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