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Nigerians Demand Referendum On National Confab Decision
R-L Guest Speaker, Prof. Wole Soyinka; Guest of Honour, Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Representative of the Special Assistant To President Goodluck Jonathan on Documentation, Omolara Woods, at the Port Harcourt World Book Capital on Wednesday
A cross-section of Nigerians of all walks of life have urged the Federal Government to subject the outcome of the ongoing National Conference to a referendum.
A nationwide opinion survey of personalities conducted yesterday indicated that most respondents preferred ratification of conference decisions by referendum rather than the Presidential or National Assembly endorsement.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan said while inaugurating the conference that its outcome may be subjected to a referendum.
“If the outcome of the National Conference is to be binding on Nigerians, the people must have a say in the final outcome,’’ said a Sokoto-based lawyer, Mr Ferdinand Okotote.
According to him, such an action would legitimise the decisions of the conference.
Many respondents, however, were of the opinion that asking the National Assembly to ratify the conference decisions would be less expensive and bear no cost to the economy.
“The National Assembly is already an established institution; but conducting a referendum is like conducting a fresh general elections.
“So, conducting a referendum would be more expensive and more cumbersome.
“If we want the outcome of the National Conference to acquire legitimacy and respect, and used as an instrument to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there should be a referendum,’’ a respondent said.
However, Chairman of the Sokoto State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Steve Nwoke, was of the view that the resolutions of the conference should be submitted to the National Assembly for ratification.
A senior lecturer at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amasoma, Bayelsa State, Mr Ebipado Sapere-Obi, expressed uncertainty about a referendum, “because of the absence of an enabling law for a referendum in Nigeria’’.
The Secretary, Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Abdallah El-Kurebe, expressed support for a referendum.
“Nigerians must have the final say on the outcome, and they can only do so through a referendum,’’ El-Kurebe, said.
Also in support for a referendum was the Chairman, Sokoto State chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Abba Sidi.
He was supported by Chairperson, Rivers chapter, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Florence Itamunoala who also held the view that the conference deliberations be subjected to a national referendum.
Itamunoala said the referendum would give a large number of Nigerians the opportunity to make their input.
“At least, we can boldly say that the generality of Nigerians have contributed, or made their input to the conference,’’ Itamunoala said.
The National Secretary, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Mr Rafiu Salau, also held that the outcome of National Conference should be subjected to a referendum.
He said that a referendum would not be seen as an imposition, but a collective decision and a democratic process.
A Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Mr. Edward Obiokor opined that a referendum was the best option rather than subjecting the outcome of the conference to presidential approval or ratification by the National Assembly.
Obiokor expressed fears that the National Assembly might not vote for a constitutional amendment to pave way for a referendum as its members may fear losing their seats.
“Nigerians have been advocating for the parliamentary system of government because it appears better and cheaper compared to the present presidential system.
“But for the country to move forward, our legislators should put aside their personal interests and allow for a constitutional amendment that will pave way for a referendum,” he said.
He urged the National Assembly to go ahead with the constitutional amendment process, saying it is only then that the ongoing national conference would have meaning and possibly change the fortune of the country for the better.
Director-General, Center for Research, Information Management and Media Development, Lagos, Dr. Raphael James also expressed the view that the conference resolutions be ratified by the National Assembly.
But a Benin-based legal practitioner, Mr Chris Ighoja, said that adoption of a referendum was the best option, adding: “the National Assembly makes laws, and the people make constitution’’.
Deputy Registrar, Information, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Williams Wodi appealed to the leadership of the nation to subject the outcome of the conference to referendum.
“Every Nigerian entered the Nigerian federation as an individual and not as a group; and as such, power ought not to be left in the hands of a few Nigerians.
Dr Patrick Mbum of the University of Calabar, agreed that the outcome of the conference be subjected to a national referendum.
For Dr Emmanuel Ejere of the University of Uyo, subjecting the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly or the Presidency would amount to making the exercise a jamboree.
He said that the agitation for a national conference was actually a call for a sovereign national conference.
“This also means that whatever is the outcome of the conference shall be subjected to the will of the people and not the Presidency or the National Assembly.’’
A former National Secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. John Ndukauba said a referendum would be possible after an amendment of the Nigerian Constitution.
According to him, the constitution as it exists presently, does not provide for a referendum.
He, therefore, advised President Goodluck Jonathan to “deploy his lobbying powers to get the National Assembly to fast-track the constitution amendment process to incorporate referendum’’.
Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kwara chapter, Rev. Cornelius Fawenu said that the only way the outcome of the conference could be acceptable to the people was to subject it to a referendum.
He said it was proper that Nigerians were given a chance to contribute to the conference by subjecting the outcome to a referendum.
He said that since the delegates to the conference were not elected, decisions by them would not carry any legal weight unless they went through a popular referendum.
And from Enugu State, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Anthony Ani, advised the conference delegates from the South-East zone to address issues relating to creation of more states in the area.
Secretary-General, Students Union Government, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia, Mr. Angel Nwokorie said government should ensure the implementation of the resolutions.
A community leader in Esit Eket, Akwa Ibom, Chief Ikemesit Ikot, said that the outcome of the conference should be made final, and described it as a step in the right direction.
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.