[size=14pt]SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE: North set for showdown[/size]

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor and Wole Mosadomi

LAGOS—The North has set machinery in motion in preparation for a conference to discuss the future of the country under the aegis of a Sovereign National Conference or forum of any sort, it emerged yesterday.
Concerned northerners including governors, politicians of different hue, academics and other professionals were, yesterday, segmented into 10 committees to articulate the northern position in the eventuality of a national conference as is being demanded by some sections of the country.

The north’s move came as the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Niger State, M’uazu Babangida Aliyu yesterday insisted on his demand for the abrogation of the derivation principle in the allocation of revenue from oil exploited from the continental shelf.

The Northern drive is being spearheaded by the Coalition of Concerned Northerners, a body that has as members Governor Aliyu of Niger State, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, former President of the Senate, Dr. Iyorcha Ayu and some of the leading lights of the region in the different professions.

Foremost of the committees formed yesterday by the northern group is the Constitutional Amendments, Revenue & Fiscal Systems, Structure of Nigeria Federalism which is to be headed by Prof. Awaulu Yadudu who served as Special Adviser to Gen. Sanni Abacha as Head of State.

The group which emerged following a meeting in Asokoro, Abuja on February 23rd had given its support for the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation at the meeting “in the hope that the lopsidedness in the structure of the nation’s politics and economy will be a key agenda issue.”

Among those present at that meeting that day were Governors Aliyu and Lamido, the convener of the meeting, Dr. Junaidu Muhammed, a former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, a former Deputy Senate President, Dr. John Wash-Pam,  former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed,  former Ministers, such as, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri and Malam Lawal Batagarawa and a former Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council, Prof. Nur Alkali.

One of the north’s leading voices and newspaper columnist, Mohammed Haruna in a circular yesterday gave details of the northern arrangement which he said “is structured in a way to prepare the region to face the challenges facing the Nigerian Federation.”

Haruna publisher of the defunct Citizen Newspaper and then spokesman of  former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, is Chairman of the Media Committee. The affairs of the committees are to be supervised by a coordinating committee which comprises all Governors that are involved, former President of the Senate, Senator Ayu, former deputy President of the Senate, Senator John Wash Pam, erstwhile former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, erstwhile Special Adviser to Gen. Sani Abacha as Head of State, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, erstwhile Minister of Finance and presently Senator representing Kaduna South, Senator Nenadi Usman, erstwhile Minister of Agriculture and Defence and presently chairmanship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Managing Director of the defunct FSB Bank, Mohammed Hayatuddeen, the incumbent deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, the immediate past Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Engr. Hamman Tukur among others.

The other committees and their chairmen are Interfaith Dialogues and Inter – Community Harmony (Senator John Wash Pam); Security (Mahmud Yayale Ahmed); Education (Prof. Nur Alkali);Economics, Policy Frameworks, Strategic Investments & Infrastructure (Mal. Sanusi Abubakar); Agriculture, Water Resources & Mineral Investments ( Dr. Shetimma Mustapha); Constitutional Amendments, Revenue & Fiscal Systems, Structure of Nigeria Federalism (Prof. Auwalu Yadudu), Youth Strategy & Contacts Committee ( Dr. Sule Bello) and Borno Dialogue Committee (Dr. Babangida Aliyu).

The northern group, Vanguard learnt yesterday, was preparing itself for any eventuality as it had not shied away from the challenges of a restructuring of the federation.

Besides the preparation for a national conference, the northern group is also preparing to address issues presently unsettling the region, notably the scourge of Boko Haram. It has, set up a committee headed by Governor Aliyu to explore the prospects for peace.

“Yes we are also inclined to self-help on some local problems like that of religion that is now unsettling the region and that is why we have raised a panel to address the problem now in Borno State,” a member of the group told Vanguard yesterday on the basis of confidentiality because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

The source further admitted that the group emerged to fill the vacuum following the failure of some northern groups including the Jamatur Nasil Islam, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN or even the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF to play a unifying role in pursuing the interests of the region.

