₦airaland Forum

THE Senate, on Wednesday, passed a resolution calling for the submission of the final report of the 2014 national conference, in a bid to address the problems of growing ethnic tension in the country.

Senators arrived at the resolution, following the adoption of an amendment to the prayers of the original motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan and 105 others.

Lawan’s motion, entitled: “The need for national unity and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria,” was debated by the Senate for more than two hours, after which the resolutions were taken.

The amendment seeking the submission of the confab report was moved by Senator Mao Ohuanbunwa and seconded by Senator Olamilekan Adeola.

Lawan had decried the rising ethnic tension in the country, declaring that the time had come for the chamber to play the role of statesmen to guide the restive youth.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the sitting, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Shehu Sani, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, Barnabas Gemade, Magnus Abe, Biodun Olujinmi, Binta Garba Marshi, Oluremi Tinubu, Adamu Aliero, Jonah Jang and Chukwuka Utazi, among others, supported the motion with different contributions.

Senator Ohuabunwa, who spoke on the need for restructuring, said the chamber needed to ensure dialogue and the implementation of the 2014 confab report.

Former governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero and former governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang, asked the leadership of the Senate to immediately take steps to request for the report of the 2014 national conference.

The duo said the Senate must commence work on the report immediately.

“In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan brought people from every ethnic nationality together in Abuja in what was called the national conference. It was chaired by Justice Legbo Kutigi. The participants came up with beautiful recommendations.

“This is the time to implement those recommendations. The Senate should demand for the outcome of that conference and find a way to implement them. That is the solution to these ethnic agitations. The outcome of the conference should be tabled for discussion,” he said.

His view was supported by Jang, who said the Senate must recognise the confab report immediately.

“I want to align with what Senator Aliero said. I remember that the Seventh Senate said it did not recognise the national conference because they were the true representatives of the people.

“I think this is the time for the report of that conference to be debated. So many useful decisions were reached. We need to debate those recommendations and see how they can address the issues coming up now,” he said.

In his contribution, Senator Magnus Abe said that the country must give ear to agitators before they become silent, adding that his Ogoni area of Rivers State had been clamouring for attention for a long time.

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso also told the chamber that though it was good that the Federal Government had initiated meetings with leaders of the North and the South East, adding, however, that such meetings should not paint a situation as if the matter was between the North and the South East.

“The problem is everywhere. The acting president met with northern leaders on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I am aware that he is meeting with South-East leaders. There are three geopolitical zones in the North. If the acting president met with leaders from the three geopolitical zones in the North, he should also meet with leaders from the three southern geopolitical zones.”

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu however, told the session that the 7th Senate could not do much on the confab report because the former President forwarded it to the Assembly one week before the expiration of the Seventh Senate in 2015.

Ekweremadu clarified: “To be fair, the report was sent to us in the Seventh Assembly by President Jonathan. But it was sent just one week before the end of that Assembly. There was nothing we could have done.

“By this motion, you are saying the President should forward the report again to the National Assembly for deliberations,” Ekweremadu said.

The Deputy Senate President also said that that the senate had spoken with one voice on the motion adding: “This is not the time to look at ourselves as blacks or whites or those right and wrong. I want to call for restraints from all sides so that we can have an egalitarian society.

“This is the time to show leadership. This is not the time to leave the leadership of this country for some people. We must guide this country. Within our laws, we have sufficient laws to guide our conducts. This is the time for the government to come and apply those laws against those making unguarded statements.

“I call on security agents to move in and apply the law no matter who is involved. I want to call on our young people to remain peaceful.

This is the time to stand together for our country. This is the time for us to be united. This is not the time for people to e treated unjustly. This country belongs to all of us.

Following the deliberations, the Senate resolved to “urge all Nigerians to desist from actions and utterances that are capable of jeopardising the corporate existence of our dear nation.”

The chamber also “urged that lawmakers intensify their representative role by embarking on sensitisation campaign in their various constituencies to highlight the importance of harmonious and peaceful co-existence.”

The Senators also “urged the Federal Government to direct the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and other relevant agencies to intensity enlightenment and advocacy of loyalty the nation.”


http://tribuneonlineng.com/senate-calls-national-conference-report/

This man is not just ugly, he's so so stupidd too.

