₦airaland Forum

Very sad

awodman: President Goodluck Jonathan could not have made a better choice than Femi Okurounmu, a former senator, as
chairman of the 13–member Advisory Committee on
National Conference.

In his broadcast to the nation to mark its 53rd
Independence Anniversary, on Tuesday, Mr Jonathan said
the committee would establish modalities for a national
dialogue, among other things, and submit its report in one month.

A statement from the Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, SGF, later named other
members of the Committee as George Obiozor, Ben
Nwabueze, Tony Nyam, Funke Adedayo, Abubakar Sadiq,
Buhari Bello, Tony Uranta, Khairat Abdurazaq-Gwadabe,
Timothy Adudu, Mairo Ahmed Marshi and Dauda Birma.
Akilu Ndabawa will serve as Secretary.

For Mr. Okurounmu, his choice as chairman of the
committee to midwife the conference was a dream that is
almost becoming a reality. For a sizable part of his political life, Mr. Okurounmu, an engineer, who represented the Ogun Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, between 1999 and 2003, had joined like-minds across the country to agitate for a Sovereign National Conference and later National Conference.

On October 13, 1999, barely five months after he was
inaugurated senator, Mr Okurounmu moved a motion on
the floor of the upper legislative chamber, seeking the
convocation of a national conference in the country, to
address salient issues.

In the motion, the former senator asked the Senate to
consider the convening of a National Conference on True
Federalism towards a review of the 1999 Constitution.

Mr. Okurounmu’s desire for a National Conference did not
come to many as a shock. As one of the leaders of the apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, the senator was passionate about translating the agitation of the leaders of the zone into reality while in the upper chamber.

The quest by the leader of the South West zone for a
conference, it was generally believed, was not divorced
from the annulment by former military president, Ibrahim
Babangida, of the 1993 presidential election, presumably
won by the late Moshood Abiola.

However, despite his superlative lead debate to convince
his 108 colleagues, Mr Okurounmu’s motion was roundly
defeated. His plan was to get the issue of a national
dialogue adopted by the defunct Presidential Committee on the Review of the Constitution set up by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who himself was one of Mr.
Okurounmu’s constituents.

During the debate, most of the lawmakers expressed the
view that the review of the constitution was the exclusive
prerogative of the National Assembly.

Although his attempt to get legislative backing for his pet
project failed, the Ogun State-born former senator had
recorded a major achievement – registering the issue of a
national dialogue in the consciousness of his colleagues.
Chuba Okadigbo, who succeeded Evan Enwerem as Senate President, upon assumption of office in 2000, constituted the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and made Mr. Okurounmu a member. The Committee later became part of the Joint National
Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999.

In 2001, Mr. Okurounmu served a notice on the Senate
about the plan by him and eight other senators to sponsor a fresh motion on the floor of the Senate, seeking the convocation of a national conference. The eight senators were Arthur Nzeribe (Imo West), Afolabi Olabimtan (Ogun West), Ike Nwachukwu (Abia North), Jim Nwobodo (Enugu East), Melford Okilo (Bayelsa East), Tokunbo Afikuyomi (Lagos Central), Sunday Fajimi (Osun West), and Emmanuel Diffa (Bayelsa West). They titled the notice “Motion that the Senate should mandate the Joint Committee on the National Assembly on the Review of the 1999 Constitution to convene a National Conference as a necessary part of the process in its Review Exercise, and to forward the motion, if passed, to the House of Representatives for concurrence.”

In his argument, the senator said, “I am, in this current
motion, relying on the provisions of Section 53 (6) of our
Standing Rules to revisit the earlier motion in a modified
form, in conformity with the reality of the existence of the
Joint National Assembly Committee, and in recognition of
developments in the polity since the earlier motion.

“It has become clear that the setting up of the Joint
National Assembly Committee which itself followed an
earlier committee set up by the President, has not reduced the clamour for a National Conference. On the contrary, the clamour is gaining momentum with each passing day.”

Mr. Okurounmu, who was then the Vice Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Banking and Currency, which was
chaired by the current Senate President, David Mark, told
his colleagues that not only had the demand for a National Conference become a dominant opinion in the South East geo-political zone, the agitation of almost all the ethnic nationality unions, was the convocation of a conference. He added that in the South West, the demand for a National Conference was an article of faith while in the Northern geo-political zones, an increasing number of individuals and groups were beginning to see the wisdom in a national dialogue.

He also recalled that apart from receiving the support of
the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of
Nations, Emeka Anyaoku, the agitation of a national
dialogue had received unreserved support of the second
meeting of the Tradition Rulers and Leaders of Thought
from the six geo-political zones.

“It can therefore be surmised that a non-negligible fraction of Nigerians, and possibly a majority, are vociferously clamouring for a National Conference, in spite of the two existing committee of the executive and the legislature,”Mr. Okurounmu argued.