“Our group is coming up because not one group in the region has been able to play the role that we have now assigned ourselves,” the source said.

Niger gov insists on abrogation of derivation principle for off-shore oil

[b]Meanwhile, Governor Aliyu yesterday insisted that revenue accruing to the country from oil drilled 200 nautical miles off-shore should be available to all beneficiaries of the federation account.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN) led by its national President, Professor Francis Ojaide in his office in Minna, Dr. Aliyu, however, debunked insinuations of his opposition to the principle of derivation.

According to him, the principle of derivation was ingrained in the constitution and should as such be upheld.

He, nevertheless, canvassed the review of the revenue formula saying that it is supposed to be periodically reviewed.

“I am not against the principle of derivation because it is a Constitutional Provision. The Appeal Court only ceded the derivation revenue accruable from oil wells within the on-shore to the littoral states and the Supreme Court has equally made a pronouncement on this issue. It is therefore wrong for government at the centre not to honour the Supreme Court Judgment.”

Lamenting the delay in the review of the revenue formula, he said: “In some countries the review is done every five years but in our country, it is 10 years and we are not even reviewing it. Even if we are not going to change the provision or the sharing formula, what the law says is that the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission should forward to the National Assembly for a review every 10 years,” the governor stressed.
[/b]
He also stressed the need to devolve more power from the centre to the states and the local governments across the country, adding that both the states and local government areas need more funds to prosecute their programmes especially since these arms of government are closer to the people.

President of the Institute, Professor Ojaide had hinted the governor on plans by the body to establish an Accountancy School in Minna, the state capital and solicited the support of the governor for the success of the project.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/sovereign-national-conference-north-set-for-showdown/

bring the oyel mooney makwee sharaam

aboki don charge well well

It is easy to bring them to their senses. All that needs be done is ensure that their "huge population" is not allowed to vote:



[img]http://2.bp..com/-977eaXSlNTU/TarV0vHhilI/AAAAAAAABeM/ccQlw05Hrqw/s1600/Abuja-underage.jpg[/img]

www.nairaland.com/attachments/429801_underage_voters_in_Katsina_jpgf213dac1b5dc6a6f11bd79906d632533

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/424344_An_under-aged_voter_waiting_to_get_accredited_at_GSS_Akila__Polling_unit_006_jpg3e3cb0aa496dff62e31cb527fcd7026c[/img]

www.nairaland.com/attachments/423419_childVoter_jpga0121e13767e398d906505a90b2c5b0b

Meanwhile, Governor Aliyu yesterday insisted that revenue accruing to the country from oil drilled 200 nautical miles off-shore should be available to all beneficiaries of the federation account.

To all those who are issuing evacuation papers to non-oil producing states, the devil you face now is worse than the one before it! The Northerners have recently gone crazy poring through the laws and uncovering loopholes, they just discovered a new incentive for which to renew their membership in Nigeria. . . . . and guess what? it's called "no man's oil" !!

re@lchange:

[size=14pt]SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE: North set for showdown[/size]


“I am not against the principle of derivation because it is a Constitutional Provision. The Appeal Court only ceded the derivation revenue accruable from oil wells within the on-shore to the littoral states and the Supreme Court has equally made a pronouncement on this issue. It is therefore wrong for government at the centre not to honour the Supreme Court Judgment.”

I've been telling you lazy people who have been yelling, parasite, 100% resource control, e.t.c, that you have no claim whatsoever on the offshore oil greater than that of any other Nigerian from any other state.  You have to fight a war and defeat the rest of us before you can lay claim on 100% offshore oil. Its time to start sharing offshore oil based on population - the fairest way to do it.

You can have 100% resource control of resources located within your state, that is only fair. No fisherman in the ND can claim anything far away in the Atlantic where their wooden boat cannot reach. By the time we sit down and redo this derivation, you people may regret calling others parasites.  When we request "May the real parasites stand up", you people may be the responders.

Dudu_Negro, stop exposing the foolery of these people. What's your problem? Let them carry on.

