Insecurity,
corruption, women’s right and the rights of minorities took the
centre-stage on Thursday as delegates to the 2014 National Conference
rounded off debate and comments on President Goodluck Jonathan’s
inaugural speech at the Conference.
Also
mentioned and debated was the call for the reintroduction of the
on-shore and off-shore oil dichotomy which would deprived certain oil
producing states of any revenue from oil exploration and exploitation carried out off-shore.
However, Nsongurua Udombana, a professor of international law
from Akwa Ibom State, shot down the suggestion on the grounds that no
international law as cited by the speakers can dictate to a country what
to do within its locality.
He
said instead, sections of the 1999 Constitution that vest authority on
the central government with regard to the control of natural resources
to the exclusion of the states where they are domesticated should be
abrogated in the spirit of true federalism.
Udombana
stated that the problem of Nigeria was not lack of resources but
inability of the leaders to successfully harness these resources for the
benefit of the people.
Mrs.
Ramatu Bala Usman in her comments said the Conference must ensure that
the 35% gender placement in public service and appointments in favour of
women be enshrined in the Constitution so as to give it a legal
backing.
In addition, she asked for institutionalization of the roles of the spouse of the first citizen,
either at the national or state level, whether man or woman, so that if
a woman becomes the president of governor, the husband will have a
constitutional role to play; and vice versa.
Usman
went ahead to demand a policy that would compel any new occupant of
public office to ensure completion of projects and implementation of
policies started by his predecessor before embarking on a new one.
Maria
Waziri from Kebbi state also spoke glowingly about the oneness of
Nigeria and why women education should be given a priority by government
at all levels.
She
said, “The oneness of this nation is absolutely beyond negotiation. I
suggest strongly that we must not approach issues with suspicion. We
must discuss freely in the overall national interest because Nigeria belongs to all of us.
“I
stand for oneness, for togetherness and for a stronger indivisible
Nigeria which is at peace with its citizens based on mutual respect and
understanding amongst our diverse people, irrespective of tribe, ethnic
or religion.
God
has blessed Nigeria with great women; intelligent women; patriotic;
determined and courageous women. We must give women more opportunities,
collaborate with them and tap into their wonderful potentials. To do all
these,
“A
widow in pains deserves consolation, not humiliation. The wicked act of
throwing her out is ungodly, inhuman, outdated and wickedness. I
condemn it with all my heart.”
Professor
Auwalu Yadudu took the delegates through memory lane on the issue of
resource control and revenue allocation, debunking certain claims which
he believes to be wrong.
On
his expectations, he said, “Conference must draw up a very clear
road-map that spells out the necessary legal and institutional
frameworks to guide the implementation of its resolutions.
“All
Conference resolutions requiring legal and constitutional expressions
must be carried out in accordance with the 1999 Constitution and extant
statutory provisions.
“Conference
must propose draft legislation for enactment and implementation by the
National Assembly; policy proposals and options should go to the
executive arm.”
Tanko
Yakassai expressed disappointment over non-effective implementation of
the various laws against corruption and how corruption has been allowed
to not only give the country a bad name, but create avenue for emergence
of armed violence across the country.
He
said, “The fight against corruption has been largely unsuccessful due
to the inability of bodies charged with that responsibility to ensure
the judicial sanctioning or punishment of suspected offenders.
“This has to an extent been due to the case glut in our judicial system thereby protracting corrupt-related cases.”
Yakassai
called for establishment of special courts for corrupt and other
related offences; “This will provide the needed impetus to agencies
charged with the responsibility of fighting this evil that has defied
efforts geared towards eradicating its menace.”
On
the issue of true federalism and the return to regionalism, he proposed
a reduction in the number of states from the present 36 to 12 adding
that as things are now, “admittedly, this is a very difficult task to
undertake…”
Mr
Achike Udenwa told the Conference that what would help the country in
fighting corruption is for leaders to look back at the root cause of
corruption and tackle it from there. He mentioned insecurity, social
problems and greed as the causes of corruption.
He
said public officers steal because they want to create wealth to fall
back on after leaving office and be able to pay their bills; they also
steal because of social pressure and cited situations where they are
made to buy unnecessary traditional titles and honorary degrees from
tertiary institutions.
Veteran
journalist, Chief Onyeama Ugochukwu, challenged the delegates to
discuss and make such recommendations that would create a better future
for Nigeria by creating a true federalism out of the existing confusion.
Ugochukwu
said Jonathan has given the delegates the challenge of finding
something new that would move the country forward and prayed that the
conference would not be another effort in futility.
Retired
General Anthony Ukpo said he was skeptical about the purpose of the
Conference at the beginning but that from what he has seen so far, his
new challenge is to work hard and ensure that the result of the
Conference would not be put on the shelf.
Former
President of the Senate, Adolf Wabara said the problem with Nigeria is
traceable to ignorance of existing solutions to such problems; and most
importantly, the lack of political will to apply existing laws to solve
those problems.
He
challenged the delegates to know that the era of Lord Lugard was over
and that the baton of leadership and the responsibility to solve
Nigeria’s problems has been handed over to Nigerians of this generation.
“I
want to remind us here that Lord Lugard is not in this hallowed
chamber. Lord Lugard built the house we lived in a hundred years ago,
now it is our turn to either rebuild the house or to renovate the house.
Our fate is strictly in our hands.”
Senator
Daisy Danjuma observed that the greatest legacy of the Conference would
be to ensure obedience to the rule of law and separation of powers,
enthronement of natural justice, equity and good conscience in the
polity.
She
said the issue of insecurity must be taken seriously because as it is
today, investors have been scared away; and even the tourism industry
with the capacity to replace oil in revenue yielding is basically dead.
Diette
Spiff, a retired military officer and traditional ruler said the
concept of the National Youth Service Corps should be extended to
include every youth from the age of 18 and should include compulsory
military training for such youth whether they are graduates or not.
He
drew attention of the Conference to the fact that no constitution is
perfect; explaining that every constitution drafted under any military
regime is usually done by civilian lawyers; therefore the military must
not always be held responsible for any constitution that has flaws.
The
former military officer advised Nigerians to live in peace; “we should
learn to tolerate each other and live as one big family.”
For
Goddy Unwazurike, fiscal federalism, state creation and rotational
presidency must form part of the recommendations at the end of the
Conference.
He
was emphatic that no tribe is greater than the other and as such
political power must rotate while every geo-political zone must have
equal number of states.
Richard
Uche described the President’s speech as a patriotic call for Nigerians
to address issues that have slowed down the process of development. He
called for devolution of power in order to make governance more
cost-effective.
The
position of Jerseer Tsumba that the killings in the north central
region was carried out by Fulani herdsmen drew a denial from Dr. Bello
Mohammed who raised a point order to the effect that such assertion was a
mere speculation as it lacked proof. His position was upheld
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