My friends,Its been a while. Yes,Its because some of us will choke ourselves with issues concerning Nigeria for nothing If we are not wise. Our President woke up suddenly and announced the composition of a committee for a National Conference or Dialogue. As pessimistic as I am concerning this country, I saw futility in the offing. The National Dialogue is not a bad idea,after all Its not peculiar to Nigeria. Tunisia is preparing for one as we speak;Syria will be meeting in Geneva next month at the instance of the international community; as a matter of fact,the aburi conference where Gowon was cajoled during the civil war and the most recent one convened by President Obasanjo in 2005 are all Conferences with National flavour but different intent. Let me tell you,we are wasting scarce resources on this idea If the conference itself is not empowered by Statute to have a final say in Its decisions arising from deliberations therein. The Nomenclature not withstanding, whether called Sovereign or not,our political leaders are taking us for a ride and tinkling with the patience of the people. I was in the Auchi Polytechnic studying Mass Communication when the National Conference of 2005 was sitting and aired live on TV. It was a huge National joke even in Its composition, seeing former Senate president Joseph wayas,Matthew mbu, Karibi white JSC,and a host of other +70 patriots, discussing the future of a country they may not even live upto 25 more years to see what becomes of it....... we r not Japanese that lives upto 111years. They were on 20,000 naira daily allowance for 4months. Yet as old as they were, Ghana must go bags penetrated them and Obasanjo almost used them to actualize his 3rd term ambition. I told a gathering then in Auchi, that nothing will come out of the whole charrade, but they were looking at the caliber of people and not their intent. The National assembly received the reports at a joint sitting and never had even a committe to review it not to talk of discussing it at plenary. Painful enough we have 2 Senior Advocates of Nigeria in the cabinet of the president, but they will never tell him the legal and constitutional implications of convening a conference that lacks statutory backing; Its a sham! Just as the Federal Executive Council will never allow a committee report of the house of representatives to be deliberated upon by the council, so the National Assembly will never surrender itself to any report or even review it as Long as Its from a conference they never empowered to exist in the first place. If I am to advice the President, a bill,with detailed statutory powers stating what the conference should discuss and achieve. With that,its basis or foundation is firm enough to face the task and withstand even legal challenges.......... I RISE!!!
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 06:32:18 +0000
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