The
bomb blast in the Federal Capital Territory early Monday morning that
killed dozens of people and wounded several others dominated
discussions on Monday as delegates resumed sitting at the on-going National Conference holding in Abuja.
As soon as the opening prayer was said and delegates took their seats, Conference Chairman
and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, retired Justice Idris Legbo
Kutigi, asked delegates to rise for a one-minute silence in honour of
the victims of the blast.
Immediately
this was completed, Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu of the Labour Party raised a
motion on what he called issue of urgent national importance. It was
not lost on the members of the Conference what the issue was.
He
drew the attention of the delegates to the bomb blast and lamented, “I
think there is conspiracy against Nigeria and the Nigerian people; there
must be an enemy within.”
He urged the Conference to immediately react to the incident by urging the necessary security agencies involved in the fight against terrorism to maximize their efforts in the war against innocent killing of people across the country.
The
motion, seconded by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, was however overtaken by a
written motion hitherto submitted to the Conference Chairman. It was
sponsored by Is’haq Modibbo Kawu and 19 others.
The motion read in part: “whereas the security situation in the country has been deteriorating in the last 5-6 years;
“Whereas the preponderance of the security breaches has been in the north although security is a national issue;
“Whereas
in the last two months the security breaches have escalated in Borno,
Yobe and Adamawa states where over 20 villages have been completely
razed down and thousands of people killed including school children in
spite of emergency rule which has been in existence for almost one year.
“Whereas
in the north east the problem is Boko Haram, in the north west, it is
armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping of young women more
particularly in Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna states.
“Whereas
in the north central, we have ethno-religious and herdsmen and farmers
conflicts which have led to the sacking of several villages, destruction
of properties, displacement of people and killing of thousands of
people in Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states.
“Whereas
the Conference notes that Nigerian security forces have put up a lot of
efforts to bring the insurgency, armed conflicts and banditry under
control; and whereas in spite of the efforts of the security forces, the
situation has continued to escalate.”
The
prayers contained in the motion and which were all adopted by the
Conference included condemnation of the activities of the perpetrators
of the heinous crimes;
“That
the Conference is concerned about the continuous deterioration of the
security situation and calls upon the federal government to take urgent,
drastic action and concrete steps to arrest and immediately bring an
end to these atrocities.
“That all necessary measures be put in place to use proportional and non-excessive force
to deal with the situation and safeguard the life, property and
well-being of innocent civilian population in all areas affected.
“In
particular, the federal government and other stakeholders should
commence the immediate implementation of all actionable recommendations
made to it by various committees such as the Gaji Galtimari, Kabiru T.
Turaki, Borno/Yobe Elders, etc.
“That
the federal government should immediately commence a process of
reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected
areas.”
The
motion, seconded by Hannatu Ibrahim also received inputs from other
delegates. For instance, Femi Falana asked for immediate collation and
implementation of other reports not mentioned in the prayers.
Other
sponsors of the motion were: Professor Jerry Gana; Ibrahim Coomassie;
Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu; Dr. Magdalyne Dura; Senator Ibrahim Mantu; Hon
Mohammed U. Kumalia; and Senator Adamu Aliero.
Others
were Professor Auwalu Yadudu; Amb Ibrahim Mai Sule; Professor Iyorcha
Ayu; Senator Jack Tilley Gyado; Lt. Gen. Jweremiah Usen, Senator Ibrahim
Ida; Hon Terseer Tsumba; Ibrahim Bunu; Maj. Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; Chief
Olu Falae; Chief Edwin Clark; and Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga.
Before
the adoption of the motion and the prayers sought by the sponsors,
Olawale Okunniyi of the Pro-National Conference (PRONACO) suggested that
a committee be set up by the Conference to closely look into security
issues that have resulted in several deaths.
Although
his position was not acceptable to other members, Okunniyi said the
safety of the country was paramount because, “if you don’t have a
country, there is no way you can have a conference.”
Chief
Edwin Clark whose son was kidnapped two weeks ago said it was
imperative that the Conference sent a message to the federal government
on the way forward because the country was no longer safe.
He
noted, “I think the issue of my son that was kidnapped is very small
now. What is happening in Nigeria is a national issue. Nigerians are
being killed day by day. We have a duty to look into this issue and not
to play politics with it. It is a national calamity.”
Clark
admonished the Conference to know that the existence of Nigeria as a
nation would depend on what delegates do with the opportunity the
National Conference has offered them.
“We
have no other country to go to,” he added, “we hear everyday 200 people
being killed, and we show no concern; we sit down here deliberating,
what are we deliberating about? This Conference must send a message to
government.”
The
High Chief went very emotional when he suggested that his daily lunch
be monetized and the money sent to take care of those who escaped the
bomb blast.
Shortly
after the adoption of the prayers contained in the motion, attention
shifted to the committees whose membership and leadership were expected
to be announced.
However,
the chairman apologized that although a lot of work has gone into the
compilation of committee membership, there were still some more work to
be done before the list would be made public.
He
said in view of that, it was necessary to stand down every issue
regarding the committees; he said the sitting be adjourned until 4 pm on
Tuesday when he was sure the final compilation would have been done and
the membership and leadership of the different committees announced.
It
was also agreed that based on suggestions and observations by
delegates, committee members should be free to discuss issues that are
related to the committees they serve and not limit themselves to areas
listed under each committee.
Chief
Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, had earlier suggested that only four instead of 20
committees be established and all the members distributed to serve
while the time for deliberation and submission of reports should be
lengthened. He was opposed by majority of the members
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