Alteration of section 12 Section 12 of the principal Act is altered by -<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(a) inserting new subsections (1) and (2) as follows-<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“12. -(1) The National Assembly may make laws for the making of treaties between the Federation and any other country on any matter on the Exclusive List. (2) All treaties to be negotiated and entered into for and on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by any Ministry, government agency, body or person shall be made in consultation with the relevant committees of the National Assembly before such treaties are signed by such bodies.”<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(b) by renumbering the existing subsections as subsections (3), (4) and (5); and(c) by inserting a new subsection (6) as follows – “(6) No treaty shall be ratified except when such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly.”</span></div>
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Confab: Crisis looms as northern delegates plans to frustrate Amendment of 1999 Constitution

ABUJA- AS delegates at the on- going National Conference resumed plenary yesterday to debate on the final report of the Conference as prod...

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Confab: Crisis looms as northern delegates plans to frustrate Amendment of 1999 Constitution

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