This man just nailed it.
Should Nigeria remain to together for another 100years, we will never witness any meaningful development. The earlier we let go, the better for all.

ayindejimmy:
That's why IPOB and Massob need to form an alliance through a political party where they'll lobby to sponsor a bill for a referendum

You got that part right.
I also want us to stop seeing this issue as that of Igbos alone. We should use this opportunity to fight for equal right and justice for all if we must remain together. Come to think of it, if the North starts their hooliganism today, it wouldn't affect only Igbo but every Southerners living among them. If there is fairness to all, no one will complain. Look at the issue of the order of arrest El Rufai issued. No one has been arrested. The guys even went as far as daring the police force. Do you think the same thing would have happened were it south here?

Then I see no reasonable reason why we should be forcefully lumped together still even when it is clearly obvious we can never mix. This Nigeria experiment has not worked since 1914. So the earlier we accept this truth that Nigeria is a joke taken too far, the better for all of us.

By the grace of the powers that be, may he not live to see that day

livinbygrace:
Keep quiet and stop saying nonsense.Most of the protest and agitation have always been spearheaded by people from the SW.They always think before they act and that is why they always make their mark against any injustices.

I didn't mention any tribe in my post. But since you brought in Southwest, I'd like to ask you: tell me why most of you from the west are so obsessed with the move by the Igbo? Why do you insist they remain in Nigeria even when we all know that the project called Nigeria is a failure?
If you truly understand Yoruba, "Da bi mo ti da" is what your types are.

kasheemawo:
so you guys can preach peace like this?
Hausa/fulani have reset your brain to the default
No amount of peace you can preach again you must get your biafrog by force.

And what gives you the impression that I am Igbo?
For the record, I am a confirmed Edolite who hates injustice and detest inequality as we have it in Nigeria today.
The Igbo is spearheading what we all crave for but unfortunately, the leadership of some tribes are so timid with the act of cowardice hence could not muscle the needed guts to voice out.
The least that is expected from those ingrates as you is to be appreciative of the prowess of an Igbo man.
It is either outright restructuring or Nigeria as we know it become history.

Nigerians are at the threshold of history.
Let's savor it.
But let it come in peace.

Ndigbo residents in the North have begun relocating their wives and children to the South-East over the quit order by some Nothern groups, despite the condemnation by the Federal Government, Northern governors, Afenefere and Arewa Consultative Forum.


Some of the residents in the Sabon Gari area, a community occupied by non-indigenes are already panicking over the threat, some of them have systematically started sending their wives and kids home to avoid being trapped in the web of uncertainty.


However, Eze Ndigbo Kano, Igwe Boniface Ibekwe, on Thursday has asked the Igbo community in Kano to ignore the threat and regard it as empty, because it lacked the backing of the Northern leadership.
Ibekwe is also the Eze Diorama (iv), and the president-General of all Ezes in the Diaspora.


He said, “I believe and based on my understanding, as a major stakeholder in the North, the Northern leaders are never in support of the threat, so they should ignore it and go about their day-day business and activities.”


Also, he promised that Ndigbo in Kano will summon a meeting of stakeholders to establish their grievances, noting that he has since established contact, with the Northern leaders, just as he also disclosed that he is among the patrons of Arewa youths.


“I believe if they want to issue such a threat, it must be with numerous consultations, stressing that he believes in one Nigeria, just as he also believes in the ability of Nigerians solving their problems. Whatever their grievances are, the appropriate authorities would look into it, so they should not take laws into their hands.”

http://punchng.com/quit-order-igbo-living-in-north-relocate-wives-children/

It is now obvious that the Igbo's never had intension of breaking the country or causing any unnecessary uprising. They arebsimply demanding for what most of us want but don't have the guts to voice it out.
I therefore see it as an act of cowardice for any Southerner to refuse to support this Nigeria-transforming agitation.


Nobody should call for my head o.

A coalition of Igbo groups, the Eastern Consultative Assembly, on Thursday, said Igbos should be allowed to secede in peace, if Nigeria was not restructured ‘immediately’.

The coalition, comprising professional bodies, youth, student and Christian organisations, town unions, traders and women groups, among others, made the demand in a communique issued after a meeting in Enugu.

The meeting was prompted by the three-month ultimatum given to Igbos to leave the North.

In the communique signed by the Deputy Leader, Chief Mrs Maria Okwor, and the Publicity Secretary, Rev. Fr. John Odey, the Eastern Consultative Assembly insisted that Nigeria ‘must restructure or perish’.

Blaming the ‘quit notice’ issued to Igbos in the North by some Northern groups on the country’s current unitary structure, the ECA noted that it was not enough for the Federal Government and various sections of the country to condemn the development.