“I suggest, my distinguished colleagues that we should
listen to them and weigh their arguments dispassionately
and objectively unhindered by any previously fixed
mindset.”

On the modalities, the senator said, “My proposal in this
respect is to base representation on elections, to be
conducted on non-party basis, with each delegate
representing the smallest practicable constituency unit,
subject to the total number of delegates not exceeding
1200.

“By this, the delegates will be representing their
communities, not their political parties. The smallest
practicable constituency unit as per this guideline will be
the State House of Assembly constituency unit, and I
therefore recommend its use for the purpose of the
National Conference elections.

“This would give ethnic minorities the greatest possible
chance of being suitably represented, since the larger the
electorate constituency unit, the greater the possibility of
small minorities in such units being disadvantaged.

“A delegate from each State House of Assembly
constituency unit throughout the country would result in
about 1000 delegates, which is not too large a number ƒσя a country the size of Nigeria. I also recommend that since delegates from a State are essentially representing that State, the elections in each State should be conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC.”

In the notice, Mr. Okurounmu and the eight senators listed their prayers:
-That the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 Constitution be mandated by the
Senate to convene a National Conference on the lingering
contentions and unresolved issues of the Nigerian polity, as a necessary part of the processes in its review exercise;
-That representation at the Conference should be by
elected members, with one delegate elected to represent
each House of Assembly constituency, on a non-party
basis;
-That the elections to the Conference be conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission;
-That the conclusion of the Conference be regarded as one of the inputs to the work of the Joint National Assembly Committee (on Constitution Review); and
-That if the above legs of the motion are successful, the
entire motion should be forwarded to the House of
Representatives for their concurrence.

On June 12, 2001, on the eight anniversary of the
annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the
debate on Mr. Okurounmu notice came up, but its
consideration almost led to a rowdy session induced by
opponents of a National Conference in the country. His
colleagues, notably late Senator Afolabi Olabimtan (AD,
Ogun West) made significant, but failed attempt to have it scale through.

When the then Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, who is the current SGF, put it to vote on whether the motion
should be taken or not, Mr. Olabimtan and other AD
senators present in the session, laboured unsuccessfully
against striking it out. Although their action indeed
demonstrated strong support for Mr. Okurounmu, they
were overwhelmed by their colleagues who were in the
majority and who subsequently shut it down.

As Mr. Olabimtan later explained in a statement he issued
on June 14, 2001, “There is no doubt that the majority
shall always have its way, but the minority in a democracy should be allowed to have its say….

“Honestly, I find it difficult to understand the serious
opposition to National Conference as a means of finding
lasting solution to Nigeria multifarious problems. I doff my
cap and pay homage to the great Nigerian statesmen who sat together to talk and bring us independence in 1960. If they had the same spirit as some of us today, Nigeria would have arrived as one indivisible independent
country.”

But Mr. Okunrounmu was not deterred. On March 7, 2002,he made another deft move by bringing up, this time, a bill on the issue. It was titled, “A Act to make provisions ƒσя convening of a National Conference of the Peoples of Nigeria for purposes of preparing a Constitution ƒσя Consideration and Adoption by the People of Nigeria at a Referendum and matters ancillary thereto.” The former senator successfully got the Senate Committee on Rules and Procedure headed by Dalhatu Tafida, the current Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, to list the motion for first reading at the plenary session.

Mr. Okunrounmu, and many senators, including Olabiyi
Durojaiye (Ogun East) and late Mr. Olabimton, voted for it,but again the motion failed to scale through the first
reading, even though the senator and his supporters stood courageously behind the bill. Curiously, Mr. Nzeribe, who was one of the eight senators that signed the earlier notice to the Senate on the issue, led the onslaught against the bill. The maverick former senator produced a document against the bill and lobbied his colleagues to back him in his surprise bid.

The death of the bill, particularly Mr. Nzeribe’s betrayal,
was devastating to the pro-conference senator. In a
statement he gave this reporter, who was then covering
the Senate, Mr Okurounmu explained, “It is on record that I effectively rebutted every point of order or constitution that was raised against the bill, and the bill was only killed because of the fixed negative mindset of many senators, as was glaringly exhibited by Senator Nzeribe’s prejudicial document which he had circulated to all Senators and Honourable members (of House of Representatives) as soon as the bill was circulated, canvassing that the bill should not be entertained.

“It is also important that the public be informed that the
bill was actually the product of some of the best minds in
Nigeria – The Patriots –and I was mandated by the Senate
President to sponsor it since I have consistently and
unrelentingly associated myself with the contents.”