Dudu_Negro:

To all those who are issuing evacuation papers to non-oil producing states, the devil you face now is worse than the one before it!  The Northerners have recently gone crazy poring through the laws and uncovering loopholes, they just discovered a new incentive for which to renew their membership in Nigeria.  . . . . and guess what?  it's called "no man's oil"  !!

you may be right but in a case where the country breaks up the north will have to forget  offshore oil , they can only lay such claims while the country is still united which by the way the federal govt is already taking the lion share from it.

Not a penny of offshore resources should you get.

Everything in the sea up to 200 miles or so (whatever the distance the law of the sea says) belongs to the states in question, not some dudes closer to the Sahara desert than to the sea.

Devilish creatures, ndu_chucks and the rest of these abokis.

The north should bring this issue to the table.

ndu_chucks:

I've been telling you lazy people who have been yelling, parasite, 100% resource control, e.t.c, that you have no claim whatsoever on the offshore oil greater than that of any other Nigerian from any other state.  You have to fight a war and defeat the rest of us before you can lay claim on 100% offshore oil. Its time to start sharing offshore oil based on population - the fairest way to do it.

You can have 100% resource control of resources located within your state, that is only fair. [size=14pt]No fisherman in the ND can claim anything far away in the Atlantic where their wooden boat cannot reach.[/size] By the time we sit down and redo this derivation, you people may regret calling others parasites.  When we request "May the real parasites stand up", you people may be the responders.

Dudu_Negro, stop exposing the foolery of these people. What's your problem? Let them carry on.

una go kill people for here! so na only canoe distance you go take measure am

See this map?

Everything in that sea belongs to Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.

No man who is closer to the desert than to the Atlantic should claim any portion of it.

ekt_bear:

Not a penny of offshore resources should you get.

Everything in the sea up to 200 miles or so (whatever the distance the law of the sea says) belongs to the states in question, not some dudes closer to the Sahara desert than to the sea.

Devilish creatures, ndu_chucks and the rest of these abokis.

"The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of [b]nations [/b]in their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources. " The keyword in the last sentence is "nations". Nigeria is the only nation in question here. When seccessionists succeed in carving out their countries, we can revisit the issue. For now, NASS will address the inequity and injustice inherent in the current derivation formula. Guess who holds the majority of the votes?  

@Ngodigha1, the issue is on the legitimate table. A bill will be introduced to right the derivation wrong if you people continue your impotent threats.

Heh.

Then perhaps it is indeed best to pursue secession.

That can most certainly be placed on the table as well.

Be careful what you ask for. . . you just might get it.

T8ksy:


Oh so na aboki mallam go come lay claim to resources in the atlantic where his hungry cattles cannot reach?

Oh well, i have always known that the northern elite will not let go of their source of sustenance without a bloody fight.

Here comes, Nigeria civil war, Part II.

why wont they lay claim when some yoruba slaves like you are always out to defend them , bunch of low lives ,they have not only layed claim to off shore oil but also yorubaland in kwara and kogi, now go and shit in your pants.

I actually think it is better to simply secede outright. The entire north is then landlocked. You can then charge them a tax for every piece of bread they consume or import.

Anything that must cross your land to enter theirs, they should be paying a tax for right now.

The possibilities for squeezing revenue from the landlocked aboki are endless

The coastal nations should just secede and then agree to a uniform tax policy for any goods crossing their borders into the North.

Hehehehe

ekt_bear:

Heh.

Then perhaps it is indeed best to pursue secession.  

That can most certainly be placed on the table as well.

Be careful what you ask for. . . you just might get it.

Secession on the table? That's impossible, the NASS will never address a treasonable issue like that. If you doubt, you people can go ahead and declare your secession and see where it will get you. ekt_bear, you of all people should have learnt from the civil war. abi una never sober ni?

@T8ksy, its best to stay on the right side of the law. olodo

I am flabbergasted at the temerity of these guys.

No gratefulness for the current benefits they get from this union. Instead they seek to reap from the sea, a place that their forefathers have no knowledge of, no experience of.

With this, they have bitten off more than they can chew.

It will be very interesting to watch this unfold, heh.