According to them, restructuring was the only proper response to the ‘quit ultimatum’.

Parts of the communique read, “ECA assures the Northern leaders who reprimanded and disowned the ‘quit notice givers’ that everybody knows that the emotions that inspired the quit order is so deep seated, and stagnation as a result of the faulty, unitary structure is so fundamental, that the platitude from right thinking Northern folks, who called for peace and calm without addressing the real truth, cannot and will not solve the problem.

“Calling for calm and unity without addressing the truth is unhelpful and deceitful.

“What is the real truth? Ninety five per cent of the oppressed do not want to continue the 1970 experiment of master/servant relationship.

“Restructure Nigeria now or let us go.”



http://punchng.com/quit-ultimatum-restructure-nigeria-or-let-us-go-igbo-groups/

Unfortunately, even the Yorubas don't know they are at risk too. From the way most of them comment here, one will begin to wonder if common sense is truly common.
Igbo man is not asking you to stand up for him. All he expects from you is to stand up for justice. Stand up for for yourself and your unborn generation. If you don't stand for something, then be prepared to fall for anything.


What baffles me more is how most Yoruba's open their mouth to castigate the likes of Fayose, FFK and Odumakin of Afenifere. Believe me, these are true voices you have; not the likes of Tinubu.


I was expecting you guys to speak out against the Northern Youths intention that was not provoked by the Igbod in any way, but no. Inasmuch as the ultimatum is from the North, you must find a way to justify it.


Even though we know that the ultimatum is coming as a last resort due to shear jealousy of the progress they know Igbos will make after leaving Nigeria, i advise if you are a Southerner, irrespective of the extraction you belong, please leave the Core North. Relocate tour business home. Now you should know the North is not your home.

Sweetguy25:
Very shallow and not deeply thought.

We know your types.
You forced me to call you a shallow-minded Afonja.
SMH

Time is really running out on Nigeria if we truly want the Igbo to stay.
Restructure this country now so that everyone of us will indeed be proud of being a Nigerian, or let us fold our hands and wait for the whole pack of a nation to crumble on our heads.
One things is certain: if the Igbo are allowed to go today, mark my words; ten (10) years from now, Nigerians (if there would still be any country to be referred to by that name), will beg to visit Biafra land.

Spot on

OZAOEKPE:
Mostly those auchi part, I am from Agenebode. We don't give a damn about APC but auchi and the others all I'm the name of religion keep supporting evil for no just reason

It's just sad

OZAOEKPE:
I know say na Afemai people go fit talk this nonsense, bunch of terrorists

You are right. They love to lick the ass of the North in the name of Islam

Tell Aliru Momoh to shut the Bleep up

APC, a congregation of Saints.

That is just a tip of the iceberg of what the whole Okpella town look like. A people that massively voted for Adams Oshomhole both in his first and second terms as Governor of Edo State, yet they have absolutely nothing to show for it.
All the roads in the main towns are no longer motorable. Yet he constructed roads that are only used for drying grains in his village.
Okpella, wise up.

Yes, and made in Nigeria hospital and Doctors too.
Anuofia

Now I agree that the !diot called Lie Mohammed is a Certified Liar.

dolphinife:
Tooo much talk.....where do u suggest they should go then?

I am actually saying this from experience.
Private hospitals are better.
Those public hospital staffs will keep pushing you here and there untill it's too late.

So where is she suggesting they should go instead? Medically, Ondo State is one of the poorest in the Southern part of Nigeria as at the moment. Take your loved ones to any Government-financed hospital in Ondo State at your own peril. Their facilities are eyesores.
The General Hospitals are useless. The so-called "Mother and Child" Medical Centers are a waste of public funds.
Common headache, they don't have the expertise to treat. What a shame!

It is no big deal. We have experienced it here in Owena-Ondo twice this years. Though before now, the last time I saw it was about 28yrs ago. If it is a thing of pride, then Ondo State should be jubilating too.
In all, I think we all should be happy that good thing is about coming our way in Ondo/Ekiti State(s).

In all, If nothing; I thank God for two things:
I thank God that I am NOT A NORTHERN NIGERIAN.
I thank God that I am NOT A MUSLIM.
Those two things are disgusting.
#SpitOnThem.

Edwinmason:
every thing in dis country is a joke as far to it leader

The country itself is a bigger joke.
The earlier we chant it down, the better for us and our offsprings.

Nigeria Police,....
Tueh. # spit on you

.