From KABIRU YUSUF, Abuja
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday charged the
committee on Political Reforms Agenda to provide a harmonious system of
checks and balances based on separation of powers, in respect of
transparency, integrity and accountability.
According to him: �The committee is expected to produce a
background paper that will form the basis for dialogue by a broadly composed
national body about to be constituted to be able to produce a sound
political reforms agenda for Nigeria�.
President Obasanjo who stated this at the inauguration
ceremony of the committee headed by Kaduna state governor, Ahmad Muhammad
Makarfi, explained that the background paper expected to be produced soon,
would form one of the essential documents for onward presentation to the
proposed National Committee on Political Reforms to reduce the possibility
of a wild goose chase.
He further said that the paper should as well contain
ideas on the transformation of political parties from mere vehicles for
deepening the contesting elections into viable instruments capable of
enriching the contents of our democratic values and nation-building process.
To ensure public ownership of the envisaged reform
process, he said, the proposed national committee should reflect the various
social forces, community interests and political tendencies of the nation.
Chief Obasanjo explained that government was hoping to
see ideas that would look into how to re-orient Nigerians from politics of
patronage and materialism to politics of service as well as how to inculcate
enduring values and virtures in the Nigerian society.
While stating that the committee was given only three
weeks within which to submit its report, however, he said, it was
interesting to notice that some political parties have began the process of
reforming their set-ups.
Government, he added, would want to see that at the end
the reforms, an achievement would be made in refining the electoral system
for the purpose of ensuring the conduct of the free, fair and credible
elections that are cost-effective and ones that would ensure level-playing
ground for all political competitors.
The committee is also expected to produce a thorough
review of the 1999 constitution, a sound, relevant, coherent as well as
articulated constitution that would strengthen national unity and stability,
promote democracy; facilitate good governance and ensure human rights within
the rule of law.
Moreover, he said, the background paper expected should
equally propose how to ensure that politically elected officials and
political appointees are held accountable for corruption and criminal
offences while still in office, in addition to how to effect vital reforms
of the structure of governance and relationship between the various organs
and tiers of government.
Other tasks before the committee also include coming up
with ideas on how to effectively deal with the hydra-headed issue of
corruption at all levels and in all shapes and forms nationally.
The committee is also to come up with how to ensure
internal party democracy, how best to enforce party discipline and
supremacy, while giving ordinary party members legitimate avenues for
seeking opportunities and redress.
Others are: �The process of constitutional reforms, how
to thoroughly refine the electoral system, strengthen neutrality and
independence of electoral commission as well as how to effect judicial
reforms in order to promote quick dispensation of justice with fairness,
equity and intergrety.
The eight-man committee chaired by the Kaduna state governor, Alhaji
Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi, has as its members, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Prof.
Jerry Gana, Dr. Segun Agagu, Prof. A. D. Yahaya, Chief C. O. Adebayo, Prof.
Cokwudiba Nnoli and Prof. Joy Ogwu.
