Politics
Between True Federalism And Sovereign National Conference
Some eminent Nigerians, rose from a meeting in Lagos recently and called on the Federal Government to urgently convoke a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to address the myriad of crisis currently confronting the nation.
At the end of a two-day National Dialogue organized under the aiges of National Summit Group (NSG), the group made up of politicians, elders statesmen, civil rights activists, business men, academics, traditional and religious leaders, organised labour as well as security agents, emphasised the need for a Sovereign National Conference. They insist that it has become imperative to convoke a national conference comprising various constituent units of the country that would produce valid and true document to serve as the people’s constitution.
Also another group of Nigerians have canvassed for true fiscal federalism as the panacea to the myriad of problems facing the nation.
The call for either the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference or true fiscal federalism as envisioned by the authors of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria is not new.
The late elder statesmen, Anthony Enahoro’s National Democratic Coalition (NADECCO) was among the first groups to champion the fight for the convocation of a sovereign national conference dating back to the birth of the nation’s nascent democracy in 1999.
The South-South People’s Assembly (SSPA), an umbrella socio-political, cultural and ethnic body of the Niger Delta province, comprising, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states has also been a formidable voice in the call for sovereign national conference and the practice of true fiscal federalism.
It is believed in some quarters that it was SSPA’s pressure that forced the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to pick Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to serve as running mate to the late Musa Shehu Yar’Adua in 2004. The agitation by SSPA and others also contributed to the election of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, from the South-South geopolitical zone, a minority as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the first time in the political history of Nigeria.
Although constitutionally, Nigeria is a federation, in practice, many political scientists have continued to insist that Nigeria is a quasi federalism.
A part of the preamble of the 1999 constitution says inter-alia “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria …and to provide for a constitution for the purpose of promoting a good government and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equality and justice and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people, do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following constitution”.
The advocates of SNC have emphatically and repeatedly argued that the 1999 constitution did not come into existence through a properly constituted Constituent Assembly or Constitution Drafting Committee.
Speaking at the legislative summit on South West Integration at Ibadan recently a House of Assembly member from Ekiti State, Ayodele Odu (Trepodun/Ifelodun) constituency said “the 1999 constitution is decree 24 of 1999. It is an outdated constitution foisted by Abdulsalami.
He described it as a fraudulent constitution that told a lie against itself. The National Assembly can amend it, but it cannot make a new constitution for Nigeria. It is anti-historical to give the task to them. He said constitution making is the job of a Constituent Assembly.
Agitators of SNC reason that the various ethnic nationalities that make-up the country, for example the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Arewa Consultative Council, the Odudua Peoples Congress, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, etc or their representatives should meet on a round-table to dialogue and formulate a people’s constitution.
“We have 484 ethnic groups in Nigeria. We have to go back to basics Awolowo said we cannot avoid a federal system. The military constitution is masquerading as a constitution”, Ayodele Odu said.
In an interview with The Tide, Mr. Victor Burubo, the publicity secretary of INC, said the various ethnic groups have the right to meet and dialogue on how they should live together but such a dialogue or conference must be representative enough and not some selected individuals meeting to take decisions.
Chief Bob Fredricks, a former member of the 3rd Assembly, Rivers State House of Assembly and now an executive member of the INC, is of the view that SNC is a meeting where the national issues like true fiscal federalism will be discussed.
He said anybody from the Niger Delta opposing the call for SNC should be considered a traitor.
On the other hand, those opposed for the convocation of the SNC fear that the convocation of such conference at this point of the nation’s political history or development might be detrimental and may do more harm to the nation’s unity.
The opponents of the SNC also argue that the National Assembly as presently constituted is a representation of the people of Nigeria across the various ethnic nationalities.
They also reason that the National Assembly has the power and mandate to dialogue, discuss and make laws for the people they represent.
Chapter one, part two, paragraph four, section one of the 1999 constitution states that “the legislative power of the federal republic of Nigeria shall be vested in a National Assembly of the federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives”.
In reaction to the agitators for the convocation of SNC. The National Assembly described the call as diversionary and unnecessary saying that it would not work and urged its agitators to channel their grievances through the National Assembly.
According to the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, the call for Sovereign National Conference is diversionary and unnecessary.
He said “Sovereign National Conference is the thinking of some idle minds adding, that convening SNC is about representation of Nigerians and you already have representation of Nigerian in us, one of the most credible elections that INEC conducted was the election that brought us to office. So people in the National Assembly are representing the Nigerian people.
Zakari Mohammed opined “security matters have occupied the front burner of national discourse. We have been inviting the service chiefs for private meetings from time to time to find solutions to the problem”.
He said, loss of confidence in institutions has been like that over time, but it’s not fair for people to say they want to convene SNC for now.
“Are we going to conduct election to bring on representations for the SNC? How many ethnic groups do we have in Nigeria? Is every ethnic nationality going to be represented” he asked adding that if they have a template for discussion there are representatives to address such.
“Those calling for a break up of Nigeria (may be those calling for the SNC) don’t mean well for us. We cannot reduce ourselves to tribal forces and begin to play local champions. Nigeria is a unique country of several ethnic nationalities bonded together by nationality” he remarked.
In his reaction, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media, Information and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe told those agitating for a SNC to shelve the idea because it cannot work and advised them to channel their grievances through the National Assembly.
Senator Abaribe drew the attention of those calling for SNC to the fact that there already exist elected representatives of the people and that all Nigerians are either represented by a member of the House of Representatives or a Senator.
He said “we do not understand the position of those who want SNC” noting that the National Assembly is not against any group of people coming together to discuss issues they felt concerned them”.
However, Mr. Burubo, INC Publicity Secretary, is of the view that the National Assembly is made up of politicians who largely represent their political parties’ interest and personal interest who may know little of the felt need of their ethnic nationality adding that they are just a negligible percentage of the people.
Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and Rev Tunji Adebiyi, Lagos State Special Adviser on Regional Integration have already drawn attention to the limited powers of the National Assembly to make people’s constitution for the country explaining that while the legislators have the mandate to make laws for the country, they are handicapped in making a constitution.
The National Assembly, it is said can only review the constitution and cannot make a new constitution. Making a new and people’s constitution can only be done by bodies outside the parliament put up by the ethnic nationalities.
On why the nation could not practice true federalism despite the fact that Nigeria is a federation, Dr. Monday Okonny, an elder statesman and two-time commissioner in the old Rivers State, blamed the National Assembly for not living up to expectation.
“We need to practice true fiscal federalism, states having their own police etc.” he said.
Again Chief Bob Fredricks, former lawmaker in Rivers State also insist that the SNC would be the only meeting where issues of true fiscal federalism can be meaningfully discussed.
He pointed out that when Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914, the nation was practicing true fiscal federalism. Each region produced what they had and paid tax to the centre. But that system, he said was killed by the military. We now run a sort of military system as opposed to federalism, hence, every now and then, the state governors have to run to Abuja for either federation account meeting or allocation meeting etc.
It was William E. Berah (1865-1940), a Senator in U.S.A who said “the marvel of history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their government”.
It is true that the 1999 constitution did not come into existence through the normal constitution making process. But the more unfortunate thing is that those who are supposed to apply its contexts are selective. The National Assembly’s move to make selective amendment of certain sections of the constitution gives credence to the fact that the constitution is faulty.
A temporary panel beating efforts by the National Assembly may amount to beating about the bush. The way to go may be to hit the harmmer on the head by having a total review or re-writing of the constitution.
Soye Young-Itiye
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.