Constitution Review: North Plots Against South, Ekweremadu
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi (Abuja) and Austin Oboh (Lagos)

Northern elite is not comfortable with the attempt to amend the Constitution and has enlisted its members on the Joint Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR) to scuttle the exercise unless it has its way.





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It emerged at the weekend that Northern lawmakers are in the loop, which includes a plot against Deputy Senate President and JCCR Chairman, Ike Ekweremadu, by insisting on the title of JCCR Co-chairman for Usman Nafada, who is House of Representatives Deputy Speaker.


Nafada has turned down the title of JCCR Vice Chairman, even though the Senate argues this is what the Constitution recognises.


National Assembly (NASS) sources said factors the North has stacked up against Ekweremadu include:


One: The North believes that its interests would be jeopardised with Ekweremadu chairing the JCCR, hence its insistence that Nafada must be Co-chairman, so that both men would take joint decisions.


A source, a ranking legislator, reasoned that "the latitude given to the former JCCR Chairman and former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, would not be repeated this time.


"Because there was no Co-chairman in the last Constitution review, that was why the issue of tenure elongation was brought in and the House had to play along. This time around, we want to be carried along in every decision-making on the JCCR."


Two: The North wants control of the finances of the JCCR, outside the N1 billion appropriated for the exercise in the 2009 budget.


"Look, lobby will come in form of money. Those with vested interests in any clause to be amended will do something. There is no way one man would be allowed to be in charge of that."


The antagonists believe the only way to control the finance is if Nafada becomes Co-chairman and is privy to all decisions.


Three: While the North is stridently against state creation, the South seeks more states and has mobilised the Southern Senators' Forum (SSF) to speak with one voice on it.


The SSF has agreed that, to correct imbalance, the South East should have three new states while other zones should have a maximum two new states each.


But the North believes that its fears over state creation would be allayed only if Nafada is made JCCR Co-chairman.


"He can adequately protect Northern interest and keep us abreast of developments concerning the issue," the source said.


Another concern of the North is oil derivation which the South wants increased from 13 per cent to 50 per cent, but which the North opposes.


According to a source, the North is against any increase in the percentage and believes that Ekweremadu being from the South East would be sympathetic to raise it to at least "50 per cent as demanded by the South South.


"There is a general mistrust, and unless Nafada is there as Co-chair who will be part of decision making of the review committee, we don't see how we are going to accept Ekweremadu as the Chairman with Nafada as Vice Chairman."


He cited the National Political Conference where there was a Co-secretary; so, "there is nothing unusual about Co-chairman. In an important exercise like the review of the Constitution, you can't leave it to the whims of one person."


Senate President, David Mark, inaugurated the JCCR in October last year, comprising 44 members from each NASS Chamber.


A joint review has, however, been filibustered by House members who insist that Nafada has the title of Co-Chairman.


Mark announced about two weeks ago that the Senate would do a solo review and harmonise its conclusions with those of the House.


Ondo State Governor, Segun Mimiko, touched on the gridlock at the weekend when he reiterated that reforming electoral system, which is part of the Constitution review, is critical to enthroning a virile democracy.


He advised Nigerians to pay attention to the independence of the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the two institutions are vital to democracy.


His words: "Whatever we can do to strengthen the judiciary, let's do it, because ultimately if the judiciary is strengthened, and can make independent decisions, then we will be on our path to having a dependable INEC or whatever name it is called.


"The argument about whether it is the President or the NJC (National Judicial Council) that should choose the INEC Chairman, I think, is taking the issue to a pedestrian realm, because we love names that have some meat around them.


"If a President really willingly wants to influence it (appointment of INEC Chairman), nothing stops him from picking. There are one million ways he can influence the NJC, even to pick whoever he wants as INEC Chairman.


"The issue that I think we should be harping upon, because the independence of the INEC is very important and critical, is how can we ensure that if, per chance, a fairly good person is INEC chairman he can be truly independent.


"The issue is how do we ensure independence for the INEC and continue to fortify the judiciary and make it truly independent? If we do all those things we will be on our path to electoral reform."