Constitution Amendment: Resource Control Tears Senate Apart http://www.independentngonline.com/news/tfpg/article01
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi , Assistant Editor, Abuja

Lawmakers from the North have regrouped to stop Southern agitation for a rise in oil derivation from 13 per cent to 50 per cent.

They have also sent a strong message of support to President Umaru Yar'Adua on political appointments.

The Northern Senators' Forum (NSF) met penultimate week to check moves by the Southern Senators' Forum (SSF) to rally for derivation increase in the new Constitution.

The thinking of the NSF, according to those present at the meeting, is that derivation should remain at 13 per cent and the formula should apply to all mineral resources and proceeds.

The trench positions of the NSF and the SSF may affect the amendment of the Constitution.

The stance of the North is on the heels of a caucus convened in Senate Hearing Room 2 by the SSF penultimate week, where the members voiced a myriad of complaints of Yar'Adua's marginalisation of the South.

But the NSF riposted that former President Olusegun Obasanjo equally favoured the South, whereas Yar'Adua, to date, has done nothing wrong.

The SSF, it was learnt, resolved to insist on the creation of more states, council autonomy, resource control, First Line charge from the Federation Account for the legislature, and power rotation at all levels of government.

Two weeks ago, the Senate began consideration of the Constitution amendment Bill Yar'Adua sent in.

A previous joint attempt by the Senate and the House of Representatives to review the Constitution had hit the rocks, following dispute on the headship of the Joint Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR).

Aso Rock presented a fresh window with a Bill to alter 19 clauses

One of the decisions of Southern Senators is to push for the inclusion of all issues critical to the survival of the nation, rather than dwell solely on those raised by Yar'Adua.

The Northerners are, however, insisting that they would not go outside the Bill sent in by the Villa.

"Northern Senators are saying that they may not be able to touch Sections of the Constitution Yar'Adua has not asked to be amended unless there is a serious need for such," said a source, who added that the North will, at the appropriate time, confront Southern claims of marginalisation with facts.

Daily Independent reported on June 15 - nine days before the Senate began its solo run with the Constitution review on June 24 - that the Northern elite is not comfortable with the exercise and has enlisted its members on the Joint Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR) to scuttle it unless the North has its way.

Northern lawmakers are in on the game, 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 (for Obasanjo) 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 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, since as the source put it, "he can adequately protect Northern interest and keep us abreast of developments concerning the issue."

The source added that the North is against any increase in oil derivation 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 early in June that the Senate would do its own review and harmonise it with that of the House.

Having gone their separate ways in the exercise, the Senate and the House last month shared at N500 million each, the N1 billion ring-fenced in the 2009 budget for the review.

There are 88 members on the JCCR, comprising 44 Senators and 44 House members.

Senators and House members brushed aside opposition from the National Assembly (NASS) management and began spending the money, which translates into N11.36 million for every one of the 88 reviewers.

A similar amount was allocated and shared in the 2008 budget, divided into N500 million for each Chamber.

The money was accessed after the NASS management, custodians of the N1 billion, caved in under pressure from the JCCR.

Agitation by House members to do their own Constitution review, which led to the collapse of the JCCR, informed the decision of the NASS management to release the money separately to each Chamber.

A source explained that "following the collapse of the joint review exercise, the legislators resolved to spend the N1 billion meant for the exercise on the passage of the seven Bills sent to the National Assembly by (Yar'Adua).

"It is no longer an intention, the money is being spent by the separate Chambers."

desgiezd:

This country has never for once behaved as a nation and the behaviours of our so called representatives is, to say the least, appalling. Even if the derivative formula is pegged at 50% and other mineral deposits in the country are exploited, no state, I repeat, no state would look up to others for money. All states would be sufficiently funded. This country is so blessed and it remains a paradox that our leaders are focusing only on petroleum. Right from the time of Abacha, there has been a Ministry of Solid Mineral Deposits but till today nobody knows what they do in that Ministry. Gold is being exploited in South Africa, in Ghana and in other places on commercial basis yet we could not partner with the companies that are engaged in this business to come here and exploit ours too. Same for so many other mineral deposits like tin, iron ore, uranium, bauxite, limestone, talc, gypsum, lead, zinc, bentonite & baryte, bitumen, coal, kaolin, columbite, niobium, graphite, marble, thorium and gem stones like sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, emerald, tourmaline, topaz, garnet, amethyst; zircon, diamond, almandine, garnet, amethyst, and flourspar. In fact the minerals are too numerous. One thing that God has also done is to ensure that most of these minerals are the purest quality so much so that Nigeria's petroleum is so pure that its called sweet crude. If I may ask, what then is our problem that we keep on hammering on petroleum like fools?