Population of the north is probably 80 million?

You can probably raise $10 or $20 a year in duties per head.

A cool $800 million just like that.

I wonder how much Niger Republic and Chad spend per year on additional fees from being landlocked.

There is potentially a goldmine available here.

Not only will you not receive a penny of what comes from the sea, you will even pay a tax per head for everything imported that you consume.

Oil, cement, building supplies, okada, anything that your people spend money on and cannot make locally.

Hehehe

Cars.

Trucks.

What else do they have in the north that is not made there but imported through the south?

If men like me were in charge in Yorubaland and the south more generally, we would extract every pound of flesh possible from aboki

Truly, the possibilities are endless.

Why shouldnt Niger Republic too be claiming whats in the Atlantic.

Ektbear thats an old map that doesnt show your own state Ekiti

Or is Ekiti not in Nigeria anymore? :d  ;d

I think it is a pre-1996 map of Nigeria. It also doesn't show Bayelsa.

ndu_chucks:

I've been telling you lazy people who have been yelling, parasite, 100% resource control, e.t.c, that you have no claim whatsoever on the offshore oil greater than that of any other Nigerian from any other state.  You have to fight a war and defeat the rest of us before you can lay claim on 100% offshore oil. Its time to start sharing offshore oil based on population - the fairest way to do it.

You can have 100% resource control of resources located within your state, that is only fair. No fisherman in the ND can claim anything far away in the Atlantic where their wooden boat cannot reach. By the time we sit down and redo this derivation, you people may regret calling others parasites.  When we request "May the real parasites stand up", you people may be the responders.

Dudu_Negro, stop exposing the foolery of these people. What's your problem? Let them carry on.

Lol! You are only getting tired of the little you steal. Una go soon join Niger.
The great thing about the Presidency going to the SS is that it has thrown up the deep hypocrisies that are the foundation of Nigeria. Those hypocrisies WILL be uprooted so that Nigeria can progress, instead of practising an oficial form of the almajiri system.

Enjoy the pic.

ndu_chucks:

"The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of [b]nations [/b]in their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources. " The keyword in the last sentence is "nations". Nigeria is the only nation in question here. When seccessionists succeed in carving out their countries, we can revisit the issue. For now, NASS will address the inequity and injustice inherent in the current derivation formula. Guess who holds the majority of the votes?  

@Ngodigha1, the issue is on the legitimate table. A bill will be introduced to right the derivation wrong if you people continue your impotent threats.

What a dimwit! NASS ke! lolzzz!
The President can dictate whatever revenue allocation formula he desires.

GEJ should make sure he changes that before he leaves, all in the spirit of true federalism.

i support the decision for a conference.

All this talk and yip yapping about breaking Nigeria is around the oil revenue. I mean let's be serious. There are laws
that govern Nigeria and they should be followed. The government does not have the right to redistribute the oil from
on-shore drilling  and this means apart from taxes, the Fg should not touch any of it.  The Northerners should not ask for it either.
And for the off shore drilling, it should be redistributed to the whole country since it is the territory of the Nigerian' government. And the Fg
is the only one that should determine how to do so.
Now certain people want it all. They want the Northerners to be completely deprived of any resource from oil drilling. If they had to decide
the North would not get 1 penny from oil just because they live close to the "Sahara".
There are laws, let's apply them. These conferences are all bullshit.

You will not get a penny of anything in the sea. If God wanted you to have it, he wouldn't have located you by the desert

And I say this out of no selfish sentiment. My own state is not coastal, after all.

it is a wise move by the north. you can see i woke up the north.  all of you who say, i can not be president. really do not know anything. guess who is the power now. i once said i can impeach the president. you think i was joking, i serve a mighty God.

ekt_bear:

You will not get a penny of anything in the sea. If God wanted you to have it, he wouldn't have located you by the desert

And I say this out of no selfish sentiment. My own state is not coastal, after all.

You can still hope, the law is the law and it shall be respected. I completely agree when it concerns on shore drilling.
No speculation on that part, its all for the states where the drilling happens.