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National Confab Rejects Minority Report
L-R: APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti,wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Bisi; APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu and former Head of State, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Buhari, at APC Mega Rally in Ado-Ekiti, last Wednesday
Delegates at the National Conference yesterday unanimously rejected a minority report presented by a member of the Devolution of Power Committee, Ms. Annkio Briggs.
Briggs submitted her report in Abuja immediately after the committee’s report was submitted by the Co-Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie and Obong Victor Attah.
Attah, who spoke after submitting the report, said the committee had no doubt that the report would generate a lot of interest.
Briggs, a Federal Government delegate and member of the committee, said she was submitting a minority report.
“I am a member of the committee, unfortunately, I happen to be a lone-voice that does not agree with a very critical aspect of the report of Devolution of Power Committee.
“I hereby seek to present my minority report on the issue of derivation,’’ she said.
The submission of the report generated a heated argument as majority of the delegates said the report should not be accepted or considered while few others said it should be accepted.
Dr Bello Muhammed, representing Kebbi State, called on the conference not to accept minority reports.
Muhammed said that the conference rule did not give room for minority reports but decisions that were reached either by consensus or 70 per cent vote.
“If we accept this report, it may encourage other delegates who also want to submit minority reports after a decision had been taken by this conference.
“This is because it is not everyone that will agree with everything that we agreed on.
“If the committee has decided either by consensus or by 70 per cent the report of a committee, every reasonable member of the committee should be bound by that report,’’ he said.
In his contributions, Mr Atedo Peterside, another Federal Government delegate, also stressed the need to reject the minority report, describing it as deliberate.
Peterside said any delegate who did not agree with a decision on an issue with its committee could take advantage of the five minutes given to each delegate to express his or her opinions.
Mr Festus Okoye, representing Civil Society Organisations, also agreed that the report should be rejected, as several strong opinions from delegates were also rejected at the committee level.
“We all went into some of the committees with hard opinions on various issues.
“Some of us, our opinions on various issues were defeated at the end of the day. We followed majority decisions and we are here to defend the majority decision.
“If each delegate that disagrees on an issue is to write a minority a report, I think we will be seeking an extension for five years,’’ Okoye said.
However, the National Conference in Abuja yesterday resolved contending issues and adopted the amended report of the conference committee on Citizenship, Immigration and Related Matters.
The report was on Wednesday suspended over contentious issues which centred on the provision and funding of grazing reserves and new technologies for herdsmen.
The committee had recommended that grazing reserves and new technologies such as hydroponic fodder solution for feeding cattle be promoted by government.
It also recommended that dedicated funds for the acculturation and acclimatisation of herdsmen should be provided for herdsmen for them to settle at designated grazing reserves.
While some of the delegates believed states where herdsmen came from should be responsible for providing and funding grazing, others said that it should be the responsibility of the host government.
The adoption of the committee report was preceded by a motion sponsored by 14 delegates and read by Mr Festus Okoye representing Civil Society Organisations, which resolved the contending issues.
The motion, which contained three prayers sought that an integrated development and livelihood modernisation programme be implemented.
Okoye said the motion addressed settling of nomadic herdsmen into communities based on establishment of cattle ranches with fodder development technologies; including abattoirs, processors and other businesses along livestock value chain.
Okoye said that the prayer became necessary to build on the innovative and transformative recommendations, citizenship and residency rights adopted by the conference.
He added that the motion was to create the environment that would reduce and prevent conflict arising from the encroachment by herdsmen into farmlands and competitions over land use between herdsmen and farming communities.
Dan Nwanyanwu of Labour Party seconded the motion which was unanimously accepted by the conference.
Chief Mike Ozekhome, a Federal Government delegate, however, moved a motion that the amended report of the committee be adopted.
Ozekhome’s motion was seconded by Justice Balkisu Aliyu, a delegate representing Zamfara, which was unanimously accepted by the conference as well.
The Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, ruling on the committee’s report said that “the majority has it more than consensus’’.
The committee report was the first to be adopted by the conference while deliberation also commenced on the Land Tenure Matters and National Boundaries Committee.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), has threatened to order the arrest of delegates’ aides and drivers for planning to disrupt plenary over alleged non payment of their allowances.
Kutigi, who gave the warning during plenary in Abuja, said it came to his notice that the aides and drivers had written a petition planning to disrupt plenary.
He said the secretariat had earlier explained to delegates that there was no budgetary provision for their aides and drivers.
“We just received security alert that your aides and drivers are planning to disrupt our conference.
“I understand the demonstration is because of allowance and we have told you that there is no budgetary provision for any aide or driver in the conference.
“Please appeal to your drivers and aides to leave us alone to conduct this conference in peace or alternatively, we shall be arresting them.’’
Kutigi urged delegates to call their aides and drivers to order, as the conference would not condone any unlawful act within the premises of the conference.
“You better take the message to your aides and drivers to stop harassing the conference.
“We don’t want to arrest the drivers and aides of our delegates that are lawfully here, but if they begin to carry out any unlawful act, we shall get them arrested; so, please, warn them.”
The Federal Government has approved the extension of the ongoing National Conference by four weeks, the Conference Chairman retired Justice Idris Kutigi has announced.
Kutigi, who made this known at yesterday’s plenary, said that the leadership of the conference had requested for six weeks extension but an approval of four weeks was granted.
“After our sitting yesterday (Wednesday), we visited the Secretary to the Government of Federation and we were informed that the government only granted us four weeks extension. We have asked for six but we were given only four weeks.In that regard we have to get our programmes tight up because I think the conference will now end on July 31.” Idris said.
“Due to the time factor, the conference management feels we should request from the delegates whether you are prepared to put in extra sitting hours on Fridays and Saturdays?I know you did a lot during the committee stage, now is the final stage we also need the same sacrifices from you. We are requesting for additional sittings on Fridays and Saturdays,”he added.
The request was unanimously rejected by the delegates with some suggesting other ways to fast track the conference decisions and gain more time for deliberations.
Dr Bello Muhammed, representing Kebbi State, said there was no need for an extension in the sitting time if the conference could come up with a right procedure in deliberating and adopting various committees’ recommendations.
Mrs Esther Gonda, representing Plateau State, suggested that the two hours alloted for lunch should be reduced to one, “because I have observed that some of us finish eating by 3pm.”
Chief Mike Ozekhome, an addendum delegate, who also agreed that the time for lunch should be reduced, suggested that the time allotted to each delegate to speak on a matter should be reduced to three minutes.
“We should also sit by 9am instead of 10am which is the normal time parliamentarians and courts sit across the world,” Ozekomeh said.
After various suggestions by the delegates the conference agreed to be resuming sitting by 9am from Mondays to Thursdays.
Idris, however, said that the 9 a.m. sitting agreement would commence on Monday.
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.