News
National Confab Resumes, Today …Threatens To Bar Media
The National Conference holding in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, that adjourned after its inaugural sitting last Tuesday reconvenes today, with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) cautioning delegates to be very thorough and conscientious in discussing issues without playing to the gallery.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council, Mr Chuks Ehirin, who spoke with The Tide at the conference’s venue yesterday in Abuja said, “we have heard about hidden agenda, which has been buttressed by the level of manipulation in the selection of delegates. But even at that, if a man brings you here because he is your friend, remember that you are here to represent either your people and Nigeria”.
The NUJ boss stated that “if you come here and take a wrong decision, it will live to hunt you for another 100 years. So, my advice to the delegates is to look at the problems of the country dispassionately and proffer sustainable solutions to them”.
Ehirin cautioned against vulgar language, parochialism and insensitivity in addressing the problems plaguing the nation, and called for a sense of patriotism that will ensure all the nagging issues are treated dispassionately.
Meanwhile, some delegates at the ongoing National Conference have urged Nigerians to take advantage of the conference’s website: www.nigerianationalconference2014.org, to offer useful suggestions that would enrich deliberations at the conference.
The delegates told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that Nigerians should access the website and pass on their suggestions to them.
The spokesman of Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said the idea of a website for the conference was well-thought out.
According to him, the world is now in the digital age where information is passed through the internet.
A delegate of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Mr Steve Aluko, said the website would give public access to information about the conference and the delegates.
Aluko, an executive director, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), suggested that the contacts of every delegate should be published on the website.
According to him, it will enable the people, particularly, major stakeholders, the opportunity to monitor and also give their inputs into the agenda of the conference.
The Secretary-General, Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Isaac Ighure, said the website was going to be of mutual benefit to the delegates and the general public.
Ighure said the platform would make it easy for the public to have an in-depth knowledge of issues that the delegates would be discussing about them and the country.
However, the National Conference has proposed to revoke accreditation granted media houses that published what it considers as, “unfair and offensive” report.
This is stated under Order 14-Miscellaneous of the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014 released to delegates on Thursday.
The rules says, “The Conference may grant approval to the representative of any media to attend the sitting of the Conference provided that if the media publishes a report of the proceedings which the Conference considers unfair, offensive and not a true reflection of what transpired, such permission may be revoked.”
The Conference Assistant Secretary, Communications, Mr. James Akpandem had at the inaugural sitting asked delegates to lodge complain of wrong reporting against any media house at the secretariat.
Chapter 2, Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution states, “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.
Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has expressed fears that the National Conference Procedure Rules 2014 may serve as impediment to its success.
In an interview with our correspondent, Ozekhome who promised to commit his allowances to his charity foundation faulted certain provisions of the rules.
Specifically, he said Order 11 of the rules which provides that, “in case of failure to reach a resolution on the matter by consensus, it shall be decided by vote of three quarter majority” was an aberration.
According to him, considering the different matters like regional federation, fiscal federalism, state police, total resource control, parliamentarian system of government fiscal federalism, that are on top of the agenda of the conference, it would be difficult to achieve a three quarter majority.
“It would be practically impossible to get any consensus on any issue. Just in the same way it would be practically impossible to get people to vote to support an issue.
“In all these sensitive matters, can we get up to 75 percent or three quarter of delegates voting for an issue; I do not know.
“We may end up enthroning minority. If 74 percent voted for an issue and 26 voted against, it means that 74 percent has failed to cross hurdle. It means the 26 percent will carry the day,” he said.
Instead, Ozekhome advocated for a simple majority or two-third majority vote.
He also disagreed on the Order 13 which provides that, “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 Consultation and laws of the Country.”
Ozekhome said the provision was contrary to inaugural speech of President Goodluck Jonathan who said the decision of the conference could be subjected to a referendum.
He argued that, “Sovereignty belongs to the people. We are representing the people. Whatever we arrive at the end of the day should be taken back to the people for plebiscite or referendum, not to the National Assembly because they will kill it.
He also disagreed with Order nine which states that, “At plenary sessions each representative body shall speak through a delegate nominated by the representative body through its leadership.”
He said, “I do not see why three nominees of a state have to speak through one person. They are representing different interests even though they are from the same state. It could be their ethnic group; it could be their local government interest.”
It also warned delegates from assaulting or obstructing any officer of the Conference while in the execution of his duty.
Comptroller ,Rivers State Immigration Command, Mr Mike Longe (right), condoles Mr Okezie Kalu, father of Sunday Kalu (left), one of the applicants who died during recruitment exercise of Nigeria Immigration Service penultimate Saturday
Justus Awaji, Abuja
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
Opinion4 days ago
How Reliable Is AI
-
News3 days agoRSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others
-
Politics4 days ago
Keyamo Inaugurates Ganduje As FAAN Board Chair
-
Rivers4 days ago
HOS Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP … As Project Sensitization Team Visit Degema, AKULGA
-
Politics4 days agoReps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar
-
Opinion4 days ago
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
-
News3 days agoI’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
-
News4 days ago2027: I Stand With Southern Presidency -Ortom