Regrettably, Mr Okurounmu left the upper legislative
chamber in May 2003, after spending four years, without
realizing his dream of having the nation to dialogue, no
thanks to the stern opposition of most of his colleagues to
it. But with Mr Jonathan’s nod to a national dialogue and
Mr. Okurounmu’s choice as head of the Advisory
Committee, the former senator appears set to have the last laugh.

premiumtimesng.com/news/145843-analysis-femi-okurounmu-and-his-relentless-battle-for-national-conference.html

After reading this, I am cautiously optimistic. Fingers crossed........

Dis Guy: Looks like a nice place to have a break from the Lagos hustle

I plan going there very soon for my honeymoon. It is a cheap place to enjoy yourself if you don't want to go too far from home.

She needs to continue doing her job. She should start looking for a new job while on her current job.

@op, compartibility and love goes hand in hand.

Between -10 to 10 maximum for me. My current fiance is 5 years older than me.

payless: tomakint the zombie, wear you diaper, find a mat and relax your mighty head. Ode oshi!

@payless, the guy is yoruba impersonator

@op, you murdered English tonight. Oju nti mi. My eyes are pushing me.

@op, What can the governor do to stop rain? The same problem is currently happening in Colorado, USA and Obama can't do anything about it. You have agenda against Oshiomohle, idi.ot.

agbameta: How safe is your airspace with planes flying with single engine instead of two? What a grown ass dummy you are...

Fvuckkkk off. You are nothing but a miserable troll to me...

We have to start to ignore these ibos. They have been fed with loads of crap.

GenBuhari: Dont believe everything you hear in beer parlours.
None of what you said about him below is true.

I lived in abuja for about 8 years between 2003 ans 2001. I was a witness to many thing that happened there. I have friends whose parents once worked in the villa. My mother also worked there at the Presidency in the 90s. My God father was a Director of Personnel at Federal Civil Service Commission situated in the Presidential Villa back then. I was there tens of times. Sheraton Hotel, Agura Hotel and Nicon back then were Mohammed Abacha's playgrounds. He was always in one of these places on fridays, saturdays and sundays to enjoy with friends. I was tight friend with children or relatives of Gwarzo, Coomasie, Shetimmas, Dabo Aliyu, the Bagudus and many others in Abuja. So I know some of these people very well and met them before. There was this guy amongst Mohammed Abacha's body guards called Katako. He is one of his securities and we know what they were up to back then. This was when the population of Abuja was about 300,000 in the mid 90s. Mohammed hated his brother so much to the extent that he never talked to him. They were extranged brothers. Mohammed once threatened Diya, Adisa and General Olanrewaju. He is a wicked soul.

No contest!

Show this to Nigerian conmen called "pastors".

I am Buhari fanatic but I would vote for Amaechi ahead of Buhari. I like his steadfastness a lot.

anago12: being dumb is heredity to your peeps i guess. I can see the level of your mental retar.dness, wetin poverty dey do person growing up na bad thing. Ni wonder the bread winner of your family came to lagos with plastic bag and a bathroom slippers after using your pop daily esusu money to board ifeshinachi.

Damn! You've been too harsh with that ibo boy.

Alex Bamgbala, let your politics of religion intolerance, hate, and division stay in Ibo land. That gutter politics is well suited in SS/SE. This is the way Jonathan has been encouraging his followers to engage in such divisive politics. I have muslim and christian relatives and friends that are equal to me.

She is not a 25 year old lady.

Ibo people have failed to nail FFK. FFK decimated you all intellectualy and all you could do is mud throwing.

ROSSIKE: The moral of the story is, GEJ is ten times the president that Ribadu can ever be!!! Ribadu that is turning a blind eye to the corruption of his acolytes even before he attains power. Is it when he get to Aso Rock that he will start to oppose them? Nonsense. I think Nigerians need to allow President Goodluck Jonathan to complete his program for the country, after which by 2015 we can elect proper leaders with conscience.

2015 is around the corner, who should we replace Jonathan with?

Prophet of doom expecting presidential visitation.

George Soros is high on viagra overdose. He should spend more time in bed with his 38 year old wife.

Only a retardeen like you understands the feelings of a retardeenic of a president. If you don't like him being called retardeen, you should like him being called Odechukwu, slowpoke, drunkmaster.

You can't make this up. PDP is run by inept president.

More clueless than I thought. PDP has created more poor people and destitutes in the history of Nigeria. PDP has been in power for 14 years with nothing to show except hopelessnes.

Jonathan- The leader of mumu kingdom.

ngozievergreen: murdering it how?
I just missed adding 'clothes' to d sentence, how is dat murdering?
And did u just mention 'standard of living?'

Ngozi Olodo! You used "washing" instead of watching, yet you continue to lie that you meant to write "washing clothes" and not "washing tv". Typical igbo with bold face lies.

If introduction of Yoruba Language as sole teaching language drives out Ibos out of our schools and SW in general, then I am all for it.