Again, Southern leaders demand national confab

[Mirror]

...say Jonathan free to contest in 2015

The Southern leaders, under the aegis of Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly, SNPA, yesterday tactically endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan to run for presidency in 2015 if he so wishes.

They also demanded for the creation of additional two states in the South while a National Conference should be convened before December 2013. They said whether President Jonathan should run for second term or not should not be allowed to set the country on fire.

The leaders said Nigerians should be allowed to decide Jonathan's fate in 2015. In a communiqué issued after the third conference of SNPA, the group also insisted on the convocation of a National Conference or National Dialogue "to discuss the basis of our coexistence in the country to avoid crisis."

They noted that considering the way the country was moving towards the precipice, there was an urgent need for all the ethnic nationalities and groups to have a roundtable discussion. The SNPA, therefore, called on President Jonathan to take appropriate steps towards the convocation of a national dialogue latest by December 2013.

The communiqué, which was signed by the Southern leaders – Chief Edwin Clark (South-South), Dr. Alex Ekwueme (South-East) and Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi (South-West) – also called on President Jonathan to tackle corruption, which according to them had become a national malaise.

Part of the resolutions state: "That the Assembly reaffirms its support and solidarity with President Goodluck Jonathan in all his efforts at repositioning the country most of which challenges he inherited.

Accordingly, the Assembly passes a vote of confidence on Mr. President and notes that within the realm of constitutionality, nothing inhibits him to seek re-election if he so desires.

The choice of who becomes the President of Nigeria in 2015 resides with the Nigerian people and not subject to the authority, whims and caprices of any one person or persons.

"That the National Assembly should give expedited passage to the Petroleum Industry Bill without any attempt to compromise the 10% provision for host communities that have persistently suffered the brunt of oil and gas exploitation and exploration.

"That given the fundamental need to equilibrate the existing state structures that are lopsided in favour of the North there should be created two additional states for the south one of which MUST come from the South East.

"That the observed unease in the polity culminating from the several threats and drums of war is a clear expression of the continually shrinking space for national dialogue.

As we move gradually towards the precipice, our rescue lies only in the convocation of a national conference which shall provide an unfettered platform for Nigerians to negotiate and agree on the terms of living together on the basis of mutual respect and trust. This is the only way to justify and make meaningful our centenary celebrations.

Accordingly, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR is urged to take every appropriate step leading to the convening of a national conference without further delay.

"That the prerogative to rewrite and/or review the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria belongs to Nigerians because sovereignty resides with the people.

The responsibility of the National Assembly with respect to constitutional amendment is limited to clauses and not wholesome review to change the constitution in a fundamental way.

Therefore the present exercise of wholesome review of the 1999 Constitution being undertaken by the National Assembly is ultra vires and shall not fulfill the aspirations and will of the people.

"That the present skewed federalism based on dysfunctional structures that promote inequitable opportunities and privileges for some sections of the country by the use of states whimsically created as federating units has continued to be the bane of our federation.

The present 36 states structure 19 of which the North enjoys to the detriment of the south, we must say is undeserving and has no fundamental basis of justification."

"That a Committee is hereby established to work out strategies and modalities to assist in the convocation of national conference by not later than December, 2013. "That government should take a strategic position at reducing youth unemployment as a way of reducing violence and other social malaise.

"That whereas corruption has been deeply entrenched in our national life long before President Jonathan assumed the reins of governance it should be stated that he owes Nigerians the responsibility to not only tackle this unwarranted malaise head-on but bring this cancerous scourge to an end.

As umpteenth stated, President Jonathan MUST sum the desired COURAGE and political WILL to fight corruption for posterity. Nigerians will surely remember him more for a clearly expressed commitment to fighting this ugly cancer.

"That Mr. President is hereby urged to regard corruption as national emergency and set up a National Advisory Committee on the eradication of corruption.

"That government should enact appropriate legislation that defines the parameters and considerations for plea bargaining in view of its persistent abuse by the Nigerian judiciary."

Gbonigi said that any further delay by the Federal Government in conveying a national dialogue or national conference might cause more crises in the country.

He said: "The ending of the insurgency in the North will not by itself alone bring a sustainable peace to our country.

"There are many other centres of simmering discontent across our nation, many of which have the potential to burst out as open rebellions if the causes of their grievances' are not addressed.

"This is why an all embracing national dialogue, or a national conference, has become an imperative. Further delay on this issue may turn out to be very expansive." Former Vice- President Ekwueme called for a national dialogue and emphasised the need for the South to speak with one voice.

He said: "The military which was dominated by the North has always be using divide and rule and this has enter into our democracy.

"The SNPA would be a vehicle of transformation through which every Nigeria would have a sense of belonging. If any group feels it has a lot to gain by being together in the country then we can forge ahead."

Former Minister of Information, Clark, urged the Federal Government to convey a national conference before January 2014. In his goodwill message, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, toward pushing issues of common interest amongst the various states grouped within the Southern space of Nigeria.

"We must seek to disappoint the envious and the cynics; that unity can reign supreme amongst the component parts, political, culture differences, religious inclination and whatsoever negative factor of historical past should never be allowed to draw wedge of hatred or enemies between you.

"It is my hope that the state of the nation shall go under the microscopic scrutiny of the forum, objectively, properly but harmlessly analysed in such a way, that the contribution of this particular forum will be a worthy input to development of making Nigeria the 'Giant of Africa' we have always intended to be," Ooni of Ife tasked SNPA.

Some of the dignitaries at the meeting are, former Secretary to Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae, former Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya, former governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, former Minister of Health, Prof. Adenike Grange, Secretary of Yoruba Unity Forum, Senator Anthony Adefuye, former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife; former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former governor of Delta State, Chief Felix Ibru, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Senator Bucknor Kofoworola-Akerele, President of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredericks Fasehun, OPC National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, among others.

National Mirror