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Obasanjo raises panel on national confab, opposes break-up
From Madu Onuorah (Abuja) and Iyabo Sotunde, Ibadan
AN eight-man committee to work out the framework for the convocation of a national conference scheduled to take off next year was yesterday inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
But the President also yesterday restated his opposition to any move that might result in the break-up of the country.
While inaugurating the committee at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa Abuja, Obasanjo referred to the conference as "national dialogue."
He tasked the committee to produce a "background paper that would form the basis for dialogue by a broadly composed national body soon to be constituted."
Obasanjo yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, restated his commitment to the continued unity of the nation, stressing that no component of the federation would be allowed to break away during his tenure.
Obasanjo, who spoke at the book presentation of Chief Shadrach Titus Adelegan, former Deputy Speaker in the Western Region House of Assembly said all the 36 states, which make up the nation, must peacefully co-exist for the progress of the country.
Members of the eight-man committee include Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, who is the chairman; and his Ondo State counterpart, Segun Agagu.
The others are Senate Chief Whip, Udoma Udo Udoma; Political Adviser to the President, Prof. Jerry Gana; Political Adviser to the Vice President, Prof. Aliyu Yahaya and Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Joy Ogwu.
Prof. Okwudiba Nnoli and the Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo also make the list .
President Obasanjo said that the expected political reforms were to achieve the aim of deepening and strengthening the structures, institutions, principles and process and democratic good governance.
Other aims of the committee include;
- to produce, through a review of the 1999 Constitution, a sound, relevant, coherent, consistent and well-articulated constitution that would strengthen national unity and stability, promote democracy, facilitate good governance and ensure human rights within the rule of the law with citizen's obligations;
- refine the electoral system for the purpose of ensuring the conduct of free, fair and credible election that are cost-effective and ensure level playing ground for all political competitors;
- to build a highly principled, sharply focused well-organised, effectively-managed, value-oriented and disciplined political parties to sustain democracy;
- to provide a harmonious system of checks and balances based on the separation of powers, with transparency, integrity and accountability; and
- to mobilise and transform civil society into viable organisations that would be relevant and responsive to the needs of the nation within the cultural milieu of the society.
The President said that the committee is to provide the raw materials for the work of a larger representative group to be nominated early next year that will discuss the main body of the reform package.
According to him, "to ensure public ownership of the envisaged reform process, the proposed national committee will reflect the various social forces and interests, community interests and political tendencies within the nation."
The background paper that would be produced by the Makarfi committee would contain ideas on such issues as;
- the transformation of political parties from mere vehicles for contesting elections into viable instrument capable of deepening the content of our democratic values and nation-building process;
- how to ensure internal party democracy so as to produce high quality candidates for elective offices and party leadership;
- how best to enforce party discipline and supremacy, while giving ordinary party members legitimate avenues for seeking opportunities and redress;
- the process of constitutional reforms, taking into consideration the on-going exercise at the Executive and Legislative levels;
- how to thoroughly refine the electoral system so as to ensure credible elections with substantial reduction of cost election to both the government and individual contestants;
- how to strengthen neutrality and independence of electoral commission;
- how to effect judicial reforms in order to promote quick dispensation of justice; with fairness, equity and integrity;
- how to effect vital reforms of the structure of governance and relationships between the various organs and tiers of government, so as to produce rapid development and service delivery with efficiency, effectiveness and transparency;
- how to effectively deal with the hydra-headed issue of corruption at all levels and in all shapes and forms nationally;
- how to re-orientate Nigeria from politics of patronage and materialism to that of service;
- how to ensure that politically elected officials and political appointees are held accountable for corruption and criminal offences while still in office;
- how to inculcate enduring values and virtues in the Nigerian society; and
- any other important issues that would contribute immensely to good governance, human rights and social justice, and sustenance of unity, stability, security, democracy and development at all levels of governance and throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria.
Makarfi later told journalists that the committee is further empowered to make criteria for the selection of participants and delegates to the conference.
The question-and-answer session went thus:
Does the committee's terms of reference include elongating President's Obasanjo's tenure?
That issue is a constitutional matter. That would require a major constitutional amendment by the National Assembly. It is not within our mandate.
Why are other political parties not included?
Not all of us are politicians. The committee is broad-based.
Specifically, is this a prelude to a national confab?
It doesn't matter what name it is called. When a woman gives birth, it does not matter what name she gives the baby. You can call it a national confab. But the President called it a national dialogue.
Also speaking to journalists, Gana said: "If democracy is to be sustained, we need to take a second look at the whole process. The process should refine itself. It is a profound perspective to enthrone democracy and good governance."
The report of the Markafi panel, along with that of the National Assembly's Constitutional Review Committee will be turned over to the National Committee on political reforms when it convenes next year.
The Makarfi committee has up till Friday, December 31 to submit its report.
Represented at the book presentation in Ibadan by the Minister for Water Resources, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, President Obasanjo who noted that the various components and the ethnic nationalities had been co-existing from time immemorial, said Nigeria must not be allowed to break up.
"There is need for our country to remain a united nation. It should not be in our time that any of the components should be removed. We must fight to ensure the continued unity of the nation."
Obasanjo appealed to the people to shun all acts capable of truncating the present democratic system.
He noted that the nation's former leaders laid the foundation for a prosperous nation, which he said, all citizens must strive to uphold.
His words: "Let us all rise up to defend and protect our democracy. There have been some people who fought to ensure that the present civil rule we have came into being. It therefore behoves us to ensure that the labour of our past heroes is not in vain by guarding jealously this democratic system. Let us embrace all actions that unite us rather than engaging in actions that will cause disunity."
In his address, Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged Nigerians, particularly politicians to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
Atiku represented by Mrs. Tokunbo Adeola, a special assistant, specifically advised politicians and political office holders to see politics as service to humanity.
He also urged them to emulate Pa Adelegan, whose contribution to the political development of Nigeria, he said, could not be waived aside.
Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola extolled Adelegan's virtues and contributions while in office and urged the present class of politicians to emulate him.
In his remarks, Pa Adelegan, who expressed hope for a better Nigeria, admonished all to support the present administration in its bid to make life better for the citizenry.
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