desgiezd:

This country has never for once behaved as a nation and the behaviours of our so called representatives is, to say the least, appalling. Even if the derivative formula is pegged at 50% and other mineral deposits in the country are exploited, no state, I repeat, no state would look up to others for money. All states would be sufficiently funded. This country is so blessed and it remains a paradox that our leaders are focusing only on petroleum. Right from the time of Abacha, there has been a Ministry of Solid Mineral Deposits but till today nobody knows what they do in that Ministry. Gold is being exploited in South Africa, in Ghana and in other places on commercial basis yet we could not partner with the companies that are engaged in this business to come here and exploit ours too. Same for so many other mineral deposits like tin, iron ore, uranium, bauxite, limestone, talc, gypsum, lead, zinc, bentonite & baryte, bitumen, coal, kaolin, columbite, niobium, graphite, marble, thorium and gem stones like sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, emerald, tourmaline, topaz, garnet, amethyst; zircon, diamond, almandine, garnet, amethyst, and flourspar. In fact the minerals are too numerous. One thing that God has also done is to ensure that most of these minerals are the purest quality so much so that Nigeria's petroleum is so pure that its called sweet crude. If I may ask, what then is our problem that we keep on hammering on petroleum like fools?

texazzpete:

And how do you know we've got commercially viable quantities of all these minerals you've mentioned? Just because there's Gold in ghana, do we take it as a given that we've got large gold deposits in Nigeria?

Dis Guy:

are the northern senators more than the southern senators
one thing im sure of is that the southern senators have never won any 'tussle'
so many 'strategic meetings' to protect the interest of the south east,south south etc etc nothing is achieved at the
end of it-they are useless!!

How can the South have more senators than the North in a country where no of seats are determined by population and where the Northerners have falsified census results since 1952, claiming a mojority of 54%.

Ibime:

The misappropriation of census figures is the most grievous political trick the North has ever played on the South, and if some Northern senators cannot be convinced to cross the aisle, perhaps the growing restiveness in the South would convince them to do so if militant agitation was visited upon their jurisdiction.

Dis Guy:


i asked a question!

northerners have falsified census results since 1954, [b]what have the south done about it? [/b]apart from moan online
why arent the southern senators or reps challenging this in the house or do they need permission from their northerner masters?

Dis Guy:


the last census was conducted under a southerner president wasnt it?

Dis Guy:

why do the northerner politician find it easy to convince southern senators anyway

Dis Guy:

funny thing is majority of these people belong to the same party what do they do there(in abuja) promise them
some yarinya and couple of ghana must goes?
when will southern senators actually score one over the northerners?

Kobojunkie:

I know for a fact that during Tinubu’s time in office, he at least was able to get an independent organization to confirm that Lagos population was as suggested by a state organization. Someone mentioned Orji doing something on another thread but it seems all he did was try to argue with not much but the same old tactic of estimating from decades old records.

Kobojunkie:

BINGO!!

Kobojunkie:

@Ibime, if you have not noticed by now, I ignore you and your continous need to throw a tantrum on here whenever I do not agree with you.

Maybe you ought to learn to respect yourself first, rather than continuing to insult yourself on here thinking I will stoop low enough to consider what you have to say as even valid in the arguing. I never read what you have to say because I see a child throwing a tantrum from the start and I am not here to indulge such silly behaviour!

When you learn to respect yourself, maybe then I will continue what you have to say. Till then, Stop, I repeat, Stop wasting your time responding to my posts in hopes it will be considered.  This is not an order but a suggestion!!!!

people insult themselves daily on American, European and other forums, why isn't it translated into their legislatures?

Negro_Ntns:



They disagree to agree. We disagree to score points. Major difference!

oh you haven't been on american forums when the war monger >> unpatrotic argument starts

Negro_Ntns:

Bia,

It is evident from your venomous passion that there still exist, to a gretaer degree, a segment of Igbos who are still clamouring for domination in the South. They exist here in NL and they exist in the NASS. You do not serve as good mouth piece for the Igbos and definitely you raise suspicion and caution and make it difficult for the Yorubas to let their guard down or be interested in any joint move for separation.

Negro_Ntns:

Bia,

It is evident from your venomous passion that there still exist, to a gretaer degree, a segment of Igbos who are still clamouring for domination in the South. They exist here in NL and they exist in the NASS. You do not serve as good mouth piece for the Igbos and definitely you raise suspicion and caution and make it difficult for the Yorubas to let their guard down or be interested in any joint move for separation.

Not exactly sure that asking for 100% of resource control by each geo-political zone amounts to attempt by one ethnic group to dominate the other
I don't know how Nigerians make up their logic at times.

"I think he is a rabble rouser